Rule of Law Index in Libya
Libya: Rule of Law Index was 0.125 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.125
Change on year
down 6.7%
World rank
152nd
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.47
in 1951
All-time low
0.077
in 1911
Years of data
106
1911–2025
Rule of Law Index in Libya, 1911–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, rule of law index in Libya stood at 0.125.
That represents a change of down 6.7% on the previous year and down 44.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rule of law index in Libya peaked at 0.47 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.077, in 1911.
Libya ranks 152nd of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rule of Law Index in Libya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 0.077 | — |
| 1912 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.083 | +7.8% |
| 1935 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.082 | -1.2% |
| 1951 | 0.47 | +473.2% |
| 1952 | 0.47 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.461 | -1.9% |
| 1954 | 0.448 | -2.8% |
| 1955 | 0.455 | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 0.469 | +3.1% |
| 1957 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.458 | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 0.433 | -5.5% |
| 1970 | 0.138 | -68.1% |
| 1971 | 0.102 | -26.1% |
| 1972 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.116 | +13.7% |
| 1975 | 0.1 | -13.8% |
| 1976 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.096 | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 0.095 | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 0.095 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.095 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.095 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.095 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.098 | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.098 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.084 | -14.3% |
| 2004 | 0.084 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.084 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.084 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.084 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.084 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.084 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.091 | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 0.151 | +65.9% |
| 2012 | 0.265 | +75.5% |
| 2013 | 0.259 | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 0.233 | -10.0% |
| 2015 | 0.225 | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 0.209 | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 0.198 | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 0.143 | -27.8% |
| 2019 | 0.13 | -9.1% |
| 2020 | 0.133 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 0.123 | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 0.155 | +26.0% |
| 2023 | 0.132 | -14.8% |
| 2024 | 0.134 | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 0.125 | -6.7% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 0.125 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4345, 29% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Libya's 0.125 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.321, 39% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0.077 | 0.077 | 0.077 | 9 |
| 1920s | 0.077 | 0.077 | 0.077 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0806 | 0.077 | 0.083 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0825 | 0.082 | 0.083 | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.4644 | 0.448 | 0.47 | 9 |
| 1960s | 0.4643 | 0.433 | 0.469 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.106 | 0.1 | 0.138 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0963 | 0.095 | 0.098 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.098 | 0.098 | 0.098 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0882 | 0.084 | 0.098 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1904 | 0.091 | 0.265 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1337 | 0.123 | 0.155 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 149 Turkey 0.157 compare
- 150 Madagascar 0.148 compare
- 151 Uzbekistan 0.147 compare
- 153 Cuba 0.123 compare
- 154 Russia 0.121 compare
- 155 Central African Republic 0.118 compare
More reference data data for Libya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0637 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.021 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2136 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0873 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1144 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rule of law index in Libya?
- Rule of law index in Libya was 0.125 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 0.47 in 1951.
- What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.077 in 1911.
- How does Libya rank for rule of law index?
- Libya ranks 152nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rule of law index rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Rule of Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 106 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which the government complies with the law, courts are independent, laws transparent, justice accessible, corruption absent, and the bureaucracy is impartial.