Rule of Law Index in Mexico
Mexico: Rule of Law Index was 0.355 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
0.355
Change on year
down 8.5%
World rank
117th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.616
in 2001
All-time low
0.125
in 1850
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Rule of Law Index in Mexico, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rule of law index in Mexico is 0.355, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 8.5% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rule of law index in Mexico peaked at 0.616 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.125, in 1850.
That places Mexico 117th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.
Rule of Law Index in Mexico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.272 | — |
| 1790 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.296 | +8.8% |
| 1813 | 0.296 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.296 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.296 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.296 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.296 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.296 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.296 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.21 | -29.1% |
| 1821 | 0.169 | -19.5% |
| 1822 | 0.277 | +63.9% |
| 1823 | 0.277 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.302 | +9.0% |
| 1825 | 0.302 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.302 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.302 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.302 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.302 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.287 | -5.0% |
| 1831 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.329 | +14.6% |
| 1841 | 0.272 | -17.3% |
| 1842 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.329 | +21.0% |
| 1844 | 0.329 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.329 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.278 | -15.5% |
| 1847 | 0.278 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.278 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.278 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.125 | -55.0% |
| 1851 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.272 | +117.6% |
| 1855 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.265 | -2.6% |
| 1857 | 0.287 | +8.3% |
| 1858 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.273 | -4.9% |
| 1866 | 0.273 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.273 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.273 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.273 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.237 | -13.2% |
| 1871 | 0.237 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.237 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.237 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.237 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.237 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.202 | -14.8% |
| 1877 | 0.143 | -29.2% |
| 1878 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.146 | +2.1% |
| 1901 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.146 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.137 | -6.2% |
| 1911 | 0.157 | +14.6% |
| 1912 | 0.16 | +1.9% |
| 1913 | 0.147 | -8.1% |
| 1914 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.156 | +6.1% |
| 1917 | 0.218 | +39.7% |
| 1918 | 0.245 | +12.4% |
| 1919 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.238 | -2.9% |
| 1921 | 0.249 | +4.6% |
| 1922 | 0.249 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.249 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.249 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.249 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.249 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.249 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.236 | -5.2% |
| 1929 | 0.233 | -1.3% |
| 1930 | 0.235 | +0.9% |
| 1931 | 0.235 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.24 | +2.1% |
| 1933 | 0.24 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.232 | -3.3% |
| 1935 | 0.232 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.232 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.238 | +2.6% |
| 1938 | 0.238 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.238 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.238 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.238 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.238 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.243 | +2.1% |
| 1944 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.245 | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.246 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 0.281 | +14.2% |
| 1983 | 0.292 | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.295 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 0.31 | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 0.333 | +7.4% |
| 1991 | 0.333 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.333 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.333 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.445 | +33.6% |
| 1995 | 0.483 | +8.5% |
| 1996 | 0.483 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.501 | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.613 | +22.4% |
| 2001 | 0.616 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 0.616 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.591 | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 0.591 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.591 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.592 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 0.583 | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 0.584 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 0.584 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.587 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 0.587 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.556 | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 0.473 | -14.9% |
| 2014 | 0.473 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.483 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 0.483 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.487 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 0.485 | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 0.511 | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 0.498 | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 0.479 | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 0.441 | -7.9% |
| 2023 | 0.433 | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 0.388 | -10.4% |
| 2025 | 0.355 | -8.5% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 0.355 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4345, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 0.355 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.577, 62% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.272 | 0.272 | 0.272 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.272 | 0.272 | 0.272 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.272 | 0.272 | 0.272 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.2912 | 0.272 | 0.296 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.2745 | 0.169 | 0.302 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.287 | 0.287 | 0.287 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.2972 | 0.272 | 0.329 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.217 | 0.125 | 0.287 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.28 | 0.273 | 0.287 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.2053 | 0.143 | 0.237 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.143 | 0.143 | 0.143 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.143 | 0.143 | 0.143 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.146 | 0.146 | 0.146 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.1759 | 0.137 | 0.245 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.245 | 0.233 | 0.249 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.236 | 0.232 | 0.24 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.2415 | 0.238 | 0.243 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.243 | 0.243 | 0.243 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.243 | 0.243 | 0.243 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.245 | 0.245 | 0.245 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2837 | 0.245 | 0.31 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4246 | 0.333 | 0.501 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5961 | 0.583 | 0.616 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5125 | 0.473 | 0.587 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4323 | 0.355 | 0.498 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More reference data data for Mexico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 16.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 32.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 32.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 13.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 84.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 157.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 9.55 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rule of law index in Mexico?
- Rule of law index in Mexico was 0.355 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 0.616 in 2001.
- What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.125 in 1850.
- How does Mexico rank for rule of law index?
- Mexico ranks 117th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rule of law index rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mexico 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 — 237 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.