Rule of Law Index in Russia
Russia: Rule of Law Index was 0.121 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.121
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
154th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.596
in 1874
All-time low
0.049
in 1825
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Rule of Law Index in Russia, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rule of law index in Russia is 0.121, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 41.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rule of law index in Russia peaked at 0.596 in 1874 and was at its lowest, 0.049, in 1825.
That places Russia 154th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Russia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.058 | — |
| 1790 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.049 | -15.5% |
| 1826 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.062 | +26.5% |
| 1834 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.071 | +14.5% |
| 1843 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.071 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.151 | +112.7% |
| 1856 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.164 | +8.6% |
| 1862 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.285 | +73.8% |
| 1865 | 0.419 | +47.0% |
| 1866 | 0.517 | +23.4% |
| 1867 | 0.517 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.538 | +4.1% |
| 1869 | 0.538 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.58 | +7.8% |
| 1871 | 0.58 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.58 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.58 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.596 | +2.8% |
| 1875 | 0.596 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.596 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.596 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.411 | -31.0% |
| 1879 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.342 | -16.8% |
| 1882 | 0.342 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.342 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.342 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.356 | +4.1% |
| 1886 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.356 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.304 | -14.6% |
| 1901 | 0.299 | -1.6% |
| 1902 | 0.301 | +0.7% |
| 1903 | 0.301 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.299 | -0.7% |
| 1905 | 0.275 | -8.0% |
| 1906 | 0.309 | +12.4% |
| 1907 | 0.313 | +1.3% |
| 1908 | 0.334 | +6.7% |
| 1909 | 0.34 | +1.8% |
| 1910 | 0.338 | -0.6% |
| 1911 | 0.338 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.338 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.339 | +0.3% |
| 1914 | 0.331 | -2.4% |
| 1915 | 0.319 | -3.6% |
| 1916 | 0.296 | -7.2% |
| 1917 | 0.303 | +2.4% |
| 1918 | 0.145 | -52.1% |
| 1919 | 0.123 | -15.2% |
| 1920 | 0.117 | -4.9% |
| 1921 | 0.121 | +3.4% |
| 1922 | 0.135 | +11.6% |
| 1923 | 0.149 | +10.4% |
| 1924 | 0.134 | -10.1% |
| 1925 | 0.134 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.134 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.134 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.149 | +11.2% |
| 1929 | 0.149 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.148 | -0.7% |
| 1931 | 0.14 | -5.4% |
| 1932 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.129 | -7.9% |
| 1935 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.137 | +6.2% |
| 1941 | 0.138 | +0.7% |
| 1942 | 0.139 | +0.7% |
| 1943 | 0.139 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.139 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.139 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.143 | +2.9% |
| 1947 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.131 | -8.4% |
| 1949 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.126 | -3.8% |
| 1951 | 0.125 | -0.8% |
| 1952 | 0.125 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.138 | +10.4% |
| 1954 | 0.186 | +34.8% |
| 1955 | 0.186 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.195 | +4.8% |
| 1957 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.194 | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 0.194 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.205 | +5.7% |
| 1961 | 0.195 | -4.9% |
| 1962 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.17 | -12.8% |
| 1965 | 0.17 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.17 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.171 | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 0.168 | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 0.166 | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 0.159 | -4.2% |
| 1971 | 0.165 | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.168 | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 0.164 | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.17 | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 0.163 | -4.1% |
| 1987 | 0.186 | +14.1% |
| 1988 | 0.192 | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 0.194 | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 0.199 | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 0.254 | +27.6% |
| 1992 | 0.287 | +13.0% |
| 1993 | 0.272 | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 0.266 | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 0.266 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.275 | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 0.27 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 0.26 | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 0.259 | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 0.221 | -14.7% |
| 2001 | 0.209 | -5.4% |
| 2002 | 0.206 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 0.185 | -10.2% |
| 2004 | 0.237 | +28.1% |
| 2005 | 0.242 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 0.246 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 0.245 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 0.242 | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 0.243 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 0.23 | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 0.23 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.211 | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 0.204 | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 0.198 | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 0.206 | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 0.2 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 0.192 | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 0.193 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 0.196 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 0.187 | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 0.187 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.171 | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 0.134 | -21.6% |
| 2024 | 0.12 | -10.4% |
| 2025 | 0.121 | +0.8% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 0.121 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.927, 13% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Russia's 0.121 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.8365, 14% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.058 | 0.058 | 0.058 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.058 | 0.058 | 0.058 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.058 | 0.058 | 0.058 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.058 | 0.058 | 0.058 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.0535 | 0.049 | 0.058 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.0581 | 0.049 | 0.062 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.0692 | 0.062 | 0.071 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.111 | 0.071 | 0.151 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.3457 | 0.151 | 0.538 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.5526 | 0.411 | 0.596 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.3559 | 0.342 | 0.411 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.356 | 0.356 | 0.356 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.3075 | 0.275 | 0.34 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.287 | 0.123 | 0.339 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.1356 | 0.117 | 0.149 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1342 | 0.129 | 0.148 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1379 | 0.131 | 0.143 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1664 | 0.125 | 0.195 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1805 | 0.166 | 0.205 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1644 | 0.159 | 0.165 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1731 | 0.163 | 0.194 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2608 | 0.199 | 0.287 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2276 | 0.185 | 0.246 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.206 | 0.192 | 0.23 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1533 | 0.12 | 0.187 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Russia
- 151 Uzbekistan 0.147 compare
- 152 Libya 0.125 compare
- 153 Cuba 0.123 compare
- 155 Central African Republic 0.118 compare
- 156 Mauritania 0.117 compare
- 157 Belarus 0.116 compare
More reference data data for Russia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 9.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.58 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.58 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 31.32 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 129.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 26.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rule of law index in Russia?
- Rule of law index in Russia was 0.121 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.596 in 1874.
- What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.049 in 1825.
- How does Russia rank for rule of law index?
- Russia ranks 154th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rule of law index rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia 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.