Rule of Law Index in Serbia
Serbia: Rule of Law Index was 0.367 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
0.367
Change on year
down 14.3%
World rank
115th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.607
in 2009
All-time low
0.119
in 1804
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Rule of Law Index in Serbia, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rule of law index in Serbia is 0.367, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.3% on the previous year and down 30.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rule of law index in Serbia peaked at 0.607 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.119, in 1804.
Serbia ranks 115th of 176 countries on this measure, 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 Serbia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.226 | — |
| 1790 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.226 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.119 | -47.3% |
| 1805 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.119 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.213 | +79.0% |
| 1815 | 0.153 | -28.2% |
| 1816 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.166 | +8.5% |
| 1831 | 0.185 | +11.4% |
| 1832 | 0.185 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.185 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.185 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.251 | +35.7% |
| 1836 | 0.245 | -2.4% |
| 1837 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.251 | +2.4% |
| 1839 | 0.269 | +7.2% |
| 1840 | 0.249 | -7.4% |
| 1841 | 0.249 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.288 | +15.7% |
| 1843 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.272 | -5.6% |
| 1859 | 0.285 | +4.8% |
| 1860 | 0.293 | +2.8% |
| 1861 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.293 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.316 | +7.8% |
| 1865 | 0.292 | -7.6% |
| 1866 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.292 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.291 | -0.3% |
| 1870 | 0.291 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.291 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.291 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.291 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.291 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.291 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.299 | +2.7% |
| 1877 | 0.299 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.304 | +1.7% |
| 1879 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.304 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.32 | +5.3% |
| 1885 | 0.32 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.31 | -3.1% |
| 1887 | 0.31 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.324 | +4.5% |
| 1889 | 0.338 | +4.3% |
| 1890 | 0.338 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.338 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.338 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.338 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.338 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.305 | -9.8% |
| 1896 | 0.305 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.305 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.305 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.305 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.305 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.305 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.308 | +1.0% |
| 1903 | 0.337 | +9.4% |
| 1904 | 0.346 | +2.7% |
| 1905 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.321 | -7.2% |
| 1915 | 0.274 | -14.6% |
| 1916 | 0.257 | -6.2% |
| 1917 | 0.257 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.274 | +6.6% |
| 1919 | 0.313 | +14.2% |
| 1920 | 0.313 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.311 | -0.6% |
| 1922 | 0.317 | +1.9% |
| 1923 | 0.337 | +6.3% |
| 1924 | 0.337 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.337 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.337 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.337 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.301 | -10.7% |
| 1929 | 0.294 | -2.3% |
| 1930 | 0.269 | -8.5% |
| 1931 | 0.269 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.272 | +1.1% |
| 1933 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.268 | -1.5% |
| 1941 | 0.149 | -44.4% |
| 1942 | 0.152 | +2.0% |
| 1943 | 0.152 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.181 | +19.1% |
| 1945 | 0.298 | +64.6% |
| 1946 | 0.343 | +15.1% |
| 1947 | 0.326 | -5.0% |
| 1948 | 0.326 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.358 | +9.8% |
| 1950 | 0.386 | +7.8% |
| 1951 | 0.396 | +2.6% |
| 1952 | 0.396 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.399 | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 0.399 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.394 | -1.3% |
| 1956 | 0.394 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.394 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.394 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.397 | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 0.397 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.397 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.397 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.45 | +13.4% |
| 1964 | 0.45 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.464 | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 0.464 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.475 | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 0.475 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.475 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.46 | -3.2% |
| 1971 | 0.46 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.46 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.46 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.467 | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 0.467 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.467 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.467 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.467 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.467 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.464 | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 0.483 | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 0.502 | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 0.502 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.502 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.502 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.502 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.502 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.502 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.431 | -14.1% |
| 1990 | 0.269 | -37.6% |
| 1991 | 0.243 | -9.7% |
| 1992 | 0.242 | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 0.253 | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 0.253 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.253 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.253 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.253 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.253 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.253 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.346 | +36.8% |
| 2001 | 0.58 | +67.6% |
| 2002 | 0.588 | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 0.561 | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 0.557 | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 0.557 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.581 | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 0.6 | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 0.6 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.607 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 0.585 | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 0.585 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.58 | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 0.528 | -9.0% |
| 2014 | 0.528 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.528 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.496 | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 0.474 | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 0.512 | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 0.527 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 0.476 | -9.7% |
| 2021 | 0.483 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 0.488 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 0.473 | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 0.428 | -9.5% |
| 2025 | 0.367 | -14.3% |
Serbia compared with similar countries
- Serbia's 0.367 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4345, 84% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Serbia's 0.367 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.8365, 44% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.226 | 0.226 | 0.226 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.226 | 0.226 | 0.226 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.1618 | 0.119 | 0.226 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.1454 | 0.119 | 0.213 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.153 | 0.153 | 0.153 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.2167 | 0.166 | 0.269 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.2802 | 0.249 | 0.288 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.2861 | 0.272 | 0.288 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.2947 | 0.291 | 0.316 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.2952 | 0.291 | 0.304 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.3138 | 0.304 | 0.338 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.3215 | 0.305 | 0.338 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.3331 | 0.305 | 0.346 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.308 | 0.257 | 0.346 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.3221 | 0.294 | 0.337 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.2714 | 0.269 | 0.272 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.2553 | 0.149 | 0.358 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.3949 | 0.386 | 0.399 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.4444 | 0.397 | 0.475 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4642 | 0.46 | 0.467 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4892 | 0.431 | 0.502 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2525 | 0.242 | 0.269 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5577 | 0.346 | 0.607 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5343 | 0.474 | 0.585 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4525 | 0.367 | 0.488 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Serbia
More reference data data for Serbia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6055 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.3321 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3467 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 15.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.89 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rule of law index in Serbia?
- Rule of law index in Serbia was 0.367 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Serbia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.607 in 2009.
- What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Serbia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.119 in 1804.
- How does Serbia rank for rule of law index?
- Serbia ranks 115th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rule of law index rising or falling in Serbia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Serbia 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
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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.