What is rule of law index in Sweden?

Rule of law index in Sweden was 0.989 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Sweden?

The highest recorded value was 0.995 in 1982.

What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Sweden?

The lowest recorded value was 0.849 in 1789.

How does Sweden rank for rule of law index?

Sweden ranks 5th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.

Is rule of law index rising or falling in Sweden?

Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Sweden 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.

Rule of Law Index in Sweden

Name: Rule of Law Index in Sweden
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Sweden: Rule of Law Index was 0.989 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.989

Change on year

down 0.1%

World rank

5th

of 173 countries

All-time high

0.995

in 1982

All-time low

0.849

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Rule of Law Index in Sweden, 1789–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for rule of law index in Sweden is 0.989, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, rule of law index in Sweden peaked at 0.995 in 1982 and was at its lowest, 0.849, in 1789.

That places Sweden 5th out of 173 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.849	0.849	0.849	1
1790s	0.849	0.849	0.849	10
1800s	0.8517	0.849	0.876	10
1810s	0.876	0.876	0.876	10
1820s	0.876	0.876	0.876	10
1830s	0.876	0.876	0.876	10
1840s	0.897	0.876	0.918	10
1850s	0.918	0.918	0.918	10
1860s	0.963	0.963	0.963	10
1870s	0.963	0.963	0.963	10
1880s	0.974	0.974	0.974	10
1890s	0.985	0.985	0.985	10
1900s	0.985	0.985	0.985	10
1910s	0.9851	0.985	0.986	10
1920s	0.9868	0.986	0.987	10
1930s	0.9876	0.986	0.988	10
1940s	0.988	0.988	0.988	10
1950s	0.991	0.991	0.991	10
1960s	0.9929	0.992	0.993	10
1970s	0.994	0.994	0.994	10
1980s	0.9948	0.994	0.995	10
1990s	0.995	0.995	0.995	10
2000s	0.9946	0.994	0.995	10
2010s	0.9937	0.992	0.995	10
2020s	0.9912	0.989	0.993	6

Countries ranked near Sweden

2 Switzerland 0.995 compare
3 Germany 0.991 compare
4 Australia 0.99 compare
5 New Zealand 0.989 compare
7 Norway 0.986 compare
8 Estonia 0.985 compare
8 Finland 0.985 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for Sweden

Spring temperature anomalies 4.22 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 1.58 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month -3.74 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 2.27 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 3.13 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 138.19 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is rule of law index in Sweden?: Rule of law index in Sweden was 0.989 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Sweden?: The highest recorded value was 0.995 in 1982.
What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Sweden?: The lowest recorded value was 0.849 in 1789.
How does Sweden rank for rule of law index?: Sweden ranks 5th out of 173 countries with data for 2025.
Is rule of law index rising or falling in Sweden?: Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sweden 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

Indicator: Rule of Law Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,303 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.