Rule of Law Index in Switzerland
Switzerland: Rule of Law Index was 0.995 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Rule of Law Index in Switzerland, 1798–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rule of law index in Switzerland is 0.995, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 228 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, rule of law index in Switzerland peaked at 0.995 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.973, in 1848.
Switzerland ranks 2nd of 176 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Rule of Law Index in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1798 | 0.981 | — |
| 1799 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.981 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.973 | -0.8% |
| 1849 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.973 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.991 | +1.8% |
| 1876 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.991 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.993 | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.993 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.994 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 0.994 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.995 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 0.995 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.994 | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.995 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.995 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.994 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.994 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.995 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 0.995 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.995 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.995 | +0.0% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 0.995 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.927, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 0.995 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.8365, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1790s | 0.981 | 0.981 | 0.981 | 2 |
| 1800s | 0.981 | 0.981 | 0.981 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.981 | 0.981 | 0.981 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.981 | 0.981 | 0.981 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.981 | 0.981 | 0.981 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.9794 | 0.973 | 0.981 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.973 | 0.973 | 0.973 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.973 | 0.973 | 0.973 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.982 | 0.973 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.991 | 0.991 | 0.991 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.9922 | 0.991 | 0.993 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.993 | 0.993 | 0.993 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.993 | 0.993 | 0.993 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.993 | 0.993 | 0.993 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9941 | 0.993 | 0.995 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9947 | 0.994 | 0.995 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rule of law index in Switzerland?
- Rule of law index in Switzerland was 0.995 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 0.995 in 2015.
- What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.973 in 1848.
- How does Switzerland rank for rule of law index?
- Switzerland ranks 2nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rule of law index rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Switzerland 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 — 228 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.