Rule of Law by Country
The Rule of Law by Country ranking compares nations by year-over-year changes in legal frameworks, ranking higher those with significant progress in justice, accountability, and the protection of rights.
El Salvador ranks #1 in 2023, showing a positive change from -0.74 to -0.37. Lithuania takes #2 with a positive change from 1.06 to 1.27, and Tuvalu is #3, showing a positive change from 0.82 to 1.01.
Meanwhile, San Marino, Ecuador, and Sudan are at the bottom of the ranking. San Marino shows a negative change from 1.75 to 1.48, Ecuador sees a negative change from -0.62 to -0.96, and Sudan has a negative change from -1.26 to -1.67.
Rank | Country | Most Recent Year | Previous Year | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | El Salvador | -0.37 (2023) | -0.74 (2022) | +0.37 pts |
2 | Lithuania | 1.27 (2023) | 1.06 (2022) | +0.21 pts |
3 | Tuvalu | 1.01 (2023) | 0.82 (2022) | +0.19 pts |
4 | Thailand | 0.25 (2023) | 0.07 (2022) | +0.18 pts |
5 | Algeria | -0.68 (2023) | -0.83 (2022) | +0.16 pts |
6 | Moldova | -0.15 (2023) | -0.29 (2022) | +0.13 pts |
7 | Saudi Arabia | 0.42 (2023) | 0.29 (2022) | +0.13 pts |
8 | Latvia | 1.04 (2023) | 0.92 (2022) | +0.12 pts |
9 | Oman | 0.61 (2023) | 0.50 (2022) | +0.11 pts |
10 | Ireland | 1.63 (2023) | 1.53 (2022) | +0.11 pts |
11 | Bulgaria | -0.01 (2023) | -0.11 (2022) | +0.10 pts |
12 | Philippines | -0.42 (2023) | -0.52 (2022) | +0.10 pts |
13 | Bangladesh | -0.50 (2023) | -0.60 (2022) | +0.10 pts |
14 | Italy | 0.39 (2023) | 0.30 (2022) | +0.09 pts |
15 | South Korea | 1.25 (2023) | 1.16 (2022) | +0.09 pts |
16 | Benin | -0.51 (2023) | -0.60 (2022) | +0.09 pts |
17 | Tanzania | -0.37 (2023) | -0.46 (2022) | +0.09 pts |
18 | Montenegro | -0.04 (2023) | -0.13 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
19 | Belize | -0.64 (2023) | -0.72 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
20 | Egypt | -0.18 (2023) | -0.27 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
21 | Bolivia | -1.22 (2023) | -1.30 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
22 | Gambia | -0.37 (2023) | -0.46 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
23 | Morocco | -0.13 (2023) | -0.21 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
24 | Papua New Guinea | -0.54 (2023) | -0.62 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
25 | Somalia | -2.21 (2023) | -2.29 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
26 | India | 0.19 (2023) | 0.11 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
27 | Norway | 1.83 (2023) | 1.76 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
28 | Vietnam | -0.09 (2023) | -0.16 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
29 | Argentina | -0.41 (2023) | -0.48 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
30 | Congo | -1.02 (2023) | -1.09 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
31 | Equatorial Guinea | -1.34 (2023) | -1.41 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
32 | Slovenia | 1.04 (2023) | 0.97 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
33 | Malawi | -0.16 (2023) | -0.22 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
34 | Suriname | -0.06 (2023) | -0.13 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
35 | Kuwait | 0.34 (2023) | 0.28 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
36 | Mexico | -0.81 (2023) | -0.87 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
37 | Azerbaijan | -0.57 (2023) | -0.63 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
38 | Cyprus | 0.63 (2023) | 0.57 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
39 | Rwanda | 0.21 (2023) | 0.15 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
40 | Iraq | -1.69 (2023) | -1.75 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
41 | Barbados | 0.41 (2023) | 0.36 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
42 | Guatemala | -1.08 (2023) | -1.13 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
43 | Grenada | 0.61 (2023) | 0.56 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
44 | Armenia | -0.12 (2023) | -0.17 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
45 | Cambodia | -0.82 (2023) | -0.87 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
46 | Eswatini | -0.60 (2023) | -0.65 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
47 | Timor-Leste | -0.83 (2023) | -0.88 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
48 | United Arab Emirates | 0.88 (2023) | 0.84 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
49 | Venezuela | -2.15 (2023) | -2.20 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
50 | South Africa | 0.09 (2023) | 0.04 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
51 | Bahamas | 0.18 (2023) | 0.14 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
52 | Austria | 1.75 (2023) | 1.70 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
53 | Czech Republic | 1.14 (2023) | 1.10 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
54 | Jordan | 0.26 (2023) | 0.22 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
55 | Serbia | -0.08 (2023) | -0.11 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
56 | Indonesia | -0.15 (2023) | -0.19 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
57 | Romania | 0.44 (2023) | 0.40 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
58 | Syria | -2.04 (2023) | -2.07 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
59 | Nicaragua | -1.28 (2023) | -1.31 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
60 | Poland | 0.46 (2023) | 0.43 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
61 | Bahrain | 0.47 (2023) | 0.44 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
62 | Libya | -1.77 (2023) | -1.80 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
63 | Namibia | 0.45 (2023) | 0.42 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
64 | Ukraine | -0.89 (2023) | -0.92 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
65 | Kazakhstan | -0.45 (2023) | -0.48 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
66 | Burundi | -1.25 (2023) | -1.28 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
67 | Nigeria | -0.89 (2023) | -0.91 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
68 | Spain | 0.82 (2023) | 0.80 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
69 | Togo | -0.53 (2023) | -0.55 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
70 | Chad | -1.35 (2023) | -1.37 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
71 | Uzbekistan | -0.83 (2023) | -0.85 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
72 | Germany | 1.55 (2023) | 1.53 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
73 | North Korea | -1.64 (2023) | -1.66 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
74 | Guinea-Bissau | -1.44 (2023) | -1.45 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
75 | Iceland | 1.72 (2023) | 1.70 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
76 | Qatar | 0.93 (2023) | 0.92 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
77 | Peru | -0.54 (2023) | -0.55 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
78 | Australia | 1.52 (2023) | 1.51 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
79 | Panama | -0.35 (2023) | -0.36 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
80 | Haiti | -1.36 (2023) | -1.38 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
81 | Yemen | -1.84 (2023) | -1.85 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
82 | Côte d'Ivoire | -0.46 (2023) | -0.47 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
83 | Switzerland | 1.76 (2023) | 1.75 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
84 | Eritrea | -1.76 (2023) | -1.77 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
85 | Malaysia | 0.57 (2023) | 0.56 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
86 | Afghanistan | -1.65 (2023) | -1.66 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
87 | Denmark | 1.91 (2023) | 1.90 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
88 | Finland | 1.97 (2023) | 1.96 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
89 | Russia | -1.19 (2023) | -1.20 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
90 | Mauritius | 0.81 (2023) | 0.80 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
91 | Paraguay | -0.58 (2023) | -0.59 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
92 | Cuba | -0.45 (2023) | -0.46 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
93 | Georgia | 0.18 (2023) | 0.17 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
94 | Mauritania | -0.64 (2023) | -0.65 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
95 | Hungary | 0.43 (2023) | 0.42 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
96 | Nauru | -0.02 (2023) | -0.02 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
97 | Turkmenistan | -1.49 (2023) | -1.49 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
98 | Mali | -0.98 (2023) | -0.98 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
99 | Mongolia | -0.18 (2023) | -0.19 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
100 | Albania | -0.16 (2023) | -0.17 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
101 | China | -0.04 (2023) | -0.04 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
102 | Cabo Verde | 0.40 (2023) | 0.40 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
103 | Cameroon | -1.04 (2023) | -1.04 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
104 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | -1.67 (2023) | -1.67 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
105 | Estonia | 1.43 (2023) | 1.43 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
106 | France | 1.18 (2023) | 1.18 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
107 | Mozambique | -1.03 (2023) | -1.03 (2022) | 0.00 pts |
108 | Sierra Leone | -0.83 (2023) | -0.83 (2022) | 0.00 pts |
109 | Senegal | -0.27 (2023) | -0.27 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
110 | Bhutan | 0.67 (2023) | 0.67 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
111 | Liechtenstein | 1.71 (2023) | 1.72 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
112 | Croatia | 0.36 (2023) | 0.37 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
113 | Lesotho | -0.48 (2023) | -0.47 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
114 | Andorra | 1.48 (2023) | 1.49 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
115 | Kenya | -0.33 (2023) | -0.32 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
116 | Monaco | 1.48 (2023) | 1.49 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
117 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0.38 (2023) | 0.39 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
118 | Zambia | -0.53 (2023) | -0.52 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
119 | Netherlands | 1.64 (2023) | 1.66 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
120 | Nepal | -0.46 (2023) | -0.45 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
121 | Guinea | -1.11 (2023) | -1.10 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
122 | United Kingdom | 1.40 (2023) | 1.41 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
123 | Luxembourg | 1.75 (2023) | 1.77 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
124 | Palau | 0.94 (2023) | 0.95 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
125 | Slovakia | 0.60 (2023) | 0.62 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
126 | Ghana | -0.10 (2023) | -0.08 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
127 | Fiji | 0.31 (2023) | 0.33 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
128 | Tajikistan | -1.28 (2023) | -1.26 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
129 | Djibouti | -1.13 (2023) | -1.10 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
130 | Japan | 1.54 (2023) | 1.56 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
131 | Solomon Islands | -0.26 (2023) | -0.24 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
132 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0.48 (2023) | 0.50 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
133 | New Zealand | 1.71 (2023) | 1.73 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
134 | Madagascar | -0.98 (2023) | -0.95 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
135 | Singapore | 1.75 (2023) | 1.78 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
136 | Tunisia | -0.14 (2023) | -0.11 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
137 | Comoros | -1.34 (2023) | -1.32 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
138 | Kyrgyzstan | -1.17 (2023) | -1.15 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
139 | Laos | -0.83 (2023) | -0.80 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
140 | Guyana | -0.34 (2023) | -0.31 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
141 | Seychelles | 0.43 (2023) | 0.46 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
142 | Belarus | -1.25 (2023) | -1.22 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
143 | Colombia | -0.46 (2023) | -0.43 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
144 | Sri Lanka | -0.09 (2023) | -0.06 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
145 | Ethiopia | -0.67 (2023) | -0.64 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
146 | Dominican Republic | -0.13 (2023) | -0.09 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
147 | Kiribati | 0.59 (2023) | 0.63 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
148 | Zimbabwe | -1.28 (2023) | -1.24 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
149 | United States | 1.33 (2023) | 1.37 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
150 | Iran | -1.06 (2023) | -1.02 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
151 | Portugal | 1.07 (2023) | 1.11 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
152 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | -0.35 (2023) | -0.31 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
153 | Micronesia | 0.64 (2023) | 0.69 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
154 | Samoa | 0.90 (2023) | 0.95 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
155 | Tonga | 0.55 (2023) | 0.60 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
156 | Costa Rica | 0.39 (2023) | 0.44 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
157 | Brunei | 0.89 (2023) | 0.93 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
158 | Gabon | -0.87 (2023) | -0.82 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
159 | Uruguay | 0.72 (2023) | 0.77 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
160 | Brazil | -0.31 (2023) | -0.26 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
161 | Türkiye | -0.51 (2023) | -0.46 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
162 | Marshall Islands | 0.68 (2023) | 0.73 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
163 | Belgium | 1.30 (2023) | 1.35 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
164 | Saint Lucia | 0.61 (2023) | 0.66 (2022) | -0.06 pts |
165 | Central African Republic | -1.76 (2023) | -1.70 (2022) | -0.06 pts |
166 | Sao Tome and Principe | -0.70 (2023) | -0.63 (2022) | -0.06 pts |
167 | Lebanon | -1.17 (2023) | -1.10 (2022) | -0.06 pts |
168 | Chile | 0.63 (2023) | 0.69 (2022) | -0.06 pts |
169 | Botswana | 0.39 (2023) | 0.46 (2022) | -0.07 pts |
170 | North Macedonia | -0.17 (2023) | -0.10 (2022) | -0.07 pts |
171 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0.57 (2023) | 0.65 (2022) | -0.07 pts |
172 | Angola | -1.10 (2023) | -1.02 (2022) | -0.08 pts |
173 | Honduras | -1.10 (2023) | -1.02 (2022) | -0.08 pts |
174 | South Sudan | -2.14 (2023) | -2.06 (2022) | -0.08 pts |
175 | Malta | 0.70 (2023) | 0.79 (2022) | -0.08 pts |
176 | Sweden | 1.60 (2023) | 1.69 (2022) | -0.09 pts |
177 | Myanmar | -1.62 (2023) | -1.53 (2022) | -0.09 pts |
178 | Canada | 1.47 (2023) | 1.57 (2022) | -0.09 pts |
179 | Uganda | -0.48 (2023) | -0.37 (2022) | -0.10 pts |
180 | Jamaica | -0.18 (2023) | -0.07 (2022) | -0.10 pts |
181 | Dominica | 0.63 (2023) | 0.73 (2022) | -0.11 pts |
182 | Greece | 0.21 (2023) | 0.33 (2022) | -0.11 pts |
183 | Trinidad and Tobago | -0.28 (2023) | -0.17 (2022) | -0.12 pts |
184 | Liberia | -1.03 (2023) | -0.92 (2022) | -0.12 pts |
185 | Maldives | -0.08 (2023) | 0.04 (2022) | -0.12 pts |
186 | Burkina Faso | -0.74 (2023) | -0.61 (2022) | -0.13 pts |
187 | Israel | 0.78 (2023) | 0.95 (2022) | -0.16 pts |
188 | Vanuatu | 0.14 (2023) | 0.32 (2022) | -0.18 pts |
189 | Pakistan | -0.86 (2023) | -0.67 (2022) | -0.19 pts |
190 | Niger | -0.71 (2023) | -0.50 (2022) | -0.21 pts |
191 | San Marino | 1.48 (2023) | 1.75 (2022) | -0.27 pts |
192 | Ecuador | -0.96 (2023) | -0.62 (2022) | -0.34 pts |
193 | Sudan | -1.67 (2023) | -1.26 (2022) | -0.41 pts |
Source: World Bank. Only countries with consecutive data in the past 10 years are shown.