World Justice Project Releases WJP Rule of Law Index 2015 Scores and Rankings for 102 Countries Worldwide

WASHINGTON, DC (2 JUNE, 2015) – The World Justice Project (WJP) today released the WJP Rule of Law Index 2015, an annual report that measures how the rule of law is experienced by the general public in 102 countries worldwide. The top three overall performers in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2015 are Denmark (1), Norway (2), and Sweden (3); the bottom three are Zimbabwe (100), Afghanistan (101), and Venezuela (102). Regional leaders also included Nepal (S. Asia), Georgia (E. Europe & Central Asia); Botswana (Sub-Saharan Africa); Uruguay (Latin America & Caribbean); and United Arab Emirates (Middle East & North Africa).

The Index relies on over 100,000 household and 2,400 expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced in practical, everyday situations by ordinary people around the world. Performance is assessed using 47 indicators across eight categories, each of which is scored and ranked globally and against regional and income peers: Constraints on Government Powers, Absence of Corruption, Open Government, Fundamental Rights, Order and Security, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice, and Criminal Justice.

The complete 2015 report—including regional rankings, country-specific data, global insights and more— is available on June 2 at: www.worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index. 

“Effective rule of law helps reduce corruption, alleviate poverty, improve public health and education, and protect people from injustices and dangers large and small,” said William H. Neukom, WJP Founder and CEO. “Wherever we come from, the rule of law can always be strengthened.”

The WJP Rule of Law Index is the most comprehensive index of its kind and the only to rely solely on primary data. The Index’s scores are built from the assessments of local residents (1,000 respondents per country) and local legal experts, which ensure that the findings reflect the conditions experienced by the population, including marginalized sectors of society. Features of the 2015 Index include:  

• New data for 2015: Updated scores and rankings for 102 countries across 8 primary rule of law indicators and 47 sub-factors. ï‚·
• Global insights: New insights into issues of impunity, open government, policing, and more as they are experienced and perceived by ordinary people worldwide. ï‚·
• Data app: In-depth country data featured on a standalone site for quickly accessing, comparing, and downloading WJP Rule of Law Index data. ï‚·
• Changes over time: Country profiles feature changes in rule of law adherence over time. ï‚· Additional countries: New to the WJP Rule of Law Index — Belize, Costa Rica, and Honduras.

TOP 10 WJP RULE OF LAW INDEX 2015 PERFORMERS

Country              Overall Score     Global Ranking 

Denmark                          0.87                         1

Norway                            0.87                         2

Sweden                            0.85                         3

Finland                             0.85                         4

Netherlands                    0.83                         5

New Zealand                   0.83                         6

Austria                             0.82                         7

Germany                         0.81                         8

Singapore                        0.81                         9

Australia                          0.80                       10

BOTTOM 10 WJP RULE OF LAW INDEX 2015 PERFORMERS

Country               Overall Score      Global Ranking

Bangladesh                       0.42                      93

Bolivia                               0.41                      94

Uganda                             0.41                      95

Nigeria                              0.41                      96

Cameroon                        0.40                      97

Pakistan                           0.38                       98

Cambodia                        0.37                       99

Zimbabwe                       0.37                     100

Afghanistan                    0.35                      101

Venezuela                       0.32                     102