Belgium Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Belgium's rule of law was 1.30 in 2025, ranked 25th globally. This represents a 0.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Belgium's rule of law stood at 1.30 in 2025, a rise of +0.00 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.30 by 2025. Belgium ranked 25th globally.
Belgium’s Rule of Law score in the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has slipped from a historic high of 1.55 in 2014 to 1.30 in 2025, placing the country 25th globally and tying it with Aruba while remaining just above the United Kingdom’s 1.29. The indicator, measured over 26 years, fell to a trough of 1.22 in 1998 before a gradual recovery that peaked a decade later, suggesting that institutional reforms of the early 2000s yielded lasting improvements. Compared with the United States, which records a slightly higher score of 1.31, Belgium’s recent trajectory reflects modest but steady erosion of perceived legal certainty, possibly linked to judicial backlogs and controversial reforms in the criminal justice system. If legislative clarity and enforcement consistency are reinforced, the downward pressure could be halted, allowing Belgium to regain a position nearer to the top tier of the index.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.29 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.30 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.30 | +0.00 | #25 |
| 2023 | 1.30 | −0.05 | #25 |
| 2022 | 1.35 | +0.06 | #25 |
| 2021 | 1.29 | −0.04 | #26 |
| 2020 | 1.33 | −0.01 | #26 |
| 2019 | 1.34 | −0.00 | #26 |
| 2018 | 1.34 | +0.02 | #26 |
| 2017 | 1.32 | −0.07 | #26 |
| 2016 | 1.39 | −0.06 | #24 |
| 2015 | 1.46 | −0.09 | #25 |
| 2014 | 1.55 | +0.09 | #23 |
| 2013 | 1.46 | +0.01 | #21 |
| 2012 | 1.45 | +0.01 | #21 |
| 2011 | 1.43 | +0.02 | #21 |
| 2010 | 1.42 | +0.04 | #22 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Belgium matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Belgium's rule of law was 1.30 in 2025. Ranked 25th globally. This represents a 0.0% increase from the previous year.
Belgium's rule of law peaked at 1.55 in 2014.
The lowest rule of law in Belgium was 1.22 in 1998.
Belgium ranks 25th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Belgium's rule of law is projected to reach 1.30 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Belgium in 2025 was 1.30. This ranks 25th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_belgium_rule-of-law,
title = {Belgium Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/belgium/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}