Bhutan Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Bhutan's rule of law was 0.73 in 2025, ranked 50th globally. This represents a 8.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Bhutan's rule of law stood at 0.73 in 2025, a rise of +0.06 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.73 by 2025. Bhutan ranked 50th globally.
Bhutan’s Rule of Law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has risen from a negative value of –0.03 in the earliest year of coverage, 1996, to a positive 0.73 in 2025, placing the kingdom at rank 50 globally. This 0.73 reading represents both the most recent figure and the all‑time peak, indicating steady institutional strengthening over 26 years. The improvement reflects gradual reforms in judicial independence, contract enforcement and anti‑corruption mechanisms, moving Bhutan closer to peers such as Israel (0.74) and the Cayman Islands (0.72). Nevertheless, the score remains modest compared with high‑performing jurisdictions, suggesting that further enhancements in legal transparency and dispute‑resolution efficiency are needed to sustain progress. Continued investment in legal infrastructure and capacity‑building for law‑enforcement agencies could deepen the upward trajectory, potentially advancing Bhutan into the top‑40 tier of Rule of Law rankings in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.75 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.73 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.73 | +0.06 | #50 |
| 2023 | 0.67 | −0.01 | #53 |
| 2022 | 0.67 | +0.07 | #56 |
| 2021 | 0.61 | +0.03 | #58 |
| 2020 | 0.58 | −0.01 | #61 |
| 2019 | 0.58 | +0.04 | #56 |
| 2018 | 0.55 | −0.08 | #59 |
| 2017 | 0.63 | +0.12 | #51 |
| 2016 | 0.51 | −0.02 | #61 |
| 2015 | 0.53 | +0.12 | #61 |
| 2014 | 0.42 | +0.10 | #65 |
| 2013 | 0.32 | +0.06 | #78 |
| 2012 | 0.26 | +0.06 | #77 |
| 2011 | 0.21 | +0.04 | #76 |
| 2010 | 0.16 | −0.06 | #78 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Bhutan matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2007. 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
Bhutan's rule of law was 0.73 in 2025. Ranked 50th globally. This represents a 8.9% increase from the previous year.
Bhutan's rule of law peaked at 0.73 in 2025.
The lowest rule of law in Bhutan was -0.03 in 1996.
Bhutan ranks 50th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Bhutan's rule of law is projected to reach 0.73 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Bhutan in 2025 was 0.73. This ranks 50th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_bhutan_rule-of-law,
title = {Bhutan Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/bhutan/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}