Costa Rica Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Costa Rica's rule of law was 0.32 in 2025, ranked 83rd globally. This represents a 18.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Costa Rica's rule of law stood at 0.32 in 2025, a decline of +0.07 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.32 by 2025. Costa Rica ranked 83rd globally.
Costa Rica's Rule of Law score, as measured by the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), has demonstrated a downward trend over the past 26 years, with a significant decline from its peak in 1998, when it reached 0.63, to the current value of 0.32 in 2025. This places Costa Rica at #83 globally in terms of Rule of Law, closely ranking with Greece, which also scored 0.32. In comparison, neighboring countries such as Cabo Verde have fared better, with a score of 0.35, while India has struggled, with a score of 0.29. The decline in Costa Rica's Rule of Law score is a cause for concern, as it may indicate weaker judicial institutions and a less predictable business environment. To reverse this trend, Costa Rica would need to address issues related to corruption, judicial independence, and the enforcement of contracts, which are key components of a robust Rule of Law system.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.28 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.32 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.32 | −0.07 | #83 |
| 2023 | 0.39 | −0.05 | #79 |
| 2022 | 0.44 | +0.01 | #71 |
| 2021 | 0.42 | −0.08 | #72 |
| 2020 | 0.50 | −0.03 | #65 |
| 2019 | 0.53 | +0.06 | #59 |
| 2018 | 0.47 | +0.04 | #63 |
| 2017 | 0.43 | −0.00 | #66 |
| 2016 | 0.43 | −0.06 | #67 |
| 2015 | 0.49 | −0.09 | #62 |
| 2014 | 0.58 | +0.02 | #54 |
| 2013 | 0.56 | +0.03 | #65 |
| 2012 | 0.53 | +0.09 | #66 |
| 2011 | 0.44 | −0.09 | #72 |
| 2010 | 0.54 | −0.04 | #68 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Costa Rica matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1995. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's rule of law was 0.32 in 2025. Ranked 83rd globally. This represents a 18.3% decrease from the previous year.
Costa Rica's rule of law peaked at 0.63 in 1998.
The lowest rule of law in Costa Rica was 0.32 in 2025.
Costa Rica ranks 83rd globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Costa Rica's rule of law is projected to reach 0.32 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Costa Rica in 2025 was 0.32. This ranks 83rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_rule-of-law,
title = {Costa Rica Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}