Denmark Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Denmark's rule of law was 1.97 in 2025, ranked 1st globally. This represents a 3.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Denmark's rule of law stood at 1.97 in 2025, a rise of +0.06 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.97 by 2025. Denmark ranked 1st globally.
Denmark consistently ranks as a global leader in the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) for the Rule of Law, with its score reaching an all-time peak of 2.10 in 2014. Although it has experienced fluctuations, the country's score has trended upward over the past two decades, with the 2025 score standing at 1.97. This value surpasses that of several peer countries, including Finland with a score of 1.93 and Luxembourg with a score of 1.77. Notably, Denmark's score declined to 1.77 in 2018, its all-time trough, but has since recovered. The sustained high score for Denmark suggests a strong institutional framework and effective governance, which have contributed to the country's economic stability and high standard of living. Looking forward, any significant changes to Denmark's rule of law framework could impact its position, such as potential reforms to its judicial system or shifts in government policy, which could either reinforce or challenge its position as a global leader in this area.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.99 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.97 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.97 | +0.06 | #1 |
| 2023 | 1.91 | +0.01 | #2 |
| 2022 | 1.90 | +0.00 | #2 |
| 2021 | 1.90 | +0.09 | #3 |
| 2020 | 1.81 | −0.03 | #5 |
| 2019 | 1.83 | +0.06 | #7 |
| 2018 | 1.77 | −0.03 | #8 |
| 2017 | 1.80 | −0.08 | #6 |
| 2016 | 1.88 | −0.13 | #6 |
| 2015 | 2.02 | −0.09 | #2 |
| 2014 | 2.10 | +0.20 | #2 |
| 2013 | 1.90 | +0.03 | #4 |
| 2012 | 1.88 | −0.04 | #5 |
| 2011 | 1.92 | +0.02 | #2 |
| 2010 | 1.90 | −0.02 | #3 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Denmark 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
Denmark's rule of law was 1.97 in 2025. Ranked 1st globally. This represents a 3.0% increase from the previous year.
Denmark's rule of law peaked at 2.10 in 2014.
The lowest rule of law in Denmark was 1.77 in 2018.
Denmark ranks 1st globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Denmark's rule of law is projected to reach 1.97 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Denmark in 2025 was 1.97. This ranks 1st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_denmark_rule-of-law,
title = {Denmark Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/denmark/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}