France Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
France's rule of law was 1.06 in 2025, ranked 36th globally. This represents a 10.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
France's rule of law stood at 1.06 in 2025, a decline of +0.12 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.06 by 2025. France ranked 36th globally.
France’s rule‑of‑law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has fallen markedly over the 26‑year series, slipping from an early‑period value of 1.48 in 1996 to an all‑time trough of 1.06 in 2025, which also represents its latest reading and places the country 36th globally. The indicator reached its highest point in 2010 at 1.50 before the subsequent decline, suggesting that reforms or institutional setbacks after that year weakened the perceived independence of the judiciary, the effectiveness of law enforcement and the protection of property rights. France now shares its 2025 score of 1.06 with Portugal, while neighboring peers such as Qatar and Palau register slightly lower figures of 1.04 and 1.07 respectively, underscoring a relative deterioration compared with many advanced economies. If legislative clarity, anti‑corruption measures and judicial efficiency are reinforced, the downward trajectory could be halted and the score may begin to recover in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.01 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.06 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.06 | −0.12 | #36 |
| 2023 | 1.18 | −0.00 | #31 |
| 2022 | 1.18 | −0.08 | #30 |
| 2021 | 1.26 | −0.04 | #27 |
| 2020 | 1.30 | −0.07 | #27 |
| 2019 | 1.37 | −0.02 | #24 |
| 2018 | 1.40 | −0.00 | #25 |
| 2017 | 1.40 | +0.05 | #24 |
| 2016 | 1.35 | −0.02 | #26 |
| 2015 | 1.37 | −0.09 | #26 |
| 2014 | 1.45 | +0.05 | #24 |
| 2013 | 1.40 | −0.03 | #23 |
| 2012 | 1.44 | +0.01 | #22 |
| 2011 | 1.43 | −0.07 | #22 |
| 2010 | 1.50 | +0.05 | #21 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
France matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2019. 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
France's rule of law was 1.06 in 2025. Ranked 36th globally. This represents a 10.4% decrease from the previous year.
France's rule of law peaked at 1.50 in 2010.
The lowest rule of law in France was 1.06 in 2025.
France ranks 36th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
France's rule of law is projected to reach 1.06 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of France in 2025 was 1.06. This ranks 36th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_france_rule-of-law,
title = {France Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/france/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}