Germany Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Germany's rule of law was 1.53 in 2025, ranked 17th globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Germany's rule of law stood at 1.53 in 2025, a decline of +0.02 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.53 by 2025. Germany ranked 17th globally.
Germany’s World Bank Rule of Law index slipped from a 1996 baseline of 1.61 to an all‑time trough of 1.52 in 2020, before a modest recovery that left the 2025 score at 1.53, ranking the country 17th worldwide. The indicator’s highest reading of 1.85 was recorded in 2014, reflecting a period of robust judicial independence and effective law enforcement, but subsequent declines have been linked to political polarization and challenges to media freedom. Compared with peers, Germany’s 2025 score is virtually identical to Sweden’s 1.53 and slightly below Estonia’s 1.55, yet remains above Japan’s 1.59 and Andorra’s 1.47, suggesting that while the German legal framework retains competitive strength, it lags behind the most advanced rule‑of‑law environments. The long‑term downward drift since the 2014 peak indicates structural pressures that could deepen if reforms to safeguard judicial autonomy and combat corruption are not accelerated, and future trajectories will hinge on the effectiveness of such policy interventions.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.53 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.53 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.53 | −0.02 | #17 |
| 2023 | 1.55 | +0.02 | #15 |
| 2022 | 1.53 | −0.04 | #17 |
| 2021 | 1.57 | +0.05 | #18 |
| 2020 | 1.52 | −0.06 | #19 |
| 2019 | 1.58 | −0.01 | #16 |
| 2018 | 1.59 | +0.02 | #18 |
| 2017 | 1.57 | −0.01 | #18 |
| 2016 | 1.58 | −0.18 | #17 |
| 2015 | 1.76 | −0.09 | #15 |
| 2014 | 1.85 | +0.21 | #14 |
| 2013 | 1.64 | −0.03 | #17 |
| 2012 | 1.67 | +0.05 | #17 |
| 2011 | 1.62 | −0.02 | #17 |
| 2010 | 1.64 | −0.01 | #16 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Germany 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
Germany's rule of law was 1.53 in 2025. Ranked 17th globally. This represents a 1.2% decrease from the previous year.
Germany's rule of law peaked at 1.85 in 2014.
The lowest rule of law in Germany was 1.52 in 2020.
Germany ranks 17th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Germany's rule of law is projected to reach 1.53 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Germany in 2025 was 1.53. This ranks 17th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_germany_rule-of-law,
title = {Germany Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/germany/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}