Hungary Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Hungary's rule of law was 0.38 in 2025, ranked 77th globally. This represents a 10.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Hungary's rule of law stood at 0.38 in 2025, a decline of +0.04 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.38 by 2025. Hungary ranked 77th globally.
Hungary's Rule of Law score, as measured by the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators, has experienced significant fluctuations over the past 26 years. At its peak in 2006, the score reached 0.98, indicating a relatively high level of adherence to the rule of law. However, it plummeted to 0.38 in 2015, ranking Hungary at the same level as Croatia and Kuwait. Since then, the score has stagnated, currently standing at 0.38, ranking Hungary 77th globally. This score is closer to that of Italy, which ranks 73rd. The recent stagnation in Hungary's Rule of Law score suggests a lack of progress in strengthening the country's institutions and enacting reforms that promote transparency and accountability. A significant improvement in this area would require sustained efforts from the government to address corruption and ensure the independence of the judiciary, which would likely require cooperation from international partners and a shift in the country's policy priorities.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.36 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.38 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.38 | −0.04 | #77 |
| 2023 | 0.43 | +0.01 | #73 |
| 2022 | 0.42 | −0.08 | #73 |
| 2021 | 0.51 | +0.01 | #64 |
| 2020 | 0.49 | −0.01 | #67 |
| 2019 | 0.50 | −0.06 | #62 |
| 2018 | 0.56 | +0.02 | #58 |
| 2017 | 0.54 | +0.12 | #60 |
| 2016 | 0.41 | +0.03 | #69 |
| 2015 | 0.38 | −0.13 | #71 |
| 2014 | 0.51 | −0.07 | #58 |
| 2013 | 0.58 | −0.03 | #63 |
| 2012 | 0.61 | −0.15 | #62 |
| 2011 | 0.76 | −0.02 | #54 |
| 2010 | 0.77 | +0.00 | #54 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Hungary matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2023. 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
Hungary's rule of law was 0.38 in 2025. Ranked 77th globally. This represents a 10.2% decrease from the previous year.
Hungary's rule of law peaked at 0.98 in 2006.
The lowest rule of law in Hungary was 0.38 in 2015.
Hungary ranks 77th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Hungary's rule of law is projected to reach 0.38 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Hungary in 2025 was 0.38. This ranks 77th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_hungary_rule-of-law,
title = {Hungary Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/hungary/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}