Iceland Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Iceland's rule of law was 1.70 in 2025, ranked 8th globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Iceland's rule of law stood at 1.70 in 2025, a decline of +0.02 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.70 by 2025. Iceland ranked 8th globally.
Iceland's Rule of Law index, as reported by the World Bank's World Governance Indicators, has demonstrated a relatively stable trajectory over the past 26 years. Starting from 1.60 in 1996, the country experienced a significant improvement in its rule of law environment, reaching an all-time peak of 1.94 in 2005. However, following the 2008 financial crisis, Iceland's index declined to an all-time trough of 1.48 in 2016. Since then, the country has shown signs of recovery, with the latest reading standing at 1.70 in 2025. Notably, Iceland's current ranking places it among the top-performing countries globally, alongside Singapore and Norway, which also scored 1.71 and 1.72, respectively. Switzerland, another peer country, trails closely with a score of 1.69. As the global economic landscape continues to evolve, a potential shift in Iceland's economic policy or judicial system could impact the trajectory of its rule of law index, prompting it to either maintain its current position or continue its upward trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.69 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.70 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.70 | −0.02 | #8 |
| 2023 | 1.72 | +0.02 | #8 |
| 2022 | 1.70 | −0.01 | #11 |
| 2021 | 1.71 | −0.04 | #9 |
| 2020 | 1.75 | +0.02 | #9 |
| 2019 | 1.73 | +0.05 | #11 |
| 2018 | 1.68 | +0.11 | #14 |
| 2017 | 1.57 | +0.09 | #19 |
| 2016 | 1.48 | −0.15 | #22 |
| 2015 | 1.63 | −0.07 | #19 |
| 2014 | 1.70 | +0.05 | #19 |
| 2013 | 1.65 | −0.02 | #16 |
| 2012 | 1.68 | −0.01 | #16 |
| 2011 | 1.69 | −0.02 | #14 |
| 2010 | 1.71 | −0.00 | #15 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iceland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2016. 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
Iceland's rule of law was 1.70 in 2025. Ranked 8th globally. This represents a 1.3% decrease from the previous year.
Iceland's rule of law peaked at 1.94 in 2005.
The lowest rule of law in Iceland was 1.48 in 2016.
Iceland ranks 8th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Iceland's rule of law is projected to reach 1.70 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Iceland in 2025 was 1.70. This ranks 8th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iceland_rule-of-law,
title = {Iceland Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iceland/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}