Japan Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Japan's rule of law was 1.59 in 2025, ranked 15th globally. This represents a 3.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Japan's rule of law stood at 1.59 in 2025, a rise of +0.05 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.59 by 2025. Japan ranked 15th globally.
Japan’s Rule of Law score rose from 1.35 in 1996 to an all‑time peak of 1.60 in 2014, before slipping modestly to 1.59 in 2025, placing the country fifteenth worldwide. The trough of 1.15 in 2002 marked a low point during the early 2000s, after which reforms in judicial independence and anti‑corruption measures drove a steady ascent. In 2025 Japan’s score matches that of the Netherlands (1.59) and exceeds Germany (1.53), indicating comparable institutional robustness among advanced economies, though it remains below San Marino’s 1.63. The 26‑year coverage shows a consistent upward trajectory despite the brief dip after the peak, suggesting that recent legal reforms have been largely effective. Continued enhancements in procedural fairness and transparency could nudge the index higher, while any reversal in political commitment to judicial independence would likely stall or reverse the current positive trend.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.60 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.59 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.59 | +0.05 | #15 |
| 2023 | 1.54 | −0.02 | #16 |
| 2022 | 1.56 | +0.02 | #16 |
| 2021 | 1.54 | +0.07 | #19 |
| 2020 | 1.47 | −0.02 | #20 |
| 2019 | 1.50 | +0.00 | #22 |
| 2018 | 1.49 | −0.04 | #22 |
| 2017 | 1.53 | +0.15 | #23 |
| 2016 | 1.38 | −0.10 | #25 |
| 2015 | 1.49 | −0.11 | #24 |
| 2014 | 1.60 | +0.16 | #22 |
| 2013 | 1.44 | +0.08 | #22 |
| 2012 | 1.35 | +0.05 | #24 |
| 2011 | 1.30 | −0.02 | #25 |
| 2010 | 1.32 | +0.03 | #25 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Japan matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2004. 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
Japan's rule of law was 1.59 in 2025. Ranked 15th globally. This represents a 3.3% increase from the previous year.
Japan's rule of law peaked at 1.60 in 2014.
The lowest rule of law in Japan was 1.15 in 2002.
Japan ranks 15th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Japan's rule of law is projected to reach 1.59 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Japan in 2025 was 1.59. This ranks 15th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_japan_rule-of-law,
title = {Japan Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/japan/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}