Latvia Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Latvia's rule of law was 1.01 in 2025, ranked 39th globally. This represents a 2.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Latvia's rule of law stood at 1.01 in 2025, a decline of +0.03 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.01 by 2025. Latvia ranked 39th globally.
Latvia’s Rule of Law score, measured by the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, has risen from an all‑time trough of 0.13 in 1996 to a peak of 1.04 in 2023, before slipping slightly to 1.01 in 2025, placing the country 39th in the global ranking. The 26‑year coverage shows a steady upward trajectory, reflecting reforms in the judicial system, anti‑corruption measures and alignment with European Union standards. Compared with peers, Latvia’s 2025 score of 1.01 is marginally below Qatar’s 1.04 and above Slovenia’s 0.96, indicating a competitive position among small, high‑income economies. The modest decline from the 2023 peak suggests vulnerability to external shocks or domestic political shifts, but the long‑term improvement points to institutional resilience. Continued emphasis on judicial independence and transparent law enforcement is likely to sustain the positive trend, while any reversal in reform momentum could stall or reverse progress.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.02 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.01 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.01 | −0.03 | #39 |
| 2023 | 1.04 | +0.12 | #34 |
| 2022 | 0.92 | −0.03 | #41 |
| 2021 | 0.95 | +0.03 | #36 |
| 2020 | 0.92 | −0.06 | #41 |
| 2019 | 0.98 | +0.06 | #40 |
| 2018 | 0.92 | +0.02 | #42 |
| 2017 | 0.90 | −0.03 | #42 |
| 2016 | 0.93 | +0.16 | #41 |
| 2015 | 0.77 | −0.10 | #49 |
| 2014 | 0.87 | +0.11 | #43 |
| 2013 | 0.76 | −0.02 | #53 |
| 2012 | 0.78 | +0.04 | #54 |
| 2011 | 0.74 | −0.02 | #56 |
| 2010 | 0.76 | −0.03 | #56 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Latvia matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2017. 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
Latvia's rule of law was 1.01 in 2025. Ranked 39th globally. This represents a 2.8% decrease from the previous year.
Latvia's rule of law peaked at 1.04 in 2023.
The lowest rule of law in Latvia was 0.13 in 1996.
Latvia ranks 39th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Latvia's rule of law is projected to reach 1.01 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Latvia in 2025 was 1.01. This ranks 39th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_latvia_rule-of-law,
title = {Latvia Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/latvia/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}