Montenegro Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Montenegro's rule of law was -0.12 in 2025, ranked 107th globally. This represents a 189.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1998–2025.
Overview
Montenegro's rule of law stood at -0.12 in 2025, a decline of +0.08 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.12 by 2025. Montenegro ranked 107th globally.
Montenegro’s Rule of Law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has risen markedly from an all‑time trough of –0.79 in 1998 to a peak of 0.32 in 2000, before settling at –0.12 in 2025, placing the country at 107th out of 193 nations. The 25‑year coverage shows a long‑term improvement in institutional capacity, yet the current figure remains well below the levels recorded by peers such as Armenia (–0.12) and Morocco (–0.12), suggesting that recent advances have stalled. The early 2000 surge coincided with comprehensive judicial reforms and accession‑related alignment with European standards, but subsequent fluctuations reflect challenges in sustaining political independence of the judiciary and combating corruption. While the modest rebound to –0.12 signals gradual progress, further consolidation of legal frameworks, enhanced enforcement mechanisms and continued alignment with EU benchmarks will be essential to shift Montenegro’s trajectory upward and close the gap with higher‑ranking peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.14 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.12 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.12 | −0.08 | #107 |
| 2023 | -0.04 | +0.08 | #96 |
| 2022 | -0.13 | −0.04 | #104 |
| 2021 | -0.08 | −0.04 | #97 |
| 2020 | -0.04 | −0.03 | #94 |
| 2019 | -0.01 | −0.01 | #94 |
| 2018 | 0.00 | +0.11 | #92 |
| 2017 | -0.11 | +0.02 | #98 |
| 2016 | -0.14 | −0.09 | #100 |
| 2015 | -0.05 | −0.06 | #89 |
| 2014 | 0.01 | +0.05 | #82 |
| 2013 | -0.03 | +0.02 | #92 |
| 2012 | -0.06 | +0.00 | #92 |
| 2011 | -0.06 | +0.00 | #94 |
| 2010 | -0.06 | −0.05 | #95 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Montenegro matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Montenegro's rule of law was -0.12 in 2025. Ranked 107th globally. This represents a 189.6% decrease from the previous year.
Montenegro's rule of law peaked at 0.32 in 2000.
The lowest rule of law in Montenegro was -0.79 in 1998.
Montenegro ranks 107th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Montenegro's rule of law is projected to reach -0.12 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Montenegro in 2025 was -0.12. This ranks 107th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_montenegro_rule-of-law,
title = {Montenegro Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/montenegro/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}