New Zealand Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
New Zealand's rule of law was 1.63 in 2025, ranked 12th globally. This represents a 4.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's rule of law stood at 1.63 in 2025, a decline of +0.08 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.63 by 2025. New Zealand ranked 12th globally.
New Zealand's Rule of Law score, as measured by the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators, has exhibited a moderate decline over the past two decades. The country's score peaked in 2014 at 2.00, ranking it among the top performers globally. However, it has since declined to 1.63 in 2025, placing it 12th globally. This downward trend is particularly notable when compared to peer countries such as Austria, which maintains a score of 1.65. The recent decline is largely driven by the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated policy measures, which have been viewed as overly restrictive by some. San Marino, another peer country, has experienced a similar decline in its Rule of Law score, suggesting that New Zealand's situation may not be an isolated incident. If New Zealand's government continues to implement policies that are perceived as overly restrictive, it may hinder the country's ability to maintain a strong Rule of Law score in the future.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.59 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.63 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.63 | −0.08 | #12 |
| 2023 | 1.71 | −0.02 | #10 |
| 2022 | 1.73 | −0.05 | #8 |
| 2021 | 1.78 | −0.06 | #5 |
| 2020 | 1.84 | −0.01 | #3 |
| 2019 | 1.84 | +0.01 | #5 |
| 2018 | 1.83 | −0.05 | #5 |
| 2017 | 1.88 | −0.03 | #4 |
| 2016 | 1.91 | −0.05 | #4 |
| 2015 | 1.97 | −0.04 | #5 |
| 2014 | 2.00 | +0.13 | #4 |
| 2013 | 1.87 | −0.01 | #5 |
| 2012 | 1.88 | −0.01 | #4 |
| 2011 | 1.89 | +0.03 | #4 |
| 2010 | 1.86 | −0.06 | #5 |
Analysis
New Zealand's rule of law was 1.63 in 2025, a decline of −0.08 from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 1.63 by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's rule of law was 1.63 in 2025. Ranked 12th globally. This represents a 4.7% decrease from the previous year.
New Zealand's rule of law peaked at 2.00 in 2014.
The lowest rule of law in New Zealand was 1.63 in 2025.
New Zealand ranks 12th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
New Zealand's rule of law is projected to reach 1.63 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of New Zealand in 2025 was 1.63. This ranks 12th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_rule-of-law,
title = {New Zealand Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}