Norway Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Norway's rule of law was 1.72 in 2025, ranked 6th globally. This represents a 6.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Norway's rule of law stood at 1.72 in 2025, a decline of +0.11 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.72 by 2025. Norway ranked 6th globally.
Norway’s Rule of Law score, measured by the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, has slipped from an all‑time peak of 2.02 in 2014 to a trough of 1.72 in 2025, placing the country sixth globally and giving it a rating of 1.72 for the most recent year. Over the 26‑year coverage period the index has fallen by 0.30 points, reflecting a gradual erosion of perceived legal certainty, enforcement of contracts and independence of the judiciary since the mid‑2010s. By contrast, peer jurisdictions such as Ireland (1.75) and Singapore (1.71) remain clustered around similar levels, suggesting that Norway’s decline is not isolated but part of a broader Nordic‑European moderation in governance scores. The downward trajectory coincides with heightened public scrutiny of regulatory reforms and judicial appointments, factors that have tempered confidence in the legal system. If legislative transparency improves and judicial independence is reinforced, the trend could stabilize or reverse, enabling Norway to regain ground in future governance assessments.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.68 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.72 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.72 | −0.11 | #6 |
| 2023 | 1.83 | +0.07 | #3 |
| 2022 | 1.76 | −0.15 | #5 |
| 2021 | 1.91 | −0.02 | #2 |
| 2020 | 1.93 | −0.01 | #2 |
| 2019 | 1.94 | +0.02 | #2 |
| 2018 | 1.92 | −0.06 | #2 |
| 2017 | 1.98 | −0.01 | #2 |
| 2016 | 1.99 | +0.02 | #2 |
| 2015 | 1.98 | −0.05 | #4 |
| 2014 | 2.02 | +0.05 | #3 |
| 2013 | 1.97 | +0.02 | #1 |
| 2012 | 1.95 | +0.09 | #1 |
| 2011 | 1.86 | −0.03 | #5 |
| 2010 | 1.89 | +0.02 | #4 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Norway matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. 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
Norway's rule of law was 1.72 in 2025. Ranked 6th globally. This represents a 6.1% decrease from the previous year.
Norway's rule of law peaked at 2.02 in 2014.
The lowest rule of law in Norway was 1.72 in 2025.
Norway ranks 6th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Norway's rule of law is projected to reach 1.72 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Norway in 2025 was 1.72. This ranks 6th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_norway_rule-of-law,
title = {Norway Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/norway/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}