Portugal Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Portugal's rule of law was 1.06 in 2025, ranked 35th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Portugal's rule of law stood at 1.06 in 2025, a decline of +0.01 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.06 by 2025. Portugal ranked 35th globally.
Portugal's Rule of Law indicator, as measured by the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators, has experienced a mixed trajectory over the past two and a half decades. Beginning at 1.29 in 1996, the indicator peaked at 1.31 in 2002, only to decline to a trough of 0.98 in 2006. Following this low point, Portugal's score gradually improved, settling at 1.06 in 2025. This ranking places Portugal among the top 35 countries globally in terms of the Rule of Law. In comparison, its ranking is comparable to that of Brunei Darussalam, which also scored 1.09 in 2025. Notably, Portugal's score has not fully recovered from its 2002 peak, suggesting a degree of stagnation in this area. However, a continued investment in judicial reform and anti-corruption initiatives could potentially alter this trajectory, pushing Portugal's score higher and solidifying its position among the top-tier countries in terms of governance quality.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.05 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.06 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.06 | −0.01 | #35 |
| 2023 | 1.07 | −0.04 | #33 |
| 2022 | 1.11 | +0.01 | #32 |
| 2021 | 1.11 | −0.05 | #31 |
| 2020 | 1.16 | +0.05 | #29 |
| 2019 | 1.11 | −0.00 | #33 |
| 2018 | 1.11 | +0.00 | #32 |
| 2017 | 1.10 | +0.06 | #33 |
| 2016 | 1.04 | −0.06 | #33 |
| 2015 | 1.10 | −0.02 | #35 |
| 2014 | 1.12 | +0.08 | #31 |
| 2013 | 1.04 | +0.00 | #33 |
| 2012 | 1.04 | +0.04 | #34 |
| 2011 | 1.00 | −0.03 | #39 |
| 2010 | 1.03 | −0.03 | #35 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Portugal matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. 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
Portugal's rule of law was 1.06 in 2025. Ranked 35th globally. This represents a 0.6% decrease from the previous year.
Portugal's rule of law peaked at 1.31 in 2002.
The lowest rule of law in Portugal was 0.98 in 2006.
Portugal ranks 35th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Portugal's rule of law is projected to reach 1.06 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Portugal in 2025 was 1.06. This ranks 35th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_portugal_rule-of-law,
title = {Portugal Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/portugal/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}