Switzerland Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Switzerland's rule of law was 1.69 in 2025, ranked 9th globally. This represents a 3.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Switzerland's rule of law stood at 1.69 in 2025, a decline of +0.07 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.69 by 2025. Switzerland ranked 9th globally.
Switzerland’s Rule of Law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has fallen from an all‑time peak of 1.99 in 2014 to a trough of 1.69 in 2025, placing the nation ninth globally in the latest year. The 26‑year series, which began at 1.93 in 1996, shows a gradual erosion of institutional confidence that mirrors modest declines in comparable jurisdictions; Iceland recorded a score of 1.70 and Singapore 1.71 in the same period, underscoring that even high‑ranking peers are experiencing slight variations. The downward shift reflects heightened public scrutiny of judicial independence and regulatory enforcement, as well as growing complexity in cross‑border financial oversight. While Switzerland remains among the world’s strongest performers, the persistent slide suggests that reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, streamlining dispute resolution and reinforcing anti‑corruption mechanisms will be pivotal to arresting the decline and sustaining its leadership in the rule of law.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.67 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.69 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.69 | −0.07 | #9 |
| 2023 | 1.76 | +0.01 | #4 |
| 2022 | 1.75 | −0.02 | #6 |
| 2021 | 1.77 | −0.01 | #6 |
| 2020 | 1.78 | −0.09 | #6 |
| 2019 | 1.86 | −0.02 | #3 |
| 2018 | 1.89 | −0.00 | #3 |
| 2017 | 1.89 | −0.02 | #3 |
| 2016 | 1.91 | −0.00 | #5 |
| 2015 | 1.91 | −0.08 | #6 |
| 2014 | 1.99 | +0.19 | #5 |
| 2013 | 1.80 | −0.02 | #9 |
| 2012 | 1.81 | +0.09 | #8 |
| 2011 | 1.72 | −0.03 | #13 |
| 2010 | 1.75 | +0.01 | #13 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Switzerland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2016. 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
Switzerland's rule of law was 1.69 in 2025. Ranked 9th globally. This represents a 3.9% decrease from the previous year.
Switzerland's rule of law peaked at 1.99 in 2014.
The lowest rule of law in Switzerland was 1.69 in 2025.
Switzerland ranks 9th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Switzerland's rule of law is projected to reach 1.69 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Switzerland in 2025 was 1.69. This ranks 9th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_switzerland_rule-of-law,
title = {Switzerland Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/switzerland/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}