Viet Nam Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Viet Nam's rule of law was -0.15 in 2025, ranked 112th globally. This represents a 71.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Viet Nam's rule of law stood at -0.15 in 2025, a decline of +0.06 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -0.15 by 2025. Viet Nam ranked 112th globally.
Vietnam’s Rule of Law score in the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators rose from a trough of –0.68 in 2002 to a modest peak of 0.07 in 2016, before slipping to –0.15 in 2025, placing the country at 112th in global rankings. The 26‑year series shows a gradual improvement in the early 2000s, a brief period of relative strength in the mid‑2010s, and a recent decline that aligns Vietnam with peers such as Sri Lanka (–0.14) and Ghana (–0.16). The downward shift after 2016 reflects persistent challenges in judicial independence, contract enforcement and corruption control, which have limited the translation of earlier reforms into sustained institutional gains. Continued investment in legal infrastructure, transparent case management and anti‑corruption mechanisms will be essential to reverse the recent slide and move Vietnam’s score upward, potentially restoring the modest gains achieved during the 2016 peak.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | -0.15 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | -0.15 | - | - |
| 2025 | -0.15 | −0.06 | #112 |
| 2023 | -0.09 | +0.07 | #100 |
| 2022 | -0.16 | +0.01 | #106 |
| 2021 | -0.17 | +0.02 | #107 |
| 2020 | -0.19 | −0.14 | #107 |
| 2019 | -0.05 | −0.01 | #96 |
| 2018 | -0.04 | −0.08 | #96 |
| 2017 | 0.04 | −0.02 | #91 |
| 2016 | 0.07 | +0.42 | #88 |
| 2015 | -0.36 | +0.01 | #114 |
| 2014 | -0.36 | +0.15 | #114 |
| 2013 | -0.52 | +0.04 | #123 |
| 2012 | -0.55 | −0.01 | #132 |
| 2011 | -0.54 | +0.04 | #132 |
| 2010 | -0.58 | −0.05 | #135 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Viet Nam matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2020. 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
Viet Nam's rule of law was -0.15 in 2025. Ranked 112th globally. This represents a 71.9% decrease from the previous year.
Viet Nam's rule of law peaked at 0.07 in 2016.
The lowest rule of law in Viet Nam was -0.68 in 2002.
Viet Nam ranks 112th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Viet Nam's rule of law is projected to reach -0.15 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Viet Nam in 2025 was -0.15. This ranks 112th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_viet-nam_rule-of-law,
title = {Viet Nam Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/viet-nam/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}