Countries Ranked by Regulatory quality score (2023)
Regulatory quality score: each country's latest value (2018–2023), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0 (Worldwide Governance Indicators terms)).
Summary
Singapore ranks #1 with 25.4 score (-2.5 to 2.5). Australia is second with 21.4 score (-2.5 to 2.5), 18.9% behind. The top five are Singapore, Australia, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Denmark. The median across all 205 is -1.31 score (-2.5 to 2.5); Korea, Dem. People's Rep. is last at -26.3 score (-2.5 to 2.5). Singapore's figure has fallen 42% since 2000 (43.4 score (-2.5 to 2.5) to 25.4 score (-2.5 to 2.5) in 2023).
- #1
- Singapore · 25.4 score (-2.5 to 2.5)
- Median
- -1.31 score (-2.5 to 2.5)
- Coverage
- 205 countries
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
Showing the top 100 of 205. Premium downloads the full list as CSV or JSON.
About the top 10
#1 Singapore
Singapore ranks #1 on this list with 25.4 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Capital
- Singapore
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 6.11 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$603.87 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$98,814 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Singapore.
Also ranks #1 in gdp per capita ppp · #1 in government debt share of gdp · #1 in human capital index.
#2 Australia
Australia ranks #2 on this list with 21.4 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Capital
- Canberra
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 27.61 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.8 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$65,130 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 87.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane.
Also ranks #3 in access to clean cooking fuels · #4 in new businesses registered · #5 in tourism receipts.
#3 Luxembourg
Luxembourg ranks #3 on this list with 21.2 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Capital
- Luxembourg
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 686,970 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$101.16 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$147,250 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.9% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in gdp per capita ppp · #2 in trade share of gdp · #3 in gdp per capita.
#4 New Zealand
New Zealand ranks #4 on this list with 21 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Capital
- Wellington
- Continent
- Oceania
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.32 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$264.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$49,591 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 84% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Auckland.
Also ranks #3 in voice and accountability score · #4 in tax revenue share of gdp · #4 in control of corruption score.
#5 Denmark
Denmark ranks #5 on this list with 20.2 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Capital
- Copenhagen
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 6.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$462.53 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$76,970 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 88.8% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense.
Also ranks #1 in control of corruption score · #2 in arable land share · #2 in rule of law score.
#6 Macao SAR, China
Macao SAR, China ranks #6 on this list with 19.7 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 685,900 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$52.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$75,902 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 5.9 million arrivals (2020)
Also ranks #1 in population density · #2 in school enrolment (tertiary) · #2 in services value added share of gdp.
#7 Netherlands
Netherlands ranks #7 on this list with 19.7 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Capital
- Amsterdam
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 18.09 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.33 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$73,684 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 95.9% of population (2025)
Also ranks #4 in fdi outflows · #5 in school enrolment (secondary) · #6 in secure internet servers per million.
#8 Finland
Finland ranks #8 on this list with 19.4 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Capital
- Helsinki
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.65 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$317.04 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$56,149 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 74.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in rule of law score · #2 in bank accounts share (adults) · #2 in control of corruption score.
#9 Ireland
Ireland ranks #9 on this list with 19.2 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Capital
- Dublin
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.48 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$721.7 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$131,590 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 64.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in gdp per capita ppp · #3 in air passengers carried · #3 in manufacturing value added share of gdp.
#10 Switzerland
Switzerland ranks #10 on this list with 19 score (-2.5 to 2.5).
- Capital
- Bern
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 9.09 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.04 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$114,770 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 85.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Zurich, Geneva, Canton of Basel-Stadt.
Also ranks #1 in nurses and midwives per 1,000 · #2 in gni per capita · #2 in health expenditure per capita.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Regulatory quality score: each country's latest value (2018–2023), ranked from highest to lowest.
Source: The World Bank, indicator RQ.EST. Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Worldwide Governance Indicators terms). Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Regulatory Quality: Estimate: Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank (WB) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank (WB).
Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.