Countries With the Fastest Decline in Rule of law score (5-Year Change)
Change in Rule of law score over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0 (Worldwide Governance Indicators terms)).
Summary
Hong Kong SAR, China fell the most: by 22.2, from 36.4 score (-2.5 to 2.5) to 14.2 score (-2.5 to 2.5) in the five years to 2023. Finland is second (−21.2), followed by Switzerland (−20.4). 91 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −8.01.
- #1
- Hong Kong SAR, China · −22.2
- Median
- −8.01
- Coverage
- 91 countries
- Data year
- 2023
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (score (-2.5 to 2.5)) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 36.4 | 14.2 | −22.2 |
| 2 | Finland | 42.8 | 21.6 | −21.2 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 39.7 | 19.4 | −20.4 |
| 4 | Norway | 40.5 | 20.2 | −20.3 |
| 5 | Sweden | 37.6 | 17.6 | −19.9 |
| 6 | Canada | 36.1 | 16.2 | −19.9 |
| 7 | New Zealand | 38.6 | 18.8 | −19.8 |
| 8 | Austria | 39 | 19.2 | −19.8 |
| 9 | Singapore | 38 | 19.3 | −18.7 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 36.7 | 18.1 | −18.7 |
| 11 | Australia | 35.3 | 16.8 | −18.5 |
| 12 | United Kingdom | 33.8 | 15.4 | −18.4 |
| 13 | Luxembourg | 37.2 | 19.3 | −18 |
| 14 | Greenland | 35.8 | 18.5 | −17.3 |
| 15 | Guam | 27.4 | 10.4 | −17 |
| 16 | United States | 31.1 | 14.6 | −16.5 |
| 17 | Germany | 33.5 | 17.1 | −16.4 |
| 18 | Iceland | 35.4 | 18.9 | −16.4 |
| 19 | France | 29.4 | 13 | −16.4 |
| 20 | Denmark | 37.3 | 21 | −16.3 |
| 21 | Andorra | 32.5 | 16.2 | −16.2 |
| 22 | Liechtenstein | 34.4 | 18.8 | −15.6 |
| 23 | Japan | 31.5 | 16.9 | −14.6 |
| 24 | American Samoa | 27.4 | 13.3 | −14.1 |
| 25 | Belgium | 28.2 | 14.2 | −14 |
| 26 | Malta | 21.5 | 7.73 | −13.8 |
| 27 | Chile | 19.8 | 6.88 | −12.9 |
| 28 | Aruba | 26.5 | 14 | −12.6 |
| 29 | Virgin Islands (US) | 22.4 | 10.4 | −11.9 |
| 30 | Macao SAR, China | 20.5 | 8.62 | −11.9 |
| 31 | Ireland | 29.8 | 18 | −11.8 |
| 32 | Israel | 20.2 | 8.62 | −11.6 |
| 33 | Portugal | 23.3 | 11.7 | −11.6 |
| 34 | Spain | 20.6 | 9.05 | −11.6 |
| 35 | Korea, Rep. | 25.3 | 13.7 | −11.5 |
| 36 | Monaco | 27.7 | 16.2 | −11.4 |
| 37 | San Marino | 27.7 | 16.2 | −11.4 |
| 38 | Slovenia | 21.6 | 11.4 | −10.2 |
| 39 | Bermuda | 17.3 | 7.52 | −9.79 |
| 40 | Estonia | 25.4 | 15.7 | −9.67 |
| 41 | Samoa | 19.3 | 9.91 | −9.36 |
| 42 | Czechia | 21.5 | 12.6 | −8.94 |
| 43 | Palau | 18.9 | 10.3 | −8.64 |
| 44 | Cyprus | 15.2 | 6.91 | −8.31 |
| 45 | Latvia | 19.5 | 11.4 | −8.03 |
| 46 | Dominica | 14.9 | 6.87 | −8.01 |
| 47 | Cayman Islands | 15.6 | 7.94 | −7.68 |
| 48 | Hungary | 11.7 | 4.7 | −7.02 |
| 49 | Vanuatu | 8.31 | 1.56 | −6.76 |
| 50 | St. Lucia | 13.4 | 6.66 | −6.7 |
| 51 | United Arab Emirates | 16.3 | 9.7 | −6.64 |
| 52 | Puerto Rico (US) | 11.8 | 5.43 | −6.33 |
| 53 | Mauritius | 15 | 8.86 | −6.13 |
| 54 | Kiribati | 12.2 | 6.47 | −5.75 |
| 55 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 11 | 5.28 | −5.74 |
| 56 | Costa Rica | 9.89 | 4.28 | −5.61 |
| 57 | Lithuania | 19.5 | 13.9 | −5.53 |
| 58 | Malaysia | 11.2 | 6.29 | −4.89 |
| 59 | Qatar | 14.9 | 10.3 | −4.61 |
| 60 | Bhutan | 11.6 | 7.34 | −4.24 |
| 61 | Uruguay | 12.1 | 7.89 | −4.17 |
| 62 | Cabo Verde | 8.32 | 4.4 | −3.92 |
| 63 | Antigua and Barbuda | 8.01 | 4.16 | −3.84 |
| 64 | Botswana | 8.13 | 4.29 | −3.84 |
| 65 | Georgia | 5.75 | 1.95 | −3.8 |
| 66 | Slovak Republic | 10 | 6.64 | −3.36 |
| 67 | Barbados | 7.71 | 4.56 | −3.16 |
| 68 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 9.4 | 6.29 | −3.11 |
| 69 | Bahrain | 8.13 | 5.16 | −2.98 |
| 70 | Romania | 7.79 | 4.81 | −2.98 |
| 71 | Tonga | 9 | 6.03 | −2.96 |
| 72 | Poland | 7.98 | 5.05 | −2.93 |
| 73 | Brunei Darussalam | 12.7 | 9.76 | −2.9 |
| 74 | Tunisia | 1.18 | -1.53 | −2.71 |
| 75 | Oman | 9.24 | 6.74 | −2.49 |
| 76 | Croatia | 6.4 | 3.97 | −2.43 |
| 77 | Ghana | 1.13 | -1.1 | −2.23 |
| 78 | Jordan | 4.93 | 2.84 | −2.09 |
| 79 | Namibia | 6.98 | 4.9 | −2.08 |
| 80 | Tuvalu | 13 | 11.1 | −1.91 |
| 81 | Seychelles | 5.97 | 4.76 | −1.21 |
| 82 | Sri Lanka | 0.056 | -0.997 | −1.05 |
| 83 | Italy | 5.12 | 4.29 | −0.83 |
| 84 | Eswatini | -5.75 | -6.58 | −0.825 |
| 85 | Montenegro | 0.126 | -0.464 | −0.59 |
| 86 | Panama | -3.28 | -3.81 | −0.524 |
| 87 | Fiji | 3.83 | 3.35 | −0.472 |
| 88 | Viet Nam | -0.678 | -0.94 | −0.262 |
| 89 | Kuwait | 3.97 | 3.76 | −0.208 |
| 90 | Rwanda | 2.36 | 2.26 | −0.103 |
| 91 | Greece | 2.44 | 2.34 | −0.091 |
About the top 10
#1 Hong Kong SAR, China
Hong Kong SAR, China ranks #1 on this list with −22.2.
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 7.5 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$427.31 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$56,983 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 85.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
- International tourist arrivals
- 3.57 million arrivals (2020)
Also ranks #1 in female population share · #1 in trade share of gdp · #2 in female life expectancy.
#2 Finland
Finland ranks #2 on this list with −21.2.
- 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.
#3 Switzerland
Switzerland ranks #3 on this list with −20.4.
- 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.
#4 Norway
Norway ranks #4 on this list with −20.3.
- Capital
- Oslo
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.61 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$530.76 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$94,594 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 83.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim.
Also ranks #2 in nurses and midwives per 1,000 · #2 in voice and accountability score · #3 in gni per capita.
#5 Sweden
Sweden ranks #5 on this list with −19.9.
- Capital
- Stockholm
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 10.6 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$669 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$63,133 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 89.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö.
Also ranks #3 in researchers in r&d per million · #4 in r&d expenditure share of gdp · #6 in male life expectancy.
#6 Canada
Canada ranks #6 on this list with −19.9.
- Capital
- Ottawa
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 41.65 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.32 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$55,698 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 82.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Toronto, Montreal, Calgary.
Also ranks #2 in surface area · #3 in forest area · #4 in land area.
#7 New Zealand
New Zealand ranks #7 on this list with −19.8.
- 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.
#8 Austria
Austria ranks #8 on this list with −19.8.
- Capital
- Vienna
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 9.21 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$579.47 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$62,930 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 69.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Vienna.
Also ranks #3 in bank accounts share (adults) · #5 in government revenue share of gdp · #5 in atms per 100,000 adults.
#9 Singapore
Singapore ranks #9 on this list with −18.7.
- 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.
#10 Netherlands
Netherlands ranks #10 on this list with −18.7.
- 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.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Rule of law score over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator RL.EST. Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Worldwide Governance Indicators terms). Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Rule of Law: 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 (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.