United Kingdom Ranks 18 out of 143 in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2026 as Authoritarian Trends Become Entrenched

United Kingdom Ranks 18 out of 143 in the WJP Rule of Law Index

• 2026 WJP Rule of Law Index finds authoritarian practices have become entrenched
• Rising government interference and rollbacks in freedom of speech and participation demand urgent attention
• The United Kingdom's score decreased, ranks 14 out of 31 regionally

WASHINGTON (October 21, 2026) - The global rule of law recession persists, according to the new WJP Rule of Law Index 2026, released today by the World Justice Project (WJP). While fewer countries declined this year compared to last, the global balance remains deeply uneven-with a 62% decline continuing to outnumber improvements-including United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom's overall rule of law score decreased by less than 1% in this year's Index. It ranks 18th out of 143 countries worldwide.

Regionally, the United Kingdom ranks 14th out of 31 countries in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America.* The region's top performer is Denmark (ranked 1st out of 143 globally), followed by Norway and Finland. The three countries with the lowest scores in the region are Greece, Bulgaria, and Hungary (78th globally).

In the last year, 17 out of 31 countries declined in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America. Of those 17 countries, 15 had also declined in the previous year.

Canada, the UK, and most of the EU have remained largely stable, neither meaningfully improving nor declining.

While it is too early to tell for Hungary, Poland leads global recovery: Poland recorded the world's largest three-year improvement, rising 4.22% since 2023 as democratic checks and institutional safeguards began to recover.

Among high income countries, the United Kingdom ranks 18th out of 51.**

United Kingdom and Global trends

Authoritarianism is no longer an emerging trend-it has become entrenched: over 86% of countries have suffered a sustained five-year decline in at least one safeguard against authoritarian rule: constraints on government powers, open government, or fundamental rights. This includes the United Kingdom.

Freedoms essential to civic space, public debate and government oversight are shrinking across most countries:

• "Freedom of opinion and expression" declined in 64% of countries, including the United Kingdom.
• "Freedom of assembly and association" declined in 67% of countries, including the United Kingdom.
• "Civic participation" declined in 65% of countries, including the United Kingdom.

Across criminal and civil systems alike, undue executive pressure and interference have become the leading drivers of institutional decay. Civil justice weakened in 64% of countries and criminal justice in 58%, with improper government influence emerging as a central factor in both areas. Judiciaries are also losing ground to executive overreach more broadly: government powers limited by the judiciary fell in 63% of countries. This includes the United Kingdom.

However, civil justice is becoming more accessible, affordable, and equal:

• "Access and afford civil justice improved in 54%" of countries, but not in the United Kingdom.
• "Civil justice is free of discrimination" improved in 52% of countries, but not in the United Kingdom.

Index data shows that economic prosperity, price stability, and low credit risk cluster in countries with robust rule of law:

• GDP per capita: Countries with a GDP per capita above the world's average ($14,406) score 0.68 or higher in the WJP Rule of Law Index.
• Inflation: Countries with inflation rates lower than the median (3.23%) have an Index score of 0.60 or above.
• Sovereign credit ratings: Countries with an investment-grade sovereign credit rating (AAA to BBB) maintain Index scores of 0.66 or higher.

In 2026, the United Kingdom's overall score is 0.78.

Global rankings

Globally, the top-ranked country in the 2026 WJP Rule of Law Index is Denmark, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Luxembourg. The country with the lowest score is Venezuela, followed by Afghanistan, Haiti, Cambodia, and Nicaragua.

The United Kingdom's WJP Rule of Law Index rankings

Overall score global rank: 18/143 Overall score regional rank: 14/31

FACTOR | GLOBAL RANK | REGIONAL RANK* | INCOME RANK** --- | --- | --- | --- Constraints on Government Powers | 12/143 | 11/31 | 12/51 Absence of Corruption | 13/143 | 9/31 | 13/51 Open Government | 12/143 | 10/31 | 12/51 Fundamental Rights | 16/143 | 14/31 | 16/51 Order and Security | 33/143 | 21/31 | 30/51 Regulatory Enforcement | 18/143 | 13/31 | 18/51 Civil Justice | 22/143 | 14/31 | 22/51 Criminal Justice | 20/143 | 15/31 | 20/51

(1 is best in WJP Rule of Law Index rankings)

To see the United Kingdom's performance across all 44 sub-factors the Index measures, visit: www.worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/country/2026/United%20Kingdom/

Explore the full rankings and findings of the 2026 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index at: www.worldjusticeproject.org/index/

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Find graphics (regional rankings, global rankings, and comparative maps) here.

Find 143 country press releases organized by region here.

About the WJP Rule of Law Index:

The World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index is the world's leading source for original, independent rule of law data. Its rigorous methodology draws on expert and household surveys to measure the rule of law in 143 countries and jurisdictions, covering 95% of the world's population.

The Index relies on more than 215,000 household surveys and 3,400 practitioner and expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced and perceived worldwide. Published annually since 2009, the Index is used by governments, multilateral organizations, businesses, academia, media, and civil society organizations.

About the World Justice Project:

The World Justice Project (WJP) is an independent, nonpartisan, multidisciplinary organization working to create knowledge, build awareness, and stimulate action to advance the rule of law worldwide.

*Countries and jurisdictions measured in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America region: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

**High income countries and jurisdictions: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay