The rule of law is not a legal abstraction. It is the foundation on which democracy, economic opportunity, individual freedom, and social trust are built. When it erodes, the consequences reach into every corner of everyday life — from whether a contract gets honored, to whether a citizen can challenge those in power, to whether justice is accessible regardless of wealth or status.
Each year, the World Justice Project (WJP) measures how the rule of law is actually experienced and perceived around the world through its Rule of Law Index — the most comprehensive and rigorous tool of its kind. The 2025 edition, released in October 2025, surveyed 143 countries and jurisdictions covering 95% of the world's population. For the United States, the results are a sobering call to attention — and a clear signal that organizations like the The CivicArc Alliance are more necessary than ever.
Background
What Is the Rule of Law Index?
The WJP Rule of Law Index draws on more than 215,000 household surveys and 4,100 expert respondent surveys annually. Rather than relying on government self-reporting, it measures how ordinary people and legal professionals actually experience justice, accountability, and governance in their daily lives. The Index evaluates countries across eight core factors:
- Constraints on Government Powers — whether the executive branch is held accountable by legislatures, courts, and independent institutions
- Absence of Corruption — whether government officials and public institutions operate free from bribery and self-dealing
- Open Government — whether laws and data are publicly accessible and civic participation is protected
- Fundamental Rights — whether civil liberties and human rights are protected in practice
- Order and Security — whether crime is effectively controlled and conflict is managed peacefully
- Regulatory Enforcement — whether regulations are fairly and consistently applied
- Civil Justice — whether people can resolve disputes fairly, affordably, and without undue delay
- Criminal Justice — whether the criminal system is impartial, humane, and effective
"The rule of law affects all of us in our everyday lives. Although we may not be aware of it, the rule of law is profoundly important — and not just for lawyers or judges. Every sector of society is a stakeholder in the rule of law." — World Justice Project
Global Context
A Global Rule of Law Recession
The headline finding of the 2025 WJP Rule of Law Index is stark: 68% of countries declined in their overall rule of law performance — up from 57% the previous year. This accelerating erosion reflects what the WJP calls a global "rule of law recession" that began around 2016 and has shown few signs of reversal.
The primary drivers are an expansion of authoritarian tendencies: weakened checks on executive power, erosion of judicial independence, shrinking civic freedoms, and growing political interference in justice systems. Top-ranked nations — Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and New Zealand — demonstrate that strong rule of law is achievable and sustainable.
United States — 2025 Results
Key Findings for the United States
The United States ranked 27th out of 143 countries in the 2025 WJP Rule of Law Index — a slight decline from its 26th-place ranking the year prior. Within its regional grouping of EU, EFTA, and North American countries, the U.S. placed 20th out of 31. The country's overall score declined 2.8% in 2025.
| Factor | Global Rank | Regional Rank |
|---|
| Constraints on Government Powers | 36 / 143 | 24 / 31 |
| Absence of Corruption | 24 / 143 | 17 / 31 |
| Open Government | 20 / 143 | 16 / 31 |
| Fundamental Rights | 42 / 143 | 27 / 31 |
| Order and Security | 35 / 143 | 23 / 31 |
| Regulatory Enforcement | 27 / 143 | 18 / 31 |
| Civil Justice | 37 / 143 | 22 / 31 |
| Criminal Justice | 37 / 143 | 24 / 31 |
The U.S. performs relatively strongest in Open Government and Absence of Corruption. Its weakest showing is in Fundamental Rights (42nd globally, 27th out of 31 regionally) — placing the U.S. near the bottom of its peer group for civil liberties, freedom from discrimination, labor rights, and due process protections.
Civic Freedoms
Shrinking Civic Space
One of the most significant 2025 findings is the widespread contraction of civic freedoms. The U.S. is among the more than 70% of countries experiencing this contraction:
- Freedom of opinion and expression declined in 73% of countries — including the United States
- Freedom of assembly and association declined in 72% of countries — including the United States
- Civic participation declined in 71% of countries — including the United States
When civic space contracts, the mechanisms that hold power accountable weaken. Journalism, protest, civil society organizations, and public comment become less effective — making it harder for citizens to surface problems and advocate for change through legitimate means.
Courts & Justice Systems
Judicial Independence Under Pressure
Judiciaries are losing ground to executive overreach. Indicators measuring whether courts can effectively limit executive power declined in 61% of countries. Indicators measuring whether civil and criminal justice systems are free from improper government influence declined in 67% and 62% of countries, respectively — including the United States across all three measures.
Civil justice weakened in 68% of countries, including the U.S., driven by longer court delays, less effective mediation, and political interference in judicial processes.
The 2025 Index ranked the United States 112th out of 143 countries on the accessibility and affordability of civil courts — down more than 40 spots from 2015. This measures whether ordinary people can afford legal advice and navigate court systems without prohibitive cost or language barriers.
Historical Trend
A Decade of Erosion
The WJP has documented a sustained rule of law recession in the United States since 2016. Constraints on government powers have eroded significantly. Congress, the courts, the media, and civil society institutions have all declined in their measured effectiveness as checks on executive authority.
A 2024 WJP household survey found that only half of Americans trust election officials — 34% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats. One in three Americans said they were prepared to reject a presidential election result. When asked what word they associate with the state of the rule of law in America today, the most common answer was: "corrupt."
Yet there is a meaningful counterweight: 96% of both Republicans and Democrats say the rule of law is important or essential to the future of the country — a level of bipartisan consensus rarely seen on any issue.
