Index of individual liberties and equality before the law

In brief

Index of individual liberties and equality before the law: across 173 countries and territories, values range from 0.01 (North Korea) to 0.99 (Germany), with a world median of 0.73. Data: 2025. The top 10% of countries exceed 0.96, while the bottom 10% stay below 0.23. By continent, the median is highest in Europe (0.93) and lowest in Africa (0.54).

Median by continent

Why this indicator matters

This index looks at whether people are protected in their daily lives: physical integrity, justice, freedom of religion and movement. It allows a comparison of the rule of law as experienced by citizens.

What makes this indicator vary

The level depends on the age of institutions, the independence of the judiciary, the political and security context, and the quality of the administration. It can shift after a crisis or a reform.

Reading precautions

The index relies on expert assessments and carries a margin of uncertainty. It combines several dimensions into one score. It does not describe individual cases, nor how well laws are actually enforced in every place.