Latvia is in 24th spot out of 140 countries included in the rankings worldwide and is in 18th position among its peers in wealthier nations. While Latvia retains the same position as last year, its overall score improved from 0.71 in 2021 to 0.72 in 2022. Latvia scored particulary well for order and security, but less well for absence of corruption and civil justice.
The global ranking position puts Latvia ahead of countries including the United States, Italy and Poland, though Estonia and Lithuania both fare better. Nevertheless, all three Baltic states are among the most improved countries during the last twelve months.
The region’s top performer is Denmark (ranked 1st out of 140 globally), followed by Norway and Finland. The three countries with the lowest scores in the region are Croatia, Bulgaria, and Hungary (73rd globally).
In the last year, 13 out of 31 countries declined in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America.
Globally, the top-ranked country in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2022 is Denmark, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The country with the lowest score is Venezuela, then Cambodia, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Haiti.
The WJP Rule of Law Index is a leading source of independent rule of law data. It draws on in-depth surveys with more than 154,000 everyday people and 3,600 legal practitioners and experts to measure rule of law across eight factors: Constraints on Government Powers, Absence of Corruption, Open Government, Fundamental Rights, Order and Security, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice, and Criminal Justice.
The World Justice Project (WJP) is an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to create knowledge, build awareness, and stimulate action to advance the rule of law worldwide. Effective rule of law reduces corruption, combats poverty and disease, and protects people from injustices large and small. It underpins development, accountable government, and respect for fundamental rights, and it is the foundation for communities of justice, opportunity, and peace.
The World Justice Project defines the rule of law as a durable system of laws, institutions, norms, and community commitment that delivers: accountability, just laws, open government, and accessible justice. Learn more about these four universal principles and our work at: www.worldjusticeproject.org.
You can explore the data for Latvia and other countries for yourself at: https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/country/2022/Latvia. We've also attached a PDF file containing a summary of Latvia's scores to this story.
