Rule of Law Index

The Rule of Law Index is a new tool, created by the WJP, which measures countries’ adherence to the rule of law.

The Index assesses the rule of law based on detailed factors and subfactors, drawn from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments summarized in the following four statements, which constitute the WJP's definition of the rule of law:

1. The government and its officials and agents are accountable under the law.
2. The laws are clear, publicized, stable and fair, and protect fundamental rights, including the security of persons and property.
3. The process by which the laws are enacted, administered and enforced is accessible, fair and efficient.
4. The laws are upheld, and access to justice is provided, by competent, independent, and ethical law enforcement officials, attorneys or representatives, and judges who are of sufficient number, have adequate resources, and reflect the makeup of the communities they serve.

The Rule of Law Index is the first index that examines the rule of law comprehensively. Other indices cover only aspects of the rule of law, such as human rights, commercial law, and corruption. Because the Index looks at the rule of law in practice and not solely as it exists on the books, the Index will be able to guide governments, civil society, NGOs and business leaders in targeting efforts to strengthen the rule of law.

(From Left) Jim Parsons, Director, Substance Use and Mental Health Program
at the Vera Institute of Justice; Dr. Sam Muller, Director of the Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law; Mark Agrast, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and Commission Member (WJP); Juan Carlos Botero, Director of the Rule of Law Index (WJP) present the Index and preliminary results of the Index field testing at the World Justice Forum .

The WJP has developed a robust and cost-effective methodology to measure more than 100 variables. It utilizes two main sources of new data: a general population poll, and a qualified respondent’s questionnaire. In addition, existing data and data drawn from other indices are being incorporated into the analysis.

The WJP has completed field testing Version 1.0 of the Rule of Law Index in Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Spain, Sweden and the USA. The next round of testing will be conducted in Liberia and Tanzania. The WJP anticipates administering the Index in 100 countries in three years. In each country where the Index is administered, the WJP will prepare a Rule of Law Index report that describes its findings. The Index will be administered periodically to show changes in countries over time.

Besides serving individual countries, the Index will inform the WJP’s priorities and its selection of projects in future grant cycles of the Opportunity Fund.