Thailand ranks 80th in 2026 Rule of Law Index as global decline persists

Thailand ranks 80th out of 143 countries in the 2026 Rule of Law Index, as the global rule of law recession continues. The country has also dropped three places from last year.

According to the report released by the World Justice Project (WJP), Thailand received a total score of 0.50 out of 1.00, ranking 80th out of 143 countries. Among upper-middle income countries, it ranks 24th out of 44.

In East Asia and the Pacific, Thailand ranks 10th out of 15 countries. The region’s top performer is New Zealand (ranked 7th out of 143 globally), followed by Australia and Singapore. The three countries with the lowest scores in the region are the Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia (140th globally).

The WJP said although fewer countries declined this year compared to last year, the global balance remained deeply uneven, with deterioration in the rule of law continuing to outnumber improvements. 

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 WJP evaluated the rule of law in 143 countries using eight key factors. Thailand’s scores for each factor are as follows:

1.Constraints on Government Powers: 0.47, compared with a global average of 0.53.

2.Absence of Corruption: 0.44, compared with a global average of 0.51.

3.Open Government: 0.48, compared with a global average of 0.52.

4.Fundamental Rights: 0.49, compared with a global average of 0.55.

5.Order and Security: 0.75, compared with a global average of 0.72.

6.Regulatory Enforcement: 0.44, compared with a global average of 0.54.

7.Civil Justice: 0.50, compared with a global average of 0.54.

8.Criminal Justice: 0.42, compared with a global average of 0.47.

Global trend 

The WJP stated that while authoritarianism is no longer an emerging trend, it has become entrenched. Over 86% of all countries have suffered a sustained decline over the past five years in at least one safeguard against authoritarian rule: constraints on government powers, open government, or fundamental rights. 

Globally, freedom, public debate and government oversight are shrinking. According to the WJP, freedom of opinion and expression declined in 64% of countries, freedom of assembly and association declined in 67% of countries, and civic participation declined in 65% of countries. 

Across both criminal and civil systems, undue executive pressure and interference have become the leading drivers of institutional decay. Civil justice weakened in 64% of all 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. Meanwhile, civil justice is becoming more accessible, affordable, and equal globally. However, Thailand has not recorded improvements in this area.

The Index data also showed a strong relationship between rule of law and economic prosperity, price stability, and low credit risk. 

Countries with a GDP per capita above the world's average scored 0.68 or higher in the Rule of Law Index. Countries with inflation rates lower than the median (3.23%) have a score of 0.60 or above, and countries with an investment-grade sovereign credit rating (AAA to BBB) maintain Index scores of 0.66 or higher. Thailand, meanwhile, received an overall score of 0.50. 

Compared to its score in 2025, Thailand recorded declines in two factors: the absence of corruption, which fell from 0.45 in 2025, and the law enforcement, which also decreased from 0.45, according to Thailand Institution of Justice (TIJ).

In addition, when considering overall trends over the past five years (2021-2026), the Absence of Corruption sustained a decline of 5.6%, while Enforcement declined by 4.0%. Scores for other factors remained unchanged.

Dr Phiset Sa-ardyen, the TIJ’s director, stated that the relationship between economic prosperity and the rule of law is an important matter Thailand should consider in its effort to improve the competitiveness and its economy, particularly as the country pursues accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).