New research: Hungary ranks 73rd out of 142 in rule of law index, last in region

The rule of law has once again eroded in a majority of countries this year. Hungary ranks 73rd out of 142 globally, while 31st out of 31 regionally.

The rule of law has once again eroded in a majority of countries this year, according to the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2023. This is the sixth consecutive Index marking global declines in the rule of law. This year alone, the rule of law declined in 59% of countries surveyed—including Hungary.

Since 2016, rule of law has fallen in 78% of countries studied. The rule of law factor to decline most between 2016 and 2023 is Fundamental Rights—down in 77% of countries, including Hungary.

Source: World Justice Project

Over the past seven years, Index scores for Constraints on Government Powers have fallen in 74% of countries—including Hungary. Around the world, legislatures, judiciaries, and civil society—including the media—have all lost ground on checking executive power, the Index shows.

These and other authoritarian trends continued in 2023, but they are slowing, with fewer countries declining in 2022 and 2023 than in earlier years.

Constraints on Government Powers fell in 56% of countries, compared to 58% in 2022 and 70% in 2021. Likewise, a smaller majority of countries saw overall rule of law declines in this year (59%) as compared to the last two (61% and 74%).

A smaller majority of countries (56%) also experienced a decline in Fundamental Rights again this year, compared to 2022 (66%).

On the other hand, declines in the functioning of justice systems are now expanding.

Two thirds of countries (66%) saw their Index scores for Civil Justice fall this year, up from 61% of countries last year—including Hungary. Greater justice delays and weaker enforcement are largely to blame. Meanwhile, scores for Criminal Justice also fell in slightly more countries this year (56%) than last year (55%).

“The world remains gripped by a rule of law recession characterized by executive overreach, curtailing of human rights, and justice systems that are failing to meet people’s needs,” said WJP co-founder and president William H. Neukom. “People around the world are paying the price.”

Rule of law in Hungary

Source: World Justice Project

Hungary ranks 73rd out of 142 countries worldwide.

Regionally, Hungary ranks 31st out of 31 countries in European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America.* The region’s top performer is Denmark (ranked 1st out of 142 globally), followed by Norway and Finland. The three countries with the lowest scores in the region are Greece, Bulgaria, and Hungary (73rd globally).

In the last year, 16 out of 31 countries declined in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America. Of those 16 countries, seven had also declined in the previous year.

Among high income countries, Hungary ranks 45th out of 46.**

Global rankings and trends

Globally, the top-ranked country in the 2023 WJP Rule of Law Index is Denmark, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Germany. The country with the lowest score is Venezuela, then Cambodia, Afghanistan, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hungary’s WJP Rule of Law Index rankings

Overall score global rank: 73 / 142

Overall score regional rank:  31 / 31

Factor score rankings:

(1 is best in WJP Rule of Law Index rankings)

To see Hungary’s performance across all 44 subfactors the Index measures, visit: https://www.worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/country/2023/Hungary .

Explore the full rankings and findings of the 2023 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index at: www.worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/.  

*Countries and jurisdictions measured in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and North America region: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

**High income countries and jurisdictions: Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; Austria; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belgium; Canada; Chile; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hong Kong SAR, China; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Republic of Korea; Kuwait; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Panama; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; St. Kitts and Nevis; Sweden; Trinidad and Tobago; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; Uruguay

Read also:

• Record number of Hungarians study abroad, here’s why
• These are the best places to live in Hungary in 2023