Countries With the Highest Legal System and Property Rights (Fraser)
Every country with a figure for legal system and property rights (Fraser), ranked from highest to lowest. The top three are New Zealand (9.1), Denmark (9.09) and Norway (9.05). The middle country of the 165 has 5.12.
What this measures
Economic freedom, area 2, legal system and property rights (Fraser Institute), in rating (0-10). Source: Fraser Institute. For this measure, higher is better.
Whether courts are independent and fair, contracts are enforced, property is protected and the police are reliable, from 0 to 10. It draws on some of the same expert sources as other rule-of-law measures, so expect it to track them closely.
This measure mostly follows how rich a country is, so this ranking is close to a ranking by national income. Each country’s page also ranks it against countries with similar incomes, which is often the fairer comparison.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2024–2024. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Legal system and property rights (Fraser) | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 9.1 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 2 | Denmark | 9.09 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 3 | Norway | 9.05 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 4 | Switzerland | 8.98 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 5 | Finland | 8.88 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 6 | Iceland | 8.81 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 7 | Australia | 8.69 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 8 | Luxembourg | 8.63 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 9 | Netherlands | 8.56 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 10 | Singapore | 8.47 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 11 | Austria | 8.46 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 12 | Canada | 8.31 | 2024 | North America |
| 13 | Sweden | 8.3 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 14 | Ireland | 8.07 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 15 | Germany | 8.03 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 16 | Estonia | 8.01 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 17 | Japan | 7.93 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 18 | United Kingdom | 7.92 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 19 | United States | 7.88 | 2024 | North America |
| 20 | Lithuania | 7.67 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 21 | Czechia | 7.64 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 22 | Belgium | 7.64 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 23 | Latvia | 7.61 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 24 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 7.57 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 25 | Taiwan | 7.44 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 26 | Portugal | 7.41 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 27 | France | 7.41 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 28 | Spain | 7.36 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 29 | Slovenia | 7.11 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 30 | United Arab Emirates | 7.09 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 31 | Chile | 6.96 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 32 | Malta | 6.89 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 33 | Mauritius | 6.87 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 34 | Korea, Rep. | 6.81 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 35 | Poland | 6.76 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 36 | Italy | 6.74 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 37 | Slovak Republic | 6.74 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 38 | Bhutan | 6.73 | 2024 | South Asia |
| 39 | Cyprus | 6.7 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 40 | Romania | 6.69 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 41 | Hungary | 6.69 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 42 | Costa Rica | 6.62 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 43 | Seychelles | 6.44 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 44 | Cabo Verde | 6.33 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 45 | Botswana | 6.24 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 46 | Greece | 6.22 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 47 | Saudi Arabia | 6.22 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 48 | Croatia | 6.2 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 49 | Israel | 6.14 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 50 | Uruguay | 6.09 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 51 | Georgia | 6.09 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 52 | Rwanda | 6.07 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 53 | Mongolia | 6.06 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 54 | Malaysia | 5.95 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 55 | Namibia | 5.93 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 56 | Armenia | 5.86 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 57 | Bulgaria | 5.84 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 58 | Jamaica | 5.83 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 59 | Panama | 5.79 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 60 | Moldova | 5.77 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 61 | South Africa | 5.72 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 62 | Kazakhstan | 5.72 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 63 | Oman | 5.7 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 64 | Montenegro | 5.68 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 65 | Barbados | 5.62 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 66 | Albania | 5.61 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 67 | Qatar | 5.6 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 68 | Bahamas, The | 5.57 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 69 | Serbia | 5.38 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 70 | Thailand | 5.37 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 71 | Brazil | 5.34 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 72 | Brunei Darussalam | 5.32 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 73 | Morocco | 5.31 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 74 | Dominican Republic | 5.29 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 75 | India | 5.28 | 2024 | South Asia |
| 76 | Kuwait | 5.25 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 77 | Bahrain | 5.25 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 78 | Ghana | 5.25 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 79 | Peru | 5.19 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 80 | Trinidad and Tobago | 5.18 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 81 | Argentina | 5.15 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 82 | Cote d'Ivoire | 5.13 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 83 | Sri Lanka | 5.12 | 2024 | South Asia |
| 84 | Viet Nam | 5.11 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 85 | Tanzania | 5.11 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 86 | Azerbaijan | 5.09 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 87 | Guyana | 5.09 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 88 | Colombia | 5.06 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 89 | Togo | 5.03 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 90 | Zambia | 4.96 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 91 | Turkiye | 4.91 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 92 | Gambia, The | 4.91 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 93 | Ecuador | 4.87 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 94 | Fiji | 4.87 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 95 | Russian Federation | 4.86 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 96 | Nepal | 4.83 | 2024 | South Asia |
| 97 | Guatemala | 4.78 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 98 | Lesotho | 4.76 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 99 | China | 4.73 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 100 | Kenya | 4.73 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 101 | North Macedonia | 4.72 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 102 | Papua New Guinea | 4.72 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 103 | Philippines | 4.72 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 104 | Malawi | 4.72 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 105 | Mozambique | 4.7 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 106 | Uganda | 4.66 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 107 | Jordan | 4.62 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 108 | Sierra Leone | 4.61 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 109 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4.59 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 110 | Kyrgyz Republic | 4.58 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 111 | Ukraine | 4.57 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 112 | Indonesia | 4.54 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 113 | Lao PDR | 4.54 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 114 | Tunisia | 4.54 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 115 | Paraguay | 4.47 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 116 | Benin | 4.41 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 117 | El Salvador | 4.33 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 118 | Suriname | 4.3 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 119 | Senegal | 4.28 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 120 | Belarus | 4.28 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 121 | Mexico | 4.27 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 122 | Ethiopia | 4.25 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 123 | Tajikistan | 4.2 | 2024 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 124 | Honduras | 4.11 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 125 | Belize | 4.09 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 126 | Bolivia | 3.95 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 127 | Cambodia | 3.92 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 128 | Algeria | 3.91 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 129 | Liberia | 3.91 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 130 | Timor-Leste | 3.9 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 131 | Pakistan | 3.74 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 132 | Gabon | 3.73 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 133 | Nigeria | 3.63 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 134 | Zimbabwe | 3.63 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 135 | Niger | 3.62 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 136 | Burkina Faso | 3.62 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 137 | Djibouti | 3.6 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 138 | Lebanon | 3.59 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 139 | Guinea | 3.54 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 140 | Mali | 3.53 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 141 | Nicaragua | 3.49 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 142 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 3.4 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 143 | Mauritania | 3.39 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 144 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 3.36 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 145 | Burundi | 3.35 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 146 | Angola | 3.33 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 147 | Myanmar | 3.27 | 2024 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 148 | Comoros | 3.17 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 149 | Eswatini | 3.11 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 150 | Congo, Rep. | 3.1 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 151 | Madagascar | 3.08 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 152 | Bangladesh | 2.9 | 2024 | South Asia |
| 153 | Cameroon | 2.86 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 154 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.77 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 155 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 2.68 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 156 | Libya | 2.67 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 157 | Syrian Arab Republic | 2.51 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 158 | Yemen, Rep. | 2.45 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 159 | Iraq | 2.44 | 2024 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 160 | Haiti | 2.44 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 161 | Chad | 2.42 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 162 | Venezuela, RB | 2.41 | 2024 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 163 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 2.19 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 164 | Central African Republic | 2.03 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 165 | Sudan | 1.92 | 2024 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
More on legal system and property rights (Fraser)
- Countries With the Lowest Legal System and Property Rights (Fraser)
- Legal system and property rights (Fraser) by country: trend over time and what it goes with
Related rankings
- Countries With the Highest Corruption Perceptions Index
- Countries With the Highest Political Rights (FH)
- Countries With the Highest Civil Liberties (FH)
- Countries With the Highest Trust in Government
- Countries With the Highest Pre-trial Detainee Shares
- Countries With the Highest Refugees Originating
- Countries With the Highest Electoral Democracy
- Countries With the Highest Liberal Democracy
A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.