The World Justice Project (WJP) has released its latest report highlighting the most and least law-abiding countries through its Rule of Law Index. This index provides insight into how well nations implement and uphold legal principles in actual practice.

Since its inception in 2012, the WJP Index has expanded significantly. In the most recent 2024 edition, it assessed a total of 142 countries worldwide.

Countries were evaluated using eight core dimensions that reflect the state of law and governance:

1. Constraints on government powers

2. Absence of corruption

3. Open government

4. Fundamental rights

5. Order and security

6. Regulatory enforcement

7. Civil justice

8. Criminal justice

Each country receives an index score ranging from 0 to 1, where 0 is the lowest possible and 1 is the highest possible score.

Countries with the Lowest Rule of Law Rankings

In the 2024 report, countries with the poorest adherence to the rule of law were found across various continents. Topping the list is Venezuela, located in South America, which earned an index score of just 0.26.

This score stands in stark contrast to Canada, a North American country that scored 0.80, making it the 12th highest-ranking country globally in terms of rule of law.

The second lowest-ranking nation is Cambodia, a Southeast Asian country, with a score of only 0.31.

Myanmar, another country from Southeast Asia, also made the list with a score of 0.34.

Here is the full list of the ten least law-abiding countries according to the official World Justice Project website:

1. Venezuela – Score 0.26

2. Cambodia – Score 0.31

3. Afghanistan – Score 0.32

4. Haiti – Score 0.33

5. Myanmar – Score 0.34

6. Nicaragua – Score 0.34

7. Democratic Republic of Congo – Score 0.34

8. Egypt (Arab) – Score 0.35

9. Sudan – Score 0.35

10. Cameroon – Score 0.36

How Did Indonesia Rank?

According to the 2024 World Justice Project Index, Indonesia is ranked 68th out of 142 countries in terms of adherence to the rule of law. The country's overall index score stands at 0.53.

This ranking places Indonesia behind Malaysia, which is positioned 55th with a score of 0.57. In contrast, Singapore performed significantly better, scoring 0.78 and securing the 16th position globally as one of the world’s top countries for rule of law compliance.