The World Justice Project (WJP) revealed the 2026 Rule of Law Index, ranking Thailand 80th out of 143 countries and jurisdictions worldwide.jurisdictions.This reflects challenges in overseeing government power and ensuring access to justice.
The World Justice Project (WJP) published the 2026 Rule of Law Index on 21 Oct 2026 GMT+7. Thailand scored 0.50 out of 1, ranking 80th among 143 countries and jurisdictions globally, down from 77th last year. In the East Asia and Pacific region, Thailand ranks 10th out of 15 countries and 24th among 44 upper-middle-income countries.
The evaluation highlights challenges in strengthening checks and balances on government power, protecting rights and freedoms, and reducing barriers to justice access amid a global context where more countries show declining rule of law scores than improvements for the ninth consecutive year.
Dr. Pisek Saadyen Director of the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), an organization promoting rule of law in Thailand, commented that this assessment offers crucial data to guide improvements in transparency, government checks and balances, rights protection, and justice accessibility. He emphasized the need to analyze these data alongside public experience to identify problems, prioritize solutions, and monitor progress.
“The goal is to ensure laws and institutions deliver fairness and public confidence, supported concretely by evidence and empirical data,” he said.
The TIJ director also noted the report’s economic dimension, stating a strong rule of law correlates with economic wealth, price stability, and national creditworthiness. While this does not prove direct causation, it is a key consideration alongside Thailand’s ongoing economic and social development under the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023–2027) andthe process ofjoining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) by 2028 GMT+7.
“Clear rules, equal law enforcement, and accessible dispute resolution build trust, enabling citizens and businesses to plan confidently. Enhancing the rule of law is an investment in the country’s foundation to protect rights, create fair economic opportunities, and support sustainable development,” Dr. Pisek added.
Global decline continues as regions face shared challenges.
The 2026 Rule of Law Index covers 143 countries and jurisdictions worldwide, with 62% showing declines and 38% improvements. Although fewer countries declined than last year, the proportion of countries worsening remains higher for the ninth consecutive year. Denmark, Norway, and Finland top the global rankings.
In East Asia and Pacific, 11 of 15 countries scored lower. New Zealand ranks first in the region and seventh globally, followed by Australia and Singapore. Thailand ranks 10th, with the Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia at the bottom three.
WJP states that undue pressure and interference from the executive branch significantly weaken civil and criminal justice systems globally. Restrictions on freedom of expression and public participation hinder government accountability, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen oversight institutions and effective justice systems to protect citizens’ rights.
Compared to global averages, Thailand scores above average only in order and security; the other seven dimensions score below average as follows:
Notably, two factors—absence of corruption (previously 0.45) and regulatory enforcement (previously 0.45)—declined compared to 2025. Over five years (2021–2026), corruption absence dropped sharply by 5.6%, and regulatory enforcement fell 4.0%, while other factors remained stable.
The country report also notes declines in freedom of expression, assembly, public participation, and judicial checks on government power. Thailand is among 86% of countries globally experiencing deterioration in at least one authoritarian power control mechanism—government constraints, transparency, or fundamental rights—over the past five years.
Although over half of evaluated countries improved in access and affordability of civil justice (54%) and nondiscriminatory civil justice processes (52%), Thailand did not show improvement in these areas.
WJP presents data linking strong rule of law with economic wealth, price stability, and low credit risk, finding that:
These statistics demonstrate that the "Rule of Law" is a fundamental infrastructure determining a country’s competitiveness and economic prosperity.
A key driver is "investment confidence": when the state enforces transparent limits on power, standard contract enforcement, and strong property rights protections, businesses can effectively assess risks and plan long-term investments, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) at reasonable financial costs.
While this context does not claim rule of law as the sole factor in economic success, the data emphasize that economic stimulus policies cannot achieve sustainable results without legal stability. Strengthening the rule of law is thus a strategic necessity to create a predictable, transparent business environment conducive to long-term economic growth.
For more information on the Rule of Law Index, visithttps://worldjusticeproject.org/index/
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