In this article, we will look at the 25 best countries for human rights and the rule of law.
Human rights and the rule of law are the backbone of a prosperous society. The protection of lives, properties, and dignity of people is essential for social and economic progress. However, maintaining the rule of law and guaranteeing the protection of basic human rights is not an easy task. It requires legal processes, institutions, and repeated delivery of justice.
The rule of law is essential for economic growth and sustenance. Take some of the most developed countries, for example, and you will find that the rule of law has a substantial grip over the society. While the United States does not make it to our list of the 25 best countries for human rights and the rule of law, there is no denying that there is a strong rule of law in the country. The existence and implementation of property rights have given the country strong credibility in the eyes of investors.
A literature review article by Andrew MacIntyre, Stephen Haggard, and Lydia Brashear Tiede in the Annual Review of Political Science titled The Rule of Law and Economic Development sheds light on literature related to property rights, security of Contract matters, and Sustained economic expansion. The article highlights that secured property rights are essential for sustained economic growth. Economists and political scientists have largely agreed that complex transactions such as financial transactions rely heavily on the ability to make and receive promises about future actions. So, the capacity to form a contract and enforce it is essential for economic development. Most economists and political scientists believe that the more well-developed and secured property rights are, the greater the incentive individuals have to invest. There is also a consensus that secure contracts and the ability to contract over time and space increase the allocation of resources and help develop a robust financial system. However, for this to happen, property rights and security of contract should exert powerful constraints on the behavior of state and private agents. One of the most recent examples of constraints of property rights on the state was the approval of the merger of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Activision Blizzard in the United States and key markets around the world. Regulators in the United States and around the world feared that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) would give the latter too much power in the gaming market as it already owns Xbox. Activision Blizzard is the maker of the popular single and multiplayer gaming franchise “Call of Duty”, and regulators feared that by this merger, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) could make these games exclusive to Xbox. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), on June 12th, 2023, sued to block the deal and secured a temporary restraining order to stop the merger. However, on 11th July 2023, the district court in the Northern District of Columbia rejected the restraining order obtained by FTC. The court ruled that FTC had not proven the likelihood that the merger would substantially decrease competition.
Here we see that there is a credible third-party enforcement of property rights that has maintained the confidence of private investors in the system. This would serve as one of the many examples of why people trust the United States. The law in the United States is predictable and is consistently applied and enforced.
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Methodology
We used two indexes to curate our list of the 25 best countries for human rights and the rule of law. The first is the 2023 Rule of Law Index by the World Justice Project. This gathers independent data on the rule of law in 142 countries and jurisdictions through surveys of households and legal practitioners. The second index is the Human Rights and Rule of Law Index by The Global Economy, which includes 177 countries and uses a methodology similar to the former. We gave each index equal weightage and ranked countries for each index. Then we summed the ranking and the lower the rank, the better the country is for human rights and the rule of law.
25 – Japan
Rule of Law Index Rank – 14
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 36
Japan is among the top 15 countries for the rule of law according to World Justice Progaram’s Rule of Law Index. The country has well-developed personal property laws and the courts act in nonpartisan ways. However, much remains to be done when it comes to human rights. According to Amnesty International, there is a long-standing discrimination against women, migrants, and LGBTI people.
24 – Latvia
Rule of Law Index Rank – 22
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 26
Latvia is a parliamentary democracy and is a part of the European Union. The country has independent media and an effective judiciary, making it one of the best for human rights and the rule of law. In addition, there is legal protection for people against racial and ethnic crimes.
23 – Czech Republic
Rule of Law Index Rank – 20
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 25
The Czech Republic is among the top 20 countries according to the World Justice Program’s Rule of Law Index. The country is a parliamentary democracy and civil political rights and civil liberties are respected here. It has an independent judiciary and media.
22 – United Kingdom
Rule of Law Index Rank – 15
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 30
The core principles of the United Kingdom’s constitution limit the state’s power, making it one of the best countries for the rule of law. Free speech and freedom of the press are both legally protected forms of expression in the country.
21 – Portugal
Rule of Law Index Rank – 28
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 16
Portugal has a stable parliamentary democratic system with regular transfer of power over the years. The country has adequate protection of civil liberties and personal freedom. However, more recently, there have been reports of certain legal constraints on journalism and racial discrimination.
20 – Slovenia
Rule of Law Index Rank – 27
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 17
Slovenia is a parliamentary democracy where political rights and civil liberties are respected. While corruption remains an issue in the country, the free media is active in exposing it and the judiciary has established a record of independent decisions.
19 – Costa Rica
Rule of Law Index Rank – 29
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 14
Costa Rica is one of the best countries for human rights and the rule of law because of its democratic stability and freedom of expression. While corruption in the top ranks of government remains an issue, the media is quick and free to expose it.
18 – Spain
Rule of Law Index Rank – 24
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 19
Spain has traditionally seen a peaceful transition of power between rival democratic parties, laying a foundation for independent institutions. The country has a strong rule of law which protects civil liberties. However, a recent separatist movement in Catolina presents a challenge to the country’s territorial integrity and peace.
17 – Lithuania
Rule of Law Index Rank – 18
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 24
Civil liberties and political rights are respected in Lithuania. The country has robust protection for freedom of speech. However, more recently economic inequality and corruption scandals have aroused public dissatisfaction.
16 – Italy
Rule of Law Index Rank – 32
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 9
The interesting thing about Italy is that while it ranks 9th on The Global Economy’s Index, the World Justice Project ranks it at 32nd position. Italy has a multiparty election and parliamentary system and civil liberties are generally respected.
15 – Australia
Rule of Law Index Rank – 13
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 23
Australia is one of the very few champions of political rights and civil liberties. However, the country recently faced some challenges which include harsh policies toward asylum seekers and stringent checks against the press.
14 – France
Rule of Law Index Rank – 21
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 13
France’s long-standing support for freedom of expression and civil liberties has made it one of the best places for human rights and the rule of law. However, more recently successive governments have responded to terrorist attacks by curtailing constitutional protection and infringing upon personal freedom.
13 – Canada
Rule of Law Index Rank – 12
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 21
Canada is one of the most favorite immigration destinations despite the harsh weather. The reason for this is that the country has a well-established rule of law and protection against discrimination of any sort.
12 – Ireland
Rule of Law Index Rank – 10
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 20
Ireland is one of the best countries for the rule of law, and a stable democratic structure is the main reason behind this. The country has a free press and judiciary, and civil liberties are protected. However, more recently some corruption scandals involving its police force have been reported.
11 – Belgium
Rule of Law Index Rank – 16
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 11
Despite the latest terrorism threats, xenophobia, and rising right-wing nationalism, Belgium makes it to the 11th position on our list. The country has a free judiciary, that keeps a check on the powers of the government. In addition, civil liberties and freedom of expression are thoroughly respected.
10 – Estonia
Rule of Law Index Rank – 9
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 18
Estonia has made consistent progress in the rule of law index in the last few years. The country has a free judiciary, which often makes decisions against the ruling government.
9 – Sweden
Rule of Law Index Rank – 4
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 15
Sweden is one of the very few countries that give very strong protection to freedom of speech. In fact, it is very difficult to take action against reporters, sources, and distributors for a piece of content unless it is proven that it is done to defame someone else. The country has a free judiciary, which often makes decisions against the the perceived status quo.
8 – Luxembourg
Rule of Law Index Rank – 6
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 12
Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy but it is run by a democratically elected government. Political rights and civil liberties are protected and respected. While some of the issues in the country include insufficient government transparency, it still is among the ten best countries for human rights and the rule of law.
7 – Austria
Rule of Law Index Rank – 11
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 4
While Austria is among the top 5 countries in The Global Economy’s ranking, it is positioned at 11 in the World Justice Project. However, it is the 7th best country for the rule of law and human rights according to our rankings.
6 – Germany
Rule of Law Index Rank – 5
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 10
Germany is ranked in the top ten of both indexes. It is one of the best countries to live in, which is why it is also a favorite choice for immigrants. The country protects freedom of religion, among others, and combats human trafficking proactively.
5 – New Zealand
Rule of Law Index Rank – 8
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 6
New Zealand has garnered the reputation of being the champion of human rights and rule of law. It has a similar ranking in both ratings, which explains that there is consensus regarding it being one of the top 10 countries for human rights and the rule of law.
4 – Netherlands
Rule of Law Index Rank – 7
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 7
The interesting thing about the Netherlands is that it has the same ranking in both indexes. It is one of the best places to live in the world with protection of minority rights and great social welfare programs.
3 – Denmark
Rule of Law Index Rank – 1
Human Rights and Rule of Law Index Rank – 8
The rule of law index by the World Justice Program has consistently ranked Denmark at the 1st position. The country has a free press and judiciary, which often makes decisions against the perceived status quo.