Uzbekistan drops in rule of Law Index for the first time in 8 years

For the first time since 2016, Uzbekistan has declined in the Global Rule of Law Index, as indicated in the 2024 updated ranking.

The World Justice Project (WJP) reported in its 2024 edition that Uzbekistan ranks 83rd out of 142 countries. The report highlighted that global rule of law has declined for the seventh consecutive year, with 57 percent of the countries surveyed experiencing a further weakening. However, the data suggests that the pace of this global decline is slowing, hinting at potential progress.

For the third consecutive year, the percentage of countries facing rule of law violations has decreased, and some significant areas of improvement have been noted. Notably, many countries have improved in the index factor measuring the absence of corruption for the first time in five years. This year, almost 59 percent of the nations surveyed reported a reduction in corruption.

Despite these positive trends, the analysis also pointed out that authoritarian tendencies continue to hinder the protection of human rights and democracy worldwide. Currently, over 6 billion people live in countries where the rule of law is weaker than it was in 2016.

The WJP Rule of Law Index remains the leading independent source of data on the rule of law. It utilizes expert assessments and household surveys to measure various aspects of the rule of law across 142 countries, covering 95 percent of the global population.

The ranking is based on indicators such as limitations on government powers, absence of corruption, transparency, human rights, safety and security, adherence to legal norms, civil justice, and criminal justice standards.

This year, Uzbekistan recorded its best results in safety and security. However, other indicators remained at an average level compared to global counterparts. The country's fall in the ranking marks a 5-place drop from its position in 2023, making it the first decline since 2016.

The top five countries in the ranking are Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Among regional neighbors, Kazakhstan ranks 65th, Kyrgyzstan 101st, and Russia 113th.

Previously, the global internet freedom rankings were updated, revealing that Uzbekistan scored 27 out of 100, placing it among countries without free internet access.