WJP RULE OF LAW INDEX 2014 SURVEYS GLOBE ON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, CRIME, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND MORE – SWEDEN RANKS 3RD OUT OF 99 COUNTRIES OVERALL


NEW YORK – Sweden ranks 3rd globally and also 3rd among 24 Western Europe and North American countries in overall rule of law performance, according to the World Justice Project’s WJP Rule of Law Index 2014. Denmark (Western Europe and North America), Uruguay (Latin America and the Caribbean), Botswana (Sub-Saharan Africa), New Zealand (East Asia and Pacific), Georgia (Eastern Europe and Central Asia), Sri Lanka (South Asia), and the United Arab Emirates (Middle East and North Africa) led in their respective regions.

According to the report, “Sweden is ranked in the 3rd position worldwide and places in the top 5 in six dimensions and in the top 10 in the other two, with a performance similar to that of last year. Government accountability is strong (ranking 3rd overall), corruption is minimal (ranking 4th overall), and fundamental rights are strongly protected (ranking 1st overall). In addition, the country’s administrative agencies and courts are rated among the most effective and transparent in the world. Notwithstanding these strengths, some concerns remain with regard to police discrimination against foreigners and ethnic minorities, perceived delays in court processes, and difficulties in bringing criminal offenders to justice.”

The Index relies on over 100,000 household and expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced in everyday life around the world. Performance is assessed through 44 indicators organized around 8 themes: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice. More than 500 variables are computed to produce these indicators for every country.

“Effective rule of law helps reduce corruption, alleviate poverty, improve public health and education, and protect people from injustices and dangers large and small,” said William H. Neukom, WJP Founder and CEO. “Wherever we come from, the rule of law can always be strengthened.”

Key findings for the Western Europe and North America region (includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States):

· Strengths: Countries in Western Europe and North America tend to outperform most other countries in all dimensions. These countries are characterized by relatively low levels of corruption and crime, open and accountable governments, and effective and independent judicial systems.
· Rule of law challenges: Generalized delays in the delivery of civil justice constitute the greatest weakness in the region. While protection of fundamental rights in this region is the highest in the world, police discrimination against foreigners and ethnic minorities is an issue of concern in most countries. Equal access to justice for marginalized populations is also problematic.
· Best and worst performers: Five countries in the region – Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands – are the top five overall rule of law performers in the world. The worst performer in the region is Bulgaria, ranking 44th among the 99 countries included in the Index.
· Trends to watch: While the level of adherence to the rule of law remained relatively stable throughout the region, Spain saw the largest individual decline. Peoples’ perception of corruption in the legislature appears to be growing in several countries. The United States saw a significant decline during the past year in people’s trust in the system of checks and balances and the protection of the right to privacy.

Sweden rankings (1 is best):

OVERALL GLOBAL RANK: 3/99
OVERALL REGIONAL RANK: 3/24

FACTOR
GLOBAL RANK
REGIONAL RANK
INCOME RANK
Constraints on Government Powers
3/99
3/24
3/30
Absence of Corruption
4/99
3/24
4/30
Open Government
4/99
3/24
4/30
Fundamental Rights
1/99
1/24
1/30
Order and Security
6/99
2/24
5/30
Regulatory Enforcement
3/99
3/24
3/30
Civil Justice
5/99
5/24
5/30
Criminal Justice
6/99
5/24
6/30

A copy of the full Index, including Sweden’s full country profile and global key findings, can be downloaded at: worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index


About the World Justice Project
The World Justice Project (WJP) is an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to advance the rule of law around the globe. Establishing the rule of law is fundamental to achieving communities of opportunity and equity—communities that offer sustainable economic development, accountable government, and respect for fundamental rights. Our work engages citizens and leaders worldwide and from all work disciplines to advance the rule of law. Through our mutually reinforcing programs of Research and Scholarship, the WJP Rule of Law Index, and Engagement, WJP seeks to stimulate government reforms, develop practical programs at the community level, and increase public awareness about the foundational importance of the rule of law. Learn more at www.worldjusticeproject.org