Hungary slips to bottom of EU in 2026 Rule-of-Law Index

In the World Justice Project's 2026 Rule of Law Index, Hungary recorded an overall score of 0.50, slipping to 78th globally and to the bottom of its regional bloc of 31 countries that includes the EU, EFTA and North America. The decline, less than one percent from the prior year, was driven by poor results in constraints on government powers, open government, and fundamental rights, as well as weak civil-justice outcomes.

Regionally, Hungary ranked 31st of 31, and 49th among 51 high-income economies. The report notes a broader global slide, with 62% of nations posting lower scores, while Denmark topped the list and Poland posted the largest three-year gain. The index links stronger rule-of-law scores to better economic indicators, underscoring the potential fiscal implications of Hungary's poor performance.