In this article, we will be covering 20 countries with the best justice system in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Countries With The Best Justice System in the World.
An effective justice system is crucial for maintaining law and order and ensuring accountability, stability, equality, and access to justice for all. It plays a crucial role in protecting the innocent, keeping communities safe, and providing a peaceful jurisdiction.
However, a concerning trend has emerged where justice systems around the world are failing, as reported by the World Justice Project (WJP). The rule of law weakened in a majority of countries between 2022 and 2023. According to the report, 56% of countries experienced a decline in fundamental rights. Civil justice witnessed a drop in 66% of countries while criminal justice also fell in 56% of countries around the world between 2022 and 2023.
Compliance with Law, Justice, Security, and Fundamental Rights: A Business Imperative
In the modern global business landscape, businesses must navigate through various legal, social, and ethical issues. The rule of law, justice, security, and human rights are fundamental principles that guide business operations and ensure compliance with local and international laws. Companies that prioritize these principles are more likely to maintain a positive reputation, build trust with stakeholders, and avoid legal and reputational risks.
In one of our previous articles about the countries with the best global reputations, we discussed how a strong reputation can benefit corporations. Having a positive corporate image can help attract more customers, outperform competitors and reap revenue rewards. A company’s reputation is one of the biggest factors that can influence investment decisions by investors and lenders.
Exemplary Companies Setting the Standard for Justice and Fairness
Creating a workplace that is fair and equitable can be challenging. According to a 2023 survey of 4,400 US workers by Great Place To Work, only 36% of employees feel they receive a fair share of company profits, 51% believe promotions are awarded fairly, and 45% think their managers avoid showing favoritism. It is important to note that fairness can lead to increased well-being and productivity levels. Corporations that focus on building trust within their workplace can boost employee satisfaction and engagement.
According to JUST Capital’s 2024 rankings, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE), Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), and Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) are some of the companies leading the way in justice and fairness. These companies are ranked based on their just and fair business behavior.
Some of these corporations engage in community giving and corporate philanthropy to gain a competitive advantage by fostering positive relationships with the community. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company. It provides a full range of banking, investment management, and other financial and risk management products and services to individuals, small and middle-sized businesses, large companies, and governments. On February 29, Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) announced that its Community Development Banking (CDB) division disclosed that it extended $7.1 billion in debt and equity funding in 2023 to help develop strong communities through affordable housing and economic opportunities across the US. This financial support contributed to the establishment and maintenance of 11,000 housing units for individuals, families, veterans, seniors, formerly homeless individuals, and those with special needs.
Companies that prioritize building strong reputations are committed to delivering exceptional experiences and innovative solutions to cater to the changing consumer demands. This helps them maintain a competitive edge and a distinguished reputation for excellence. On February 26, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) reported that it has partnered with TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU), which is developing Canada’s first 5G open radio access network (Open RAN). Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:HPE) will be providing infrastructure across 3,000 sites. Once completed, the new Open RAN 5G network will enhance customer experiences by delivering faster connectivity and mobile access. Specifically designed to support advanced telecommunications workloads, HPE ProLiant DL110 Gen11 servers will offer an open and flexible virtualized platform to enable next-generation cellular connectivity for both urban and rural Canadians. These servers will provide the foundation for a Distributed Unit (DU), responsible for preparing data for transmission across the 5G network.
Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) is an Irish-American professional services company that helps businesses, governments, and other organizations around the world build their digital core and optimize operations. On March 5, Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) introduced Accenture LearnVantage to provide clients with comprehensive technology learning and training services. This initiative aims to assist organizations in reskilling and upskilling their workforce in technology, data, and AI to drive organizational transformation and achieve enhanced business value. The service is tailored to help leaders in various sectors identify skill gaps resulting from technological advancements and provide industry-specific training to bridge these gaps efficiently. Accenture LearnVantage will deliver personalized learning experiences for a diverse range of technical and business users, including specialized training in AI, data science, cloud, and cybersecurity for IT professionals, as well as Gen AI training for board members, C-suite executives, and business leaders.
Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN), said:
“We are scaling Accenture’s deep capabilities as a world-class learning organization to help our clients meet their business growth objectives and enable their people to develop the relevant skills they need to make the most of the opportunities that technological change is bringing.”
Now that we have discussed what some of the corporations leading the way in justice and fairness are up to, let’s take a look at the 20 countries with the best justice system in the world.
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Methodology
In this article, we have listed the top 20 countries with the best justice system in the world. To collect data for our list of the countries with the best laws and justice systems, we consulted the Rule of Law Index 2023 by the World Justice Project (WJP). The database provided us with rankings of the countries with the best as well as the worst justice system in the world and their overall score on the rule of law index, which is calculated using factors like fundamental rights, regulatory enforcement, absence of corruption, civil justice, criminal justice, and order and security. We used data obtained for the latest year in their dataset and narrowed down our selection to rank the top 20 countries with the best justice system in the world, which are listed below in ascending order.
20 Countries With The Best Justice System in the World
20. Czech Republic
Overall Score: 0.73
The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe that ranks among the 20 countries with the best justice system in the world. The Czech Republic boasts political stability, strict observance of human rights, freedom of speech, and a low crime rate. It is also considered to be a peaceful nation.
19. South Korea
Overall Score: 0.74
South Korea is a country in East Asia. Located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, it shares a heavily militarized border with North Korea. South Korea is considered to be a developed nation and its legal system is based on a civil law system.
18. Lithuania
Overall Score: 0.77
Lithuania, a country in the Baltic region of Europe, ranks 18th on our list of countries with the best justice system in the world. Lithuania is a parliamentary republic and a developed nation with an advanced economy. Lithuania boasts an effective justice system that upholds the rule of law.
17. Singapore
Overall Score: 0.78
Singapore is a city-state and an island nation in maritime Southeast Asia. Boasting low levels of crime rate and a transparent legal system, Singapore also ranks high among the most peaceful countries in the world.
16. Belgium
Overall Score: 0.78
Belgium is a country in Western Europe that is home to the headquarters of NATO and the European Union. As a high-income country, Belgium boasts a high quality of life and an effective judicial system.
15. United Kingdom
Overall Score: 0.78
The United Kingdom ranks among the top 15 countries with the best justice system in the world. While the UK is a constitutional monarchy, it has a well-developed legal framework and a strong judicial system that is committed to upholding the rule of law.
14. Japan
Overall Score: 0.79
Japan is an island nation in East Asia that has consistently upheld the values of a peace-loving nation since the end of World War 2. The Japanese judicial system is considered to be tough but fair.
13. Australia
Overall Score: 0.8
Australia is a sovereign country that has transparent and trustworthy governance and legal systems. As one of the world’s largest countries by area, Australia is a prosperous and innovative economy.
12. Canada
Overall Score: 0.8
Canada is the world’s second-largest country and it ranks 12th on our list of countries with the best justice system in the world. Canada ranks among some of the best nations in terms of public services, civil liberties, government transparency, and public security. It is also one of the most civilized countries in the world.
11. Austria
Overall Score: 0.8
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe that ranks high in terms of standard of living. Best known for its palaces and castles, Austria boasts an effective justice system and a low rate of serious crime. It is considered to be one of the safest countries in Europe.
10. Ireland
Overall Score: 0.81
Ireland ranks among the top 10 on our list of countries with the best justice system in the world. The country is known for its rich cultural traditions and it is one of the most friendly and respected countries in the world. Ireland has a strong judicial system that is fair and efficient.
9. Estonia
Overall Score: 0.82
Estonia is a country in Northern Europe that exceeds the average in environmental quality, education, and safety. Based on the Continental European civil law model and influenced by the German legal system, the legal system in Estonia is transparent, safe, and effective.
8. New Zealand
Overall Score: 0.83
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean that is one of the most peaceful countries. With an effective and fair justice system, New Zealand ranks 8th on our list of countries with the best justice system in the world.
7. Netherlands
Overall Score: 0.83
The Netherlands, also sometimes referred to as Holland, is a country in northwestern Europe. It boasts a high quality of life and good work-life balance. It is considered to be a safe country where the law is strictly enforced. The Netherlands has an effective justice system and a low incarceration rate.
6. Luxembourg
Overall Score: 0.83
Luxembourg is a small landlocked country in Western Europe that is home to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). With an independent and fair justice system, Luxembourg ranks 6th on our list of countries with the best justice system in the world.
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Disclosure: None. 20 Countries With The Best Justice System in the World is published on Insider Monkey.