Belgium has fallen to 16th place in a global ranking of countries' respect for the rule of law, down from 14th last year.
The study, which was carried out by the World Justice Project, an NGO, found that Belgium's regulatory enforcement, constraints on government power, corruption, civil justice, and government transparency had all deteriorated in absolute terms since 2022.
Belgium's overall respect for the rule of law also declined in absolute terms: its Rule of Law Index score fell to 0.78, down from 0.79 last year.
In addition, order and security in Belgium, although not declining in absolute terms, remained seriously deficient compared to many other countries, ranking just 37th globally.
"Security is one of the defining aspects of any rule of law society and is a fundamental function of the state," the report noted. "It is also a precondition for the realisation of the rights and freedoms that the rule of law seeks to advance."
A lawful decline
Globally, the Nordic countries were found to be where the rule of law is enforced most effectively. Denmark was deemed the most law-abiding country, followed by Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
Conversely, Venezuela was reported to be the least law-abiding country, followed by Cambodia and Afghanistan.
Belgium's neighbours also fared well, with Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands ranking 5th, 6th, and 7th respectively. France was the only neighbouring country which ranked below Belgium, in 21st place.
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Worryingly, the study reported that global respect for the rule of law has fallen significantly over the past few years. In particular, it noted that the Rule of Law Index score fell in 59% of countries from 2022-2023 – the sixth year in a row it has decreased in most countries.
Furthermore, civil justice systems deteriorated over the past year in 66% of countries due to "longer delays, weaker enforcement, and declining access and affordability". Respect human rights also fell in 77% of countries between 2016 and 2023, with freedom of expression, religion, and assembly all "declining widely" over this period.
