North Macedonia made only marginal progress this year in strengthening the rule of law, ranking 64th out of 143 countries in the latest World Justice Project (WJP) index, an improvement of three places from last year but still signaling stagnation in judicial and institutional reforms.
With an overall score of 0.54 out of 1, North Macedonia finds itself grouped with countries such as Ghana, Argentina, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. The figure represents only a slight increase from last year’s 0.53, when it ranked 67th out of 142 states.
Regional Performance: Western Balkans Lag Behind EU Neighbors
In the Balkans, Slovenia remains the regional leader, ranking 26th globally with a score of 0.68. It is followed by Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, and Bulgaria, all performing better than North Macedonia.
Montenegro ranks 55th, Kosovo 59th, Bosnia and Herzegovina 70th, Albania 87th, and Serbia trails at 96th. The gap reflects persistent structural weaknesses across the region’s judiciaries, including political interference, corruption, and weak enforcement of laws.
Across Europe, the divide between EU and non-EU countries remains pronounced. Denmark, Norway, and Finland top the global list, while Venezuela and Afghanistan are ranked last, underscoring the vast disparities in institutional governance.
Weak Institutional Checks and Persistent Corruption
According to the WJP methodology, North Macedonia performs relatively well in order and security, ranking 44th with a score of 0.80, but lags in regulatory enforcement (89th, score 0.46) and criminal justice (70th, 0.46).
The country’s protection of fundamental rights ranks 53rd (0.63), while government transparency is positioned at 66th (0.51). Corruption remains a significant concern — Macedonia ranks 69th in the absence of corruption category (0.47) and 80th in limiting government powers (0.50), indicating limited checks and balances within institutions.
A Decade of Decline
North Macedonia reached its best-ever position in 2015, ranking 46th globally with a score of 0.55. Since then, progress has reversed, reflecting political instability and delayed judicial reforms. The lowest performance came in 2023, with a score of 0.53, before this year’s minor rebound.
Analysts say the trend mirrors broader regional challenges. “The Western Balkans have made legislative progress on paper, but the real test remains implementation,” said a Skopje-based legal expert. “Political influence in the judiciary and weak accountability mechanisms continue to erode public trust.”
A Mirror for the Region
The World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, which covers 143 countries, measures eight key factors: constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice.
For the Western Balkans, a region aspiring to join the European Union, the index serves as a sobering reminder that formal commitments to reform have yet to translate into credible progress.
While North Macedonia’s minor improvement offers a glimmer of optimism, the overall picture across Southeast Europe underscores a persistent democratic deficit — one that continues to challenge the region’s EU integration ambitions.