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Panorama of Hong Kong night skyline. Taken from Lugard Road at Victoria Peak.

Photo: Base64 and Derivative work by Globe-trotter · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Hong Kong: Governance & Institutions

How well is the state actually run?

Hong Kong is placed 36th of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness 1.539 (2025); Corruption Perceptions Index 76 (2025).

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Governance & Institutions

36th

of 194 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Hong Kong on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys
  1. Key 1 of 4

    Government Effectiveness

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    1.539

    Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)

    Higher is better

    Hong Kong: 1.539. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.

    World median
    0.101
    Best in Eastern Asia
    2.041 Japan
    Land neighbours
    China 0.624
  2. Key 2 of 4

    Statistical Performance Indicators

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    No reading

    SPI overall score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    World Bank Group publishes no 2024 figure for Hong Kong, so the standing rests on the other keys.

    Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.

    World median
    69.3
    Best in Eastern Asia
    91.57 South Korea
    Land neighbours
    China 57.93
  3. Key 3 of 4

    Corruption Perceptions Index

    Transparency International

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)

    76

    CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)

    Higher is better

    Ranked 12th of 181 by Transparency International

    Hong Kong: 76. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.

    World median
    39
    Best in Eastern Asia
    76 Hong Kong
    Land neighbours
    China 43
  4. Key 4 of 4

    Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index

    V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    0.579

    Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)

    Higher is better

    Hong Kong: 0.579. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.

    World median
    0.676
    Best in Eastern Asia
    0.881 Japan
    Land neighbours
    China 0.03

03In context

Hong Kong beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.

Eastern Asia
1st194thNot placed · 30 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on governance & institutions

Hong Kong and the countries it borders

Standing among all 194; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingGovernment EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100)Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Hong Kong36th1.539—760.579
China125th0.62457.93430.03

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Across Eastern Asia

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.

Placed either side on governance & institutions

The countries immediately above and below Hong Kong in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Hong Kong is ahead of the world, and behind

31 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median23

Statistics on which Hong Kong does better than the middle country measured.

  • Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0931.617▼ Worsened since 2015

    Hong Kong: 1.617 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.

    Position 9th of 209 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance ScoreWorld Bank Group · 2018 · world median 2.255No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 5 · world median 2.25 · Regulatory governance score (0–5, where 5 is the most transparent rule-making). World Bank Group, 2018 edition, data for 2018.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2018 dataset

  • Foundational ID OwnershipWorld Bank Group (ID4D) · 2024 · world median 94.499.9▲ Improved since 2021

    Hong Kong: 99.9 · world median 94.4 · Adults who own a foundational ID (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group (ID4D), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 42.62 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1971.636No real change since 2015

    Hong Kong: 1.636 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.

    Position 15th of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8278.52No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 78.52 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.

    Position 5th of 50 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Meritocratic Appointment in the State AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3091.617▼ Worsened since 2015

    Hong Kong: 1.617 · world median 0.309 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.6); higher = more appointments on merit. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.442 to 3.584; higher is better.

    Position 26th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.085No real change since 2015

    Hong Kong: 0.085 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.

    Position 149th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1020.941▼ Worsened since 2015

    Hong Kong: 0.941 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.

    Position 42nd of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 81.2591.88▼ Worsened since 2015

    Hong Kong: 91.88 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.125 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 38th of 190 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.872.47No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 72.47 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.

    Position 13th of 50 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public OfficialsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.4032.214No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 2.214 · world median 6.403 · Firms saying firms like theirs pay officials informally to get things done (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 55.03; lower is better.

    Position 136th of 178 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6826.06No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 26.06 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.

    Position 36th of 139 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Bribery IncidenceWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 7.2692.564No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 2.564 · world median 7.269 · Firms asked for a bribe at least once in six dealings with officials (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 64.26; lower is better.

    Position 135th of 175 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Equal Protection IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6510.754▲ Improved since 2015

    Hong Kong: 0.754 · world median 0.651 · Equal protection index (0–1); higher = rights and freedoms protected more equally across social groups and classes. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.027 to 0.986; higher is better.

    Position 51st of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1362.64No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 62.64 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.

    Position 16th of 50 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • State Fiscal Source of RevenueV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.1791.815▲ Improved since 2015

    Hong Kong: 1.815 · world median 1.179 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.1); higher = broader taxation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -1.716 to 3.135; higher is better.

    Position 60th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.977.4No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 77.4 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.8119▲ Improved since 2012

    Hong Kong: 19 · world median 17.81 · Government funding per primary student (% of GDP per capita). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.771 to 34.57; higher is better.

    Position 28th of 68 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.163.3No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 63.3 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Government Spending on EducationUIS · 2023 · world median 3.7093.803▲ Improved since 2013

    Hong Kong: 3.803 · world median 3.709 · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 16.39; higher is better.

    Position 59th of 123 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.882.5No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 82.5 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Neopatrimonial Rule IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4450.433▼ Worsened since 2015

    Hong Kong: 0.433 · world median 0.445 · Neopatrimonial rule index (0–1; higher = more personalised rule). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.008 to 0.989; lower is better.

    Position 92nd of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.652▼ Worsened since 2022

    Hong Kong: 0.652 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.

    Position 95th of 196 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

Behind the world median6

Statistics on which Hong Kong does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Rigorous and Impartial Public AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3330.218▼ Worsened since 2015

    Hong Kong: 0.218 · world median 0.333 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +4.0); higher = a more rigorous and impartial administration. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -3.552 to 3.99; higher is better.

    Position 95th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed PersonsILO · 2024 · world median 0.5750.5No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 0.5 · world median 0.575 · Labour inspectors per 10,000 employed persons. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 3.89; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.022-0.523▼ Worsened since 2015

    Hong Kong: -0.523 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.

    Position 131st of 206 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.142▼ Worsened since 2015

    Hong Kong: 0.142 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.

    Position 123rd of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.4615.86No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 15.86 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 172nd of 198 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.151▼ Worsened since 2015

    Hong Kong: 0.151 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.

    Position 156th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

No better end2

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • General Government ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 16.2112.57Moved since 2015

    Hong Kong: 12.57 · world median 16.21 · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 5.445 to 38.94.

    Position 93rd of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Senior Management Time Spent on Government RegulationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.7950.025No earlier reading

    Hong Kong: 0.025 · world median 6.795 · Senior management time spent dealing with government regulation (% of a typical week). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 31.33.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

05Country Index 2026

Governance & Institutions among Hong Kong’s 12 topics

Governance & Institutions is Hong Kong’s 4th best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Mobility & Trade3rd of 177
  2. Peace & Security15th of 177
  3. Work & Labour22nd of 182
  4. Governance & Institutions36th of 194
  5. Education & Knowledge40th of 198
  6. Development & Human Capital40th of 196
  7. Economy & Innovation37th of 176
  8. Gender & Equality42nd of 183
  9. Digital & Technology57th of 198
  10. Democracy & Civil Liberties129th of 198
  11. Food & Agriculture137th of 184
  12. Energy141st of 165

No standing on Health & Wellbeing, Environment & Sustainability, Risk & Resilience, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.

06The top of the list

Who leads on governance & institutions

The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Hong Kong can most readily be measured against.

All 194 countries
  1. 1

    Denmark

    Northern Europe

    1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    New Zealand

    Australia and New Zealand

    2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale

  3. 3

    Sweden

    Northern Europe

    3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Asia

    Japan=10th4/4 keys
  2. This page

    Hong Kong36th3/4 keys

Positions out of 194 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

08Questions

Hong Kong on governance & institutions: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Hong Kong rank on governance & institutions?

Hong Kong is placed 36th of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for Hong Kong?

1.539 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.

What is the latest Corruption Perceptions Index figure for Hong Kong?

76 in 2025 (cPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)), according to Transparency International. The world median in the same edition was 39.

How does Hong Kong compare with China on governance & institutions?

China is placed 125th of 194, and Hong Kong 36th. Government Effectiveness: China 0.624, Hong Kong 1.539; Corruption Perceptions Index: China 43, Hong Kong 76; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index: China 0.03, Hong Kong 0.579.

How have Hong Kong’s governance & institutions figures changed?

Government Effectiveness rose from 1.461 in 2000 to 1.539 in 2025; Corruption Perceptions Index fell from 77 in 2012 to 76 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index fell from 0.862 in 2000 to 0.579 in 2025.

Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Hong Kong?

No current reading is published for Hong Kong on Agriculture Orientation Index, Central Bank Independence Index, Child and Family Benefit Coverage, Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN), Completeness of Birth Registration, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Government AI Readiness Index, Open Data Inventory, Public Sector Employment, Public Sector Wage Bill, State Authority over Territory, State Capacity Index and Statistical Performance Indicators. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

09Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.

About governance & institutions, in full

How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.

The governance & institutions method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 31 statistics on this page come from 6 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Hong Kong’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Hong Kong: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/hong-kong/governance

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