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Governance & Institutions

joint13th

of 194 countries placed

Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Netherlands 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

    1.74

    Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)

    Higher is better

    Netherlands: 1.74. 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 Western Europe
    1.977 Luxembourg
    Land neighbours
    Belgium 1.318 · Germany 1.49
  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

    85.13

    SPI overall score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    Netherlands: 85.13. 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 Western Europe
    90.06 Germany
    Land neighbours
    Belgium 87.26 · Germany 90.06
  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)

    78

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

    Higher is better

    Ranked 8th of 181 by Transparency International

    Netherlands: 78. 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 Western Europe
    80 Switzerland
    Land neighbours
    Belgium 69 · Germany 77
  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

    0.951

    Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)

    Higher is better

    Netherlands: 0.951. 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 Western Europe
    0.982 Switzerland
    Land neighbours
    Belgium 0.826 · Germany 0.934

03In context

Netherlands 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.

Western Europe
1st194thNot placed · 30 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on governance & institutions

Netherlands 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)
Germany=13th1.4990.06770.934
Netherlands=13th1.7485.13780.951
Belgium28th1.31887.26690.826

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

Placed either side on governance & institutions

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

04Context, no vote

Where Netherlands is ahead of the world, and behind

36 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 median29

Statistics on which Netherlands does better than the middle country measured.

  • Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1977.18▲ Improved since 2020

    Netherlands: 77.18 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.

    Ranked 4th of 195 by Oxford Insights.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1021.673No real change since 2015

    Netherlands: 1.673 · 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 8th of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0221.587No real change since 2015

    Netherlands: 1.587 · 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 8th of 206 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 81.25100No real change since 2015

    Netherlands: 100 · 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 1st of 190 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1971.874No real change since 2015

    Netherlands: 1.874 · 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 9th of 211 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.1100No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 100 · 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

  • Neopatrimonial Rule IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4450.033No real change since 2015

    Netherlands: 0.033 · 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 167th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • State Capacity IndexJonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School) · 2015 · world median 0.4872.213▼ Worsened since 2005

    Netherlands: 2.213 · world median 0.487 · Latent estimate of state capacity (≈ −2.3 to +3.0, centred near 0); higher = a more capable state. Jonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School), 2015 edition, data for 2015.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.697; higher is better.

    Position 11th of 166 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2015 dataset

  • Meritocratic Appointment in the State AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3092.148No real change since 2015

    Netherlands: 2.148 · 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 12th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.027No real change since 2015

    Netherlands: 0.027 · 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 165th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Open Data InventoryOpen Data Watch · 2024 · world median 5982No real change since 2016

    Netherlands: 82 · world median 59 · ODIN overall score (0–100). Open Data Watch, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 19 to 90; higher is better.

    Ranked 13th of 168 by Open Data Watch.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0931.437▼ Worsened since 2015

    Netherlands: 1.437 · 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 16th of 209 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.659No real change since 2014

    Netherlands: 0.659 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.

    Ranked 15th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Equal Protection IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6510.919No real change since 2015

    Netherlands: 0.919 · 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 15th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.75100No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 100 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

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

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.774▼ Worsened since 2015

    Netherlands: 0.774 · 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 18th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.832No real change since 2015

    Netherlands: 0.832 · 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 20th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance ScoreWorld Bank Group · 2018 · world median 2.254.75No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 4.75 · 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

  • Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.4100No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 100 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.9100No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 100 · 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

  • Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.8100No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 100 · 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

  • Rigorous and Impartial Public AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3331.873▼ Worsened since 2015

    Netherlands: 1.873 · 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 30th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public OfficialsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.4031.58No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 1.58 · 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 146th of 178 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.399▼ Worsened since 2015

    Netherlands: 99 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.4675.29No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 75.29 · 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 53rd of 198 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.816▲ Improved since 2022

    Netherlands: 0.816 · 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 57th of 196 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.8119.24▲ Improved since 2015

    Netherlands: 19.24 · 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 25th of 68 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • State Fiscal Source of RevenueV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.1791.726▼ Worsened since 2015

    Netherlands: 1.726 · 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 68th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Bribery IncidenceWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 7.2696.146No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 6.146 · 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 103rd of 175 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

Behind the world median3

Statistics on which Netherlands does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6815.39No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 15.39 · 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 73rd of 139 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Agriculture Orientation IndexFAO · 2024 · world median 0.3050.21▼ Worsened since 2014

    Netherlands: 0.21 · world median 0.305 · Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.03 to 5.38; higher is better.

    Position 89th of 132 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Foundational ID OwnershipWorld Bank Group (ID4D) · 2024 · world median 94.488.73▼ Worsened since 2021

    Netherlands: 88.73 · 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

No better end4

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 16.2125.87Moved since 2015

    Netherlands: 25.87 · 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 9th of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Central Bank Independence IndexAna Carolina Garriga, University of Essex · 2023 · world median 0.6080.796No real change since 2013

    Netherlands: 0.796 · world median 0.608 · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence). Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 0.974.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.9758.313Moved since 2012

    Netherlands: 8.313 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.

    Position 77th of 168 · derived, counted from the highest value.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Senior Management Time Spent on Government RegulationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.7956.688No earlier reading

    Netherlands: 6.688 · 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

06The top of the list

Who leads on governance & institutions

The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Netherlands 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 Europe

    Denmark1st4/4 keys
  2. Highest in Western Europe

    Switzerland6th4/4 keys
  3. This page

    Netherlands=13th4/4 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

Netherlands 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 Netherlands rank on governance & institutions?

Netherlands is placed joint 13th of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Statistical Performance Indicators, 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 Netherlands?

1.74 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 Statistical Performance Indicators figure for Netherlands?

85.13 in 2024 (sPI overall score (0–100)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 69.3.

How does Netherlands compare with Germany on governance & institutions?

Germany is placed joint 13th of 194, and Netherlands joint 13th. Government Effectiveness: Germany 1.49, Netherlands 1.74; Statistical Performance Indicators: Germany 90.06, Netherlands 85.13; Corruption Perceptions Index: Germany 77, Netherlands 78; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index: Germany 0.934, Netherlands 0.951.

How have Netherlands’s governance & institutions figures changed?

Government Effectiveness fell from 2.101 in 2000 to 1.74 in 2025; Statistical Performance Indicators rose from 74.14 in 2016 to 85.13 in 2024; Corruption Perceptions Index fell from 84 in 2012 to 78 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index rose from 0.949 in 2000 to 0.951 in 2025.

Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Netherlands?

No current reading is published for Netherlands on Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Government Spending on Education, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons and Public Sector Employment. 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 36 statistics on this page come from 13 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

Netherlands’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). Netherlands: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/netherlands/governance

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