Cyprus performance in the 2026 World Justice Project rule of law index

Cyprus has climbed two positions to rank 28th out of 143 countries in the 2026 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index. Although the country experienced an overall score improvement of less than 1 percent, its performance remains uneven across different sectors. Within the European and North American grouping, Cyprus holds the 21st position out of 31 nations.

In the specific field of criminal justice, the country ranks 25th globally despite a noted decline in performance over the past six years. This high standing is primarily attributed to the effectiveness of its criminal investigation system, where Cyprus achieved a score of 0.72, placing it among the top three countries worldwide in that sub-category. Conversely, order and security was identified as the country's weakest factor, resulting in a 45th-place ranking with a score of 0.79, the lowest in six years.

Police union officials, including Nikos Loizides of the Isotita union, have expressed concerns regarding these findings. They warn that the effectiveness of the investigation system is under threat due to a shortage of new investigators, as retiring personnel are not being replaced in sufficient numbers. The union emphasizes the urgent need for ongoing development and recruitment to maintain these standards.