Country ranking for field: legal system 2025

Other rankings:  


This entry provides the description of a country's legal system. A statement on judicial review of legislative acts is also included for a number of countries. The legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including United State law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic law). An additional type of legal system - international law, which governs the conduct of independent nations in their relationships with one another - is also addressed below. The following list describes these legal systems, the countries or world regions where these systems are enforced, and a brief statement on the origins and major features of each.


1flagAfghanistan0 
2flagAkrotiri and Dhekelialaws applicable to the Cypriot population are as far as possible the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus 
3flagAlbaniacivil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the 'Code of Leke' is still present 
4flagAlgeriamixed system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices 
5flagAmerican Samoamixed legal system of US common law and customary law 
6flagAndorramixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon 
7flagAngolacivil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation 
8flagAnguillacommon law based on the English model 
9flagAntarcticaAntarctica is administered through annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings that include member nations observer groups and experts; decisions are made by consensus and enforced by each country through its own laws applying to their citizens and operations in the region south of 60° south latitude including all ice shelves and islands; in the US the Antarctic Conservation Act prohibits actions like harming native wildlife introducing non-native species polluting or entering protected areas without authorization; the US National Science Foundation and Department of Justice enforce these rules; US expeditions must also notify the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs at the US Department of State which informs other Treaty nations as required under Public Law 95-541 
10flagAntigua and Barbudacommon law based on the English model 
11flagArgentinacivil law system based on Western European legal systems 
12flagArmeniacivil law system 
13flagArubacivil law system based on the Dutch civil code 
14flagAshmore and Cartier Islandsthe laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia where applicable apply 
15flagAustraliacommon law system based on the English model 
16flagAustriacivil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts 
17flagAzerbaijancivil law system 
18flagBahrainmixed legal system of Islamic 
19flagBangladeshcommon law incorporating elements of English common law; since independence statutory law has been the primary form of legislation; Islamic law applies to Muslims in family and inheritance laws with Hindu personal law applying to Hindus and Buddhists 
20flagBarbadosEnglish common law; no judicial review of legislative acts 
21flagBelaruscivil law system 
22flagBelgiumcivil law system based on the French Civil Code; judicial review of legislative acts 
23flagBelizeEnglish common law 
24flagBenincivil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law 
25flagBermudaEnglish common law 
26flagBhutancivil law based on Buddhist religious law 
27flagBoliviacivil law system with influences from Roman Spanish canon 
28flagBosnia and Herzegovinacivil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts 
29flagBotswanamixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model including customary and common law 
30flagBouvet Islandthe laws of Norway apply 
31flagBrazilcivil law 
32flagBritish Indian Ocean Territorythe laws of the UK apply 
33flagBritish Virgin IslandsEnglish common law 
34flagBruneimixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law 
35flagBulgariacivil law 
36flagBurkina Fasocivil law based on the French model and customary law 
37flagBurundimixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law 
38flagCabo Verdecivil law system of Portugal 
39flagCambodiacivil law system 
40flagCameroonmixed system of English common law French civil law and customary law 
41flagCanadacommon law system except in Quebec where civil law based on the French civil code prevails 
42flagCayman IslandsEnglish common law and local statutes 
43flagCentral African Republiccivil law system based on the French model 
44flagChadmixed system of civil and customary law 
45flagChilecivil law system influenced by several Western European civil legal systems; Constitutional Tribunal reviews legislative acts 
46flagChinacivil law influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems; legislature retains power to interpret statutes 
47flagChristmas Islandsystem is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law 
48flagClipperton Islandthe laws of France apply 
49flagCocos Islandscommon law based on the Australian model 
50flagColombiacivil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes 
51flagComorosmixed legal system of Islamic religious law the French civil code of 1975 and customary law 
52flagCongomixed system of French civil law and customary law 
53flagCook Islandscommon law similar to New Zealand common law 
54flagCoral Sea Islands Territorythe common law system of Australia applies 
55flagCosta Ricacivil law system based on Spanish civil code; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts 
56flagCroatiacivil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary 
57flagCubacivil law system based on Spanish civil code 
58flagCuraçaobased on Dutch civil law 
59flagCyprusmixed system of English common law and civil law with European law supremacy 
60flagCzech Republicnew civil code enacted in 2014 replacing civil code of 1964 based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory 
61flagDemocratic Republic of the Congocivil law system primarily based on Belgian law but also customary and tribal law 
62flagDenmarkcivil law; judicial review of legislative acts 
63flagDjiboutimixed system based primarily on the French civil code 
64flagDominicacommon law based on the English model 
65flagDominican Republiccivil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system 
66flagEcuadorcivil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in ethnic communities 
67flagEgyptmixed system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law Islamic religious law and vestiges of colonial-era laws; Supreme Constitutional Court reviews laws 
68flagEl Salvadorcivil law system with minor common law influence; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts 
69flagEquatorial Guineamixed system of civil and customary law 
70flagEritreamixed system of civil customary and Islamic religious law 
71flagEstoniacivil law system 
72flagEswatinimixed system of civil common and customary law 
73flagEthiopiacivil law system 
74flagEuropean Unionunique supranational system in which EU treaties and EU law have primacy over member-state law 
75flagFalkland IslandsEnglish common law and local statutes 
76flagFaroe Islandsthe laws of Denmark apply 
77flagFederated States of Micronesiamixed system of common and customary law 
78flagFijicommon law system based on the English model 
79flagFinlandcivil law system based on the Swedish model 
80flagFrancecivil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts 
81flagFrench Polynesiathe laws of France apply 
82flagFrench Southern and Antarctic Landsthe laws of France apply 
83flagGabonmixed system of French civil law and customary law 
84flagGeorgiacivil law system 
85flagGermanycivil law system 
86flagGhanamixed system of English common law and customary law 
87flagGibraltarthe laws of the UK apply 
88flagGreececivil legal system based on Roman law 
89flagGreenlandDenmark's laws apply in some areas and Greenland's law for the remainder 
90flagGrenadacommon law based on English model 
91flagGuamcommon law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply 
92flagGuatemalacivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts 
93flagGuernseycustomary system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law 
94flagGuinea-Bissaumixed system of civil law which incorporated Portuguese law at independence; influenced by Economic Community of West African States 
95flagGuineacivil law system based on the French model 
96flagGuyanacommon law system based on the English model with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence 
97flagHaiticivil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code 
98flagHeard Island and McDonald Islandsthe laws of Australia apply 
99flagHoly Seereligious system based on canon 
100flagHondurascivil law system 
101flagHong Kongmixed system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law 
102flagHungarycivil system influenced by the German model 
103flagIcelandcivil law system influenced by the Danish model 
104flagIndiacommon law system based on the English model; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims Christians and Hindus; judicial review of legislative acts 
105flagIndonesiacivil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law 
106flagIranreligious system based on secular and Islamic law 
107flagIraqmixed system of civil and Islamic law 
108flagIrelandcommon law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts 
109flagIsle of ManUK laws apply as well as Manx statutes 
110flagIsraelmixed system of English common law British Mandate regulations and Jewish Christian and Muslim religious laws 
111flagItalycivil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislation under certain conditions 
112flagJamaicacommon law system based on the English model 
113flagJan Mayenthe laws of Norway apply 
114flagJapancivil law system based on German model; also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts 
115flagJerseythe laws of the UK apply as well as local statutes 
116flagJordanmixed system developed from Ottoman Empire codes 
117flagKazakhstancivil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation 
118flagKenyamixed system of English common law Islamic law and customary law; Supreme Court reviews laws 
119flagKiribatiEnglish common law supplemented by customary law 
120flagKosovocivil law system 
121flagKuwaitmixed system consisting of English common law French civil law and Islamic sharia law 
122flagKyrgyzstancivil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws 
123flagLaoscivil law system similar in form to the French system 
124flagLatviacivil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices 
125flagLebanonmixed system of civil law based on the French civil code Ottoman legal tradition and religious laws covering personal status marriage divorce and other family relations of the Jewish Islamic and Christian communities 
126flagLesothomixed system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; High Court and Court of Appeal review legislative acts 
127flagLiberiamixed system of common law based on Anglo-American law and customary law 
128flagLibyaLibya's post-revolution system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities 
129flagLiechtensteincivil law system influenced by Swiss Austrian and German law 
130flagLithuaniacivil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court 
131flagLuxembourgcivil law system 
132flagMacaucivil law system based on the Portuguese model 
133flagMadagascarcivil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage family and obligation 
134flagMalawimixed system of English common law and customary law; Supreme Court of Appeal reviews legislative acts 
135flagMalaysiamixed system of English common law Islamic law 
136flagMaldivesIslamic 
137flagMalicivil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts 
138flagMaltamixed system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law 
139flagMarshall Islandsmixed system of US and English common law customary law and local statutes 
140flagMauritaniamixed system of Islamic and French civil law 
141flagMauritiuscivil system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law 
142flagMexicocivil law system with US constitutional law influence; judicial review of legislative acts 
143flagMoldovacivil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts 
144flagMonacocivil law system influenced by French legal tradition 
145flagMongoliacivil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts 
146flagMontenegrocivil law 
147flagMontserratEnglish common law 
148flagMoroccomixed system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic 
149flagMozambiquemixed system of Portuguese civil law and customary law 
150flagMyanmarmixed legal system of English common law 
151flagNamibiamixed system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law 
152flagNaurumixed system of common law based on the English model and customary law 
153flagNavassa Islandthe laws of the US apply 
154flagNepalEnglish common law and Hindu legal concepts 
155flagNew Caledoniacivil law system based on French civil law 
156flagNew Zealandcommon law system based on English model with special legislation and land courts for the Maori 
157flagNicaraguacivil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts 
158flagNigeriamixed system of English common law Islamic law 
159flagNiueEnglish common law 
160flagNorfolk IslandEnglish common law and the laws of Australia 
161flagNorth Koreacivil law system based on the Prussian model; influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory 
162flagNorth Macedoniacivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts 
163flagNorthern Mariana Islandsthe laws of the US apply except for customs and some aspects of taxation 
164flagNorwaymixed system of civil common and customary law; Supreme Court can advise on legislative acts 
165flagOmanmixed system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law 
166flagPakistancommon law system with Islamic law influence 
167flagPalaumixed system of civil common and customary law 
168flagPanamacivil law system; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts 
169flagPapua New Guineamixed system of English common law and customary law 
170flagParaguaycivil law system with influences from Argentine Spanish Roman and French civil law models; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts 
171flagPerucivil law system 
172flagPhilippinesmixed system of civil common Islamic 
173flagPitcairn Islandslocal island by-laws 
174flagPolandcivil law system; judicial review of legislative administrative and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final 
175flagPortugalcivil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts 
176flagPuerto Ricocivil law system based on the Spanish civil code within the framework of the US federal system 
177flagQatarmixed system of civil law and Islamic 
178flagRomaniacivil law system 
179flagRussiacivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts 
180flagRwandamixed system of civil law based on German and Belgian models and customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts 
181flagSaint HelenaEnglish common law and local statutes 
182flagSaint Kitts and NevisEnglish common law 
183flagSaint LuciaEnglish common law 
184flagSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesEnglish common law 
185flagSaint-BarthélemyFrench civil law 
186flagSaint-MartinFrench civil law 
187flagSaint-Pierre and MiquelonFrench civil law 
188flagSamoamixed system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts involving fundamental citizen rights 
189flagSan Marinocivil law system with Italian civil law influences 
190flagSaudi ArabiaIslamic 
191flagSenegalcivil law system based on French law; Constitutional Council reviews legislative acts 
192flagSerbiacivil law system 
193flagSeychellesmixed system of English common law French civil law and customary law 
194flagSierra Leonemixed system of English common law and customary law 
195flagSingaporeEnglish common law 
196flagSint Maartenbased on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence 
197flagSlovakiacivil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes 
198flagSloveniacivil law system 
199flagSolomon Islandsmixed system of English common law and customary law 
200flagSomaliamixed system of civil law Islamic 
201flagSouth Africamixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law English common law and customary law 
202flagSouth Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsthe laws of the UK apply 
203flagSouth Koreamixed system combining European civil law Anglo-American law and Chinese classical thought 
204flagSpaincivil law system with regional variations 
205flagSri Lankamixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law English common law Jaffna Tamil customary law and Muslim personal law 
206flagSudanmixed system of Islamic law and English common law 
207flagSurinamecivil law system influenced by Dutch civil law 
208flagSvalbardlaws of Norway that explicitly apply to Svalbard including the Svalbard Act the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and certain regulations; the Spitsbergen Treaty and the Svalbard Treaty grant certain rights to citizens and corporations of signatory nations 
209flagSwedencivil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law 
210flagSwitzerlandcivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts except federal decrees of a general obligatory character 
211flagSyriamixed system of civil and Islamic 
212flagSão Tomé and Príncipemixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law 
213flagTaiwancivil law system 
214flagTajikistancivil law system 
215flagTanzaniaEnglish common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation 
216flagThailandcivil law system with common law influences 
217flagThe Bahamascommon-law system based on the English model 
218flagThe Gambiamixed system of English common law Islamic law and customary law 
219flagThe Netherlandscivil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General 
220flagTimor-Lestecivil law system based on the Portuguese model 
221flagTogocustomary law system 
222flagTokelaucommon law system of New Zealand 
223flagTongaEnglish common law 
224flagTrinidad and TobagoEnglish common law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts 
225flagTunisiamixed system of civil law based on the French civil code and Islamic 
226flagTurkeycivil law system based on various European systems notably the Swiss civil code 
227flagTurkmenistancivil law system with Islamic 
228flagTurks and Caicos Islandsmixed system of English common law and civil law 
229flagTuvalumixed system of English common law and local customary law 
230flagU.S. Virgin IslandsUS common law 
231flagUgandamixed system of English common law and customary law 
232flagUkrainecivil law system; judicial review of legislative acts 
233flagUnited Arab Emiratesmixed system of Islamic 
234flagUnited Kingdomcommon law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998 
235flagUnited States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesthe laws of the US apply 
236flagUnited Statescommon law system based on English common law at the federal level; state legal systems based on common law except Louisiana where state law is based on Napoleonic civil code; judicial review of legislative acts 
237flagUruguaycivil law system based on the Spanish civil code 
238flagUzbekistancivil law system 
239flagVanuatumixed system of English common law French law and customary law 
240flagVenezuelacivil law system based on the Spanish civil code 
241flagVietnamcivil law system with European influences 
242flagWake IslandUS common law 
243flagWallis and FutunaFrench civil law 
244flagYemenmixed system of Islamic 
245flagZambiamixed system of English common law and customary law 
246flagZimbabwemixed system of English common law Roman-Dutch civil law and customary law 


Back to statistical information of Saint Lucia 2025



🅶🅷🅴🅾🆂.🅲🅾🅼