HomeIntelligenceThe justice gap
TN/INT/03
Edition 2027 · effective 1 January 2027
Data story
An estimated 5.1 billion people have an unmet justice need, by the World Justice Project’s broad 2019 measure.
Courts are essential and overloaded. Neutral routes help societies keep courts for what only courts can do.
§ 01The global gap
Five billion people.
People affected, worldwide (categories overlap)
Cases pending in India, 31 Dec 2025
§ 02What helps
Routes beside the courts.
Court-connected mediation
Referral to mediation before or during proceedings, with settlements recorded by the court.
Public Ombuds
Free, independent channels for complaints about public services.
Community mediation
Local, low-cost help for neighbour, housing and family disputes.
§ 03Read with care
Scale of the problem, not proof of a solution.
These figures describe the scale of conflict, distrust or unmet justice need. They are not evidence of the effect of Neutral Evaluation, or of TheNeutralsORG™. Outcome evidence will come from studies of actual neutral interventions, which the Research programme will publish with population, method and limits. See Sources & method.