The invention relates to a method for decoding elements coded according to an arithmetic coding method such as CABAC. The method decodes at least a part of the binary stream into a set of elements on the basis of first and second decoding parameters CodlOffseto and CodlRange, the set of elements comprising a prefix (P2) composed of n first elements and a suffix (S2) comprising m second elements, the prefix (P2) and the suffix (S2) being separated by an element called a pivot (P). The method comprises the following steps: - determining the value of n on the basis of the first and second decoding parameters and of the values of k consecutive bits of the binary stream, termed k first bits, so as to deduce therefrom the prefix (P2) and the value of m; and - determining the suffix (S2) on the basis of the first and second decoding parameters and of the values of m consecutive bits of the binary stream which follow the n first bits of the k first bits.