Which has higher rule of law index, Australia or Malta?

Australia, at 0.99 against 0.83 in Malta as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Malta?

126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Rule of Law Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Australia vs Malta: Rule of Law Index

Australia

0.99

in 2025

Malta

0.83

in 2025

Australia rank

4th

Malta rank

3rd

Rule of Law Index over time

Australia
Malta

How they compare

Australia currently reports 0.99 against 0.83 in Malta, a difference of 0.16.

That makes Australia's figure about 1.2 times Malta's.

Across all 126 years both countries report, Australia has been ahead every year.

Australia ranks 4th and Malta ranks 3rd of 173 countries.

Australia has averaged higher in every one of the 13 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Australia	Malta	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.9749	0.747	0.2279	Australia
1910s	0.9768	0.747	0.2298	Australia
1920s	0.9772	0.747	0.2302	Australia
1930s	0.9764	0.747	0.2294	Australia
1940s	0.9761	0.747	0.2291	Australia
1950s	0.99	0.747	0.243	Australia
1960s	0.99	0.7402	0.2498	Australia
1970s	0.9905	0.723	0.2675	Australia
1980s	0.993	0.7516	0.2414	Australia
1990s	0.993	0.846	0.147	Australia
2000s	0.993	0.8452	0.1478	Australia
2010s	0.9898	0.8077	0.1821	Australia
2020s	0.9897	0.8268	0.1628	Australia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher rule of law index, Australia or Malta?: Australia, at 0.99 against 0.83 in Malta as of 2025.
What is the difference in rule of law index between Australia and Malta?: 0.16, with Australia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Malta?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Australia and Malta rank globally for rule of law index?: Australia ranks 4th and Malta ranks 3rd of 173 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Rule of Law Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Rule of Law Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,303 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which the government complies with the law, courts are independent, laws transparent, justice accessible, corruption absent, and the bureaucracy is impartial.