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

Sweden, at 0.989 against 0.83 in Malta as of 2025.

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

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.

Malta vs Sweden: Rule of Law Index

Malta

0.83

in 2025

Sweden

0.989

in 2025

Malta rank

3rd

Sweden rank

5th

Rule of Law Index over time

Malta
Sweden

How they compare

Sweden currently reports 0.989 against 0.83 in Malta, a difference of 0.159.

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

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

Malta ranks 3rd and Sweden ranks 5th of 3 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade	Malta	Sweden	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.747	0.985	0.238	Sweden
1910s	0.747	0.9851	0.2381	Sweden
1920s	0.747	0.9868	0.2398	Sweden
1930s	0.747	0.9876	0.2406	Sweden
1940s	0.747	0.988	0.241	Sweden
1950s	0.747	0.991	0.244	Sweden
1960s	0.7402	0.9929	0.2527	Sweden
1970s	0.723	0.994	0.271	Sweden
1980s	0.7516	0.9948	0.2432	Sweden
1990s	0.846	0.995	0.149	Sweden
2000s	0.8452	0.9946	0.1494	Sweden
2010s	0.8077	0.9937	0.186	Sweden
2020s	0.8268	0.9912	0.1643	Sweden

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher rule of law index, Malta or Sweden?: Sweden, at 0.989 against 0.83 in Malta as of 2025.
What is the difference in rule of law index between Malta and Sweden?: 0.159, with Sweden ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malta and Sweden?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Malta and Sweden rank globally for rule of law index?: Malta ranks 3rd and Sweden ranks 5th of 3 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.