Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in Australia
Australia: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index was 0.957 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
0.957
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
20th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.98
in 1975
All-time low
0.125
in 1793
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in Australia, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, individual liberties and equality before the law index in Australia stood at 0.957.
That represents a change of down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, individual liberties and equality before the law index in Australia peaked at 0.98 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 0.125, in 1793.
That places Australia 20th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.
Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.157 | — |
| 1790 | 0.157 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.157 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.157 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.125 | -20.4% |
| 1794 | 0.14 | +12.0% |
| 1795 | 0.155 | +10.7% |
| 1796 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.19 | +22.6% |
| 1811 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.217 | +14.2% |
| 1821 | 0.217 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.217 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.404 | +86.2% |
| 1824 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.404 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.751 | +85.9% |
| 1842 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.751 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.866 | +15.3% |
| 1857 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.872 | +0.7% |
| 1906 | 0.872 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.872 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.872 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.872 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.879 | +0.8% |
| 1911 | 0.879 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.879 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.879 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.879 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.874 | -0.6% |
| 1916 | 0.843 | -3.5% |
| 1917 | 0.843 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.873 | +3.6% |
| 1919 | 0.876 | +0.3% |
| 1920 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.876 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.877 | +0.1% |
| 1940 | 0.873 | -0.5% |
| 1941 | 0.873 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.873 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.873 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.873 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.873 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.911 | +4.4% |
| 1947 | 0.911 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.915 | +0.4% |
| 1949 | 0.915 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.965 | +5.5% |
| 1951 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.965 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.967 | +0.2% |
| 1958 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.967 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.971 | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 0.971 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.977 | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 0.977 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.978 | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 0.978 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.978 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.98 | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.979 | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 0.979 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.979 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.979 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.979 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.98 | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.98 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.979 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 0.979 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.979 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.975 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 0.974 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 0.973 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 0.972 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.966 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 0.966 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.965 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.949 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 0.947 | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 0.956 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 0.957 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 0.957 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.957 | +0.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.957 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.932, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.957 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.7075, 1.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.157 | 0.157 | 0.157 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.1511 | 0.125 | 0.157 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.155 | 0.155 | 0.155 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.19 | 0.19 | 0.19 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.3479 | 0.217 | 0.404 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.404 | 0.404 | 0.404 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.7163 | 0.404 | 0.751 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.797 | 0.751 | 0.866 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.866 | 0.866 | 0.866 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.866 | 0.866 | 0.866 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.866 | 0.866 | 0.866 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.866 | 0.866 | 0.866 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.869 | 0.866 | 0.872 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.8704 | 0.843 | 0.879 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.876 | 0.876 | 0.876 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.8761 | 0.876 | 0.877 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.889 | 0.873 | 0.915 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.9656 | 0.965 | 0.967 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.9678 | 0.967 | 0.971 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.9788 | 0.977 | 0.98 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9795 | 0.979 | 0.98 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.98 | 0.98 | 0.98 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.98 | 0.98 | 0.98 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9728 | 0.965 | 0.979 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9538 | 0.947 | 0.957 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 17 Costa Rica 0.962 compare
- 18 Taiwan 0.961 compare
- 19 Japan 0.958 compare
- 21 Netherlands 0.95 compare
- 22 Italy 0.945 compare
- 23 South Korea 0.942 compare
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is individual liberties and equality before the law index in Australia?
- Individual liberties and equality before the law index in Australia was 0.957 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.98 in 1975.
- What is the lowest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.125 in 1793.
- How does Australia rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?
- Australia ranks 20th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is individual liberties and equality before the law index rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which extent to which citizens enjoy physical integrity rights, freedoms of religion, of movement, and from forced labor, as well as access to justice, laws are transparent, and public administration is impartial.