How does Sweden rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?

Sweden ranks 4th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is individual liberties and equality before the law index rising or falling in Sweden?

Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Sweden 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.

Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in Sweden

Name: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in Sweden
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Sweden: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index was 0.981 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.981

Change on year

down 0.2%

World rank

4th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.992

in 2006

All-time low

0.746

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index in Sweden, 1789–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2025, individual liberties and equality before the law index in Sweden stood at 0.981.

That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, individual liberties and equality before the law index in Sweden peaked at 0.992 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.746, in 1789.

That places Sweden 4th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.746	0.746	0.746	1
1790s	0.746	0.746	0.746	10
1800s	0.746	0.746	0.746	10
1810s	0.746	0.746	0.746	10
1820s	0.746	0.746	0.746	10
1830s	0.746	0.746	0.746	10
1840s	0.746	0.746	0.746	10
1850s	0.746	0.746	0.746	10
1860s	0.8007	0.762	0.821	10
1870s	0.821	0.821	0.821	10
1880s	0.842	0.842	0.842	10
1890s	0.862	0.862	0.862	10
1900s	0.862	0.862	0.862	10
1910s	0.8703	0.862	0.887	10
1920s	0.9128	0.894	0.918	10
1930s	0.9242	0.908	0.935	10
1940s	0.9426	0.935	0.954	10
1950s	0.9638	0.959	0.965	10
1960s	0.9768	0.971	0.979	10
1970s	0.985	0.982	0.986	10
1980s	0.9894	0.987	0.99	10
1990s	0.99	0.99	0.99	10
2000s	0.9908	0.99	0.992	10
2010s	0.9883	0.984	0.991	10
2020s	0.984	0.981	0.987	6

Countries ranked near Sweden

1 Germany 0.991 compare
2 Denmark 0.986 compare
3 Switzerland 0.982 compare
5 Czechia 0.98 compare
5 Luxembourg 0.98 compare
7 Estonia 0.979 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for Sweden

Spring temperature anomalies 4.22 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 1.58 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month -3.74 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 2.27 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 3.13 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 138.19 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is individual liberties and equality before the law index in Sweden?: Individual liberties and equality before the law index in Sweden was 0.981 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 Sweden?: The highest recorded value was 0.992 in 2006.
What is the lowest individual liberties and equality before the law index recorded in Sweden?: The lowest recorded value was 0.746 in 1789.
How does Sweden rank for individual liberties and equality before the law index?: Sweden ranks 4th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is individual liberties and equality before the law index rising or falling in Sweden?: Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sweden 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

Indicator: Individual Liberties and Equality before the Law Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,494 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.