Rule of Law Index in Malawi
Malawi: Rule of Law Index was 6 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
6
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
31st
of 128 countries
All-time high
6.25
in 2005
All-time low
5.5
in 2019
Years of data
11
2005–2025
Rule of Law Index in Malawi, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, rule of law index in Malawi stood at 6.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, rule of law index in Malawi peaked at 6.25 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 5.5, in 2019.
That places Malawi 31st out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Rule of Law Index in Malawi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 6.25 | — |
| 2007 | 6 | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 5.75 | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 5.75 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6.25 | +8.7% |
| 2015 | 6 | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 5.75 | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 5.5 | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 6 | +9.1% |
| 2023 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 6 | +0.0% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 6 is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.25, 2.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 6 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.5, 1.7× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6 | 5.75 | 6.25 | 3 |
| 2010s | 5.85 | 5.5 | 6.25 | 5 |
| 2020s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More reference data data for Malawi
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1596 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3426 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5353 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.6012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.87 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rule of law index in Malawi?
- Rule of law index in Malawi was 6 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest rule of law index recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 6.25 in 2005.
- What is the lowest rule of law index recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5 in 2019.
- How does Malawi rank for rule of law index?
- Malawi ranks 31st out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rule of law index rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi data come from?
- The figures come from Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Rule of Law Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Indicates the extent to which political power is separated, the judiciary is independent, office abuse is prosecuted, and civil rights are enforced.