Malta Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Malta's rule of law was 0.61 in 2025, ranked 59th globally. This represents a 13.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Malta's rule of law stood at 0.61 in 2025, a decline of +0.09 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.61 by 2025. Malta ranked 59th globally.
Malta’s rule‑of‑law score on the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators has fallen sharply from an early‑year level of 1.05 in 1996 to an all‑time trough of 0.61 in 2025, placing the country 59th globally. The indicator peaked at 1.61 in 2008, a level that briefly positioned Malta among the higher‑performing jurisdictions before a sustained decline set in. Over the 26‑year coverage period the downward trajectory has brought Malta into parity with peers such as Dominica and Malaysia, both recorded at 0.61, while Bermuda remains slightly higher at 0.63 and Tonga marginally lower at 0.59. The erosion of the rule‑of‑law rating suggests weakening institutional effectiveness and reduced confidence in legal enforcement, trends that could be reversed only by substantive reforms in judicial independence, anti‑corruption measures and regulatory transparency. Continued improvement will depend on the government’s capacity to implement such reforms and restore credibility in the legal system.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.56 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.61 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.61 | −0.09 | #59 |
| 2023 | 0.70 | −0.08 | #50 |
| 2022 | 0.79 | −0.05 | #48 |
| 2021 | 0.84 | −0.05 | #46 |
| 2020 | 0.88 | −0.04 | #44 |
| 2019 | 0.92 | −0.10 | #42 |
| 2018 | 1.02 | −0.09 | #35 |
| 2017 | 1.11 | +0.14 | #32 |
| 2016 | 0.97 | −0.14 | #37 |
| 2015 | 1.11 | −0.08 | #34 |
| 2014 | 1.19 | −0.13 | #29 |
| 2013 | 1.33 | −0.01 | #25 |
| 2012 | 1.34 | +0.06 | #25 |
| 2011 | 1.28 | −0.13 | #26 |
| 2010 | 1.41 | −0.06 | #24 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malta matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malta's rule of law was 0.61 in 2025. Ranked 59th globally. This represents a 13.0% decrease from the previous year.
Malta's rule of law peaked at 1.61 in 2008.
The lowest rule of law in Malta was 0.61 in 2025.
Malta ranks 59th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Malta's rule of law is projected to reach 0.61 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Malta in 2025 was 0.61. This ranks 59th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malta_rule-of-law,
title = {Malta Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malta/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}