This year, Griffiths + Associates continued its involvement in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2025, with our Head of Legal & Compliance, Dr. David Lorenzo, contributing as an expert for Malta. Engagement in initiatives like the WJP Index keeps us closely connected to developments in governance and regulatory standards – an important part of our work as a business advisory and legal firm, where the rule of law directly shapes risk assessment, compliance responsibilities, and long-term decision-making. By working with global, evidence-based benchmarks, we also strengthen our commitment to transparency, accountability, and sound governance.
Looking ahead, the report points to several developments that could help strengthen Malta’s future performance. These include reinforcing oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability, improving the efficiency and accessibility of civil justice, and enhancing regulatory frameworks so that enforcement is applied more consistently and fairly. Continued progress in open-government initiatives – particularly in transparency, public participation, and access to information – would also play an important role in building greater trust in institutions and supporting Malta’s overall standing in the Index.
WJP: A Global Benchmark for Rule of Law
The World Justice Project (WJP) is an independent, nonpartisan initiative that brings together expertise from multiple disciplines to strengthen justice systems and uphold the rule of law around the world. Its work combines rigorous research with efforts to raise public awareness and promote practical actions that support accountability, fairness, and security.
A key part of the WJP’s work is its annual Rule of Law Index, which provides a detailed picture of how the rule of law is experienced in practice. The Index looks at multiple dimensions of governance, including limits on government power, the fight against corruption, transparency, protection of fundamental rights, public safety, regulatory practices, and the effectiveness of civil and criminal justice. Together, these areas offer a comprehensive view of how countries protect citizens’ rights and maintain accountable institutions.
The 2025 Index draws on a particularly extensive research base, incorporating more than 215,000 household surveys and 4,100 surveys from legal experts and practitioners across 143 countries. This large-scale methodology makes the Index a trusted tool for policymakers, business leaders, civil society organizations, media, and academia, providing insights into both the perception and reality of the rule of law worldwide.
Malta in the 2025 Rule of Law Index
In 2025, Malta achieved an overall score of 0.67 on the WJP Rule of Law Index, placing 31st out of 143 countries globally. Within its regional grouping of EU, EFTA, and North American nations, Malta ranks 23rd (out of 31), while among high-income countries it stands 31st (out of 51), reflecting consistent performance across different comparative contexts.
Strengths
Malta’s strongest performance continues to be in order and security, where it achieved a high score of 0.91, ranking 12th globally (12/143) and 7th (7/31) regionally. The protection of fundamental rights is also a relative strength, with Malta scoring 0.74 and placing 26th (26/143) worldwide, demonstrating ongoing commitment to individual freedoms and civil liberties.
Areas of Concern
At the same time, the Index points to areas where further improvement is possible. Constraints on government powers and regulatory enforcement remain challenging, reflected in global rankings of 43rd (43/143) and 45th (45/143), respectively, indicating ongoing gaps in accountability and consistency. Civil justice also faces pressures, with a score of 0.60 placing Malta 48th (48/143), highlighting issues such as court efficiency and delays. Performance in absence of corruption and open government is moderate, with rankings of 40th and 32nd globally, suggesting opportunities to enhance transparency, oversight, and public participation.
By addressing these areas, Malta has the potential to strengthen both domestic governance and its international standing, contributing to a more predictable legal and regulatory environment that benefits citizens, businesses, and institutions alike.
