Which has higher liberal democracy, Malta or United States?

Malta, at 2 against 2 in United States as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Malta and United States?

126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Liberal democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Malta vs United States: Liberal democracy

Malta

in 2025

United States

in 2025

Malta rank

32nd

United States rank

32nd

Liberal democracy over time

Malta
United States

How they compare

Malta currently reports 2 against 2 in United States, a difference of 0.

Across all 126 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

Malta ranks 32nd and United States ranks 32nd of 176 countries.

United States has averaged higher in every one of the 13 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Malta	United States	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0	1	1	United States
1910s	0	1	1	United States
1920s	0.9	2	1.1	United States
1930s	0.2	2	1.8	United States
1940s	0.5	2	1.5	United States
1950s	1.6	2	0.4	United States
1960s	1.5	2.1	0.6	United States
1970s	2	3	1	United States
1980s	2	3	1	United States
1990s	2	3	1	United States
2000s	2	3	1	United States
2010s	2	3	1	United States
2020s	2	2.83	0.8333	United States

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher liberal democracy, Malta or United States?: Malta, at 2 against 2 in United States as of 2025.
What is the difference in liberal democracy between Malta and United States?: 0, with Malta ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malta and United States?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Malta and United States rank globally for liberal democracy?: Malta ranks 32nd and United States ranks 32nd of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Liberal democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Liberal democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,594 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Identifies the political regime of a country by distinguishing between closed autocracies, electoral autocracies, electoral democracies, and liberal democracies.