Which has higher physical integrity rights index, Malawi or South Africa?

Malawi, at 0.857 against 0.849 in South Africa as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Malawi and South Africa?

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 Physical Integrity Rights Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Malawi vs South Africa: Physical Integrity Rights Index

Malawi

0.857

in 2025

South Africa

0.849

in 2025

Malawi rank

69th

South Africa rank

71st

Physical Integrity Rights Index over time

Malawi
South Africa

How they compare

Malawi currently reports 0.857 against 0.849 in South Africa, a difference of 0.008.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was South Africa ahead.

Malawi ranks 69th and South Africa ranks 71st of 176 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Malawi averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 12.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Malawi	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.073	0.341	0.268	South Africa
1910s	0.0725	0.341	0.2685	South Africa
1920s	0.074	0.341	0.267	South Africa
1930s	0.074	0.341	0.267	South Africa
1940s	0.0782	0.3067	0.2285	South Africa
1950s	0.087	0.142	0.055	South Africa
1960s	0.0672	0.0846	0.0174	South Africa
1970s	0.031	0.0752	0.0442	South Africa
1980s	0.031	0.0614	0.0304	South Africa
1990s	0.2379	0.5166	0.2787	South Africa
2000s	0.5165	0.83	0.3135	South Africa
2010s	0.7026	0.8296	0.127	South Africa
2020s	0.8487	0.8275	0.0212	Malawi

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher physical integrity rights index, Malawi or South Africa?: Malawi, at 0.857 against 0.849 in South Africa as of 2025.
What is the difference in physical integrity rights index between Malawi and South Africa?: 0.008, with Malawi ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malawi and South Africa?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Malawi and South Africa rank globally for physical integrity rights index?: Malawi ranks 69th and South Africa ranks 71st of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Physical Integrity Rights Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Malawi vs South Africa: Physical Integrity Rights Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/physical-integrity-rights-index-vdem/malawi/south-africa/

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<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/physical-integrity-rights-index-vdem/malawi/south-africa/">Malawi vs South Africa: Physical Integrity Rights Index</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Physical Integrity Rights Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,491 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 30 October 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which people are free from government torture and political killings.