Switzerland vs United Kingdom: Age of democracy

Switzerland
171 years
in 2018
United Kingdom
139 years
in 2018
Switzerland rank
1st
United Kingdom rank
4th

Age of democracy over time

  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
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How they compare

Switzerland currently reports 171 years against 139 years in United Kingdom, a difference of 32 years.

That makes Switzerland's figure about 1.2 times United Kingdom's.

Across all 139 years both countries report, Switzerland has been ahead every year.

Switzerland ranks 1st and United Kingdom ranks 4th of 110 countries.

Switzerland has averaged higher in every one of the 14 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Switzerland United Kingdom Difference Ahead
1880s 37.5 years 5.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1890s 47.5 years 15.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1900s 57.5 years 25.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1910s 67.5 years 35.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1920s 77.5 years 45.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1930s 87.5 years 55.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1940s 97.5 years 65.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1950s 107.5 years 75.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1960s 117.5 years 85.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1970s 127.5 years 95.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1980s 137.5 years 105.5 years 32 years Switzerland
1990s 147.5 years 115.5 years 32 years Switzerland
2000s 157.5 years 125.5 years 32 years Switzerland
2010s 167 years 135 years 32 years Switzerland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher age of democracy, Switzerland or United Kingdom?
Switzerland, at 171 years against 139 years in United Kingdom as of 2018.
What is the difference in age of democracy between Switzerland and United Kingdom?
32 years, with Switzerland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Switzerland and United Kingdom?
139 years are reported by both, from 1880 to 2018.
How do Switzerland and United Kingdom rank globally for age of democracy?
Switzerland ranks 1st and United Kingdom ranks 4th of 110 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Age of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Switzerland vs United Kingdom: Age of democracy. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/age-of-democracy-polity/switzerland/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Age of democracy
Unit
years
Source
Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
110 places, 4,915 data points, 1801–2019
Last refreshed

Number of consecutive years in a democracy.