Switzerland vs United States: Age of democracy
Switzerland
171 years
in 2018
United States
155 years
in 2019
Switzerland rank
1st
United States rank
2nd
Age of democracy over time
- Switzerland
- United States
How they compare
Switzerland currently reports 171 years against 155 years in United States, a difference of 16 years.
That makes Switzerland's figure about 1.1 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 166 shared years of data; in 1848 it was United States ahead.
Switzerland ranks 1st and United States ranks 2nd of 110 countries.
Across the 18 decades both report, Switzerland averaged higher in 16 and United States in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Switzerland | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 1.5 years | 48.5 years | 47 years | United States |
| 1850s | 7.5 years | 54.5 years | 47 years | United States |
| 1860s | 20 years | 3 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1870s | 27.5 years | 10.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1880s | 37.5 years | 20.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1890s | 47.5 years | 30.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1900s | 57.5 years | 40.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1910s | 67.5 years | 50.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1920s | 77.5 years | 60.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1930s | 87.5 years | 70.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1940s | 97.5 years | 80.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1950s | 107.5 years | 90.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1960s | 117.5 years | 100.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1970s | 127.5 years | 110.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1980s | 137.5 years | 120.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 1990s | 147.5 years | 130.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 2000s | 157.5 years | 140.5 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
| 2010s | 167 years | 150 years | 17 years | Switzerland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of democracy, Switzerland or United States?
- Switzerland, at 171 years against 155 years in United States as of 2018.
- What is the difference in age of democracy between Switzerland and United States?
- 16 years, with Switzerland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Switzerland and United States?
- 166 years are reported by both, from 1848 to 2018.
- How do Switzerland and United States rank globally for age of democracy?
- Switzerland ranks 1st and United States ranks 2nd 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.
Individual pages
About this data
Number of consecutive years in a democracy.