United Kingdom vs United States: Age of democracy
United Kingdom
139 years
in 2018
United States
155 years
in 2019
United Kingdom rank
4th
United States rank
2nd
Age of democracy over time
- United Kingdom
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 155 years against 139 years in United Kingdom, a difference of 16 years.
That makes United States's figure about 1.1 times United Kingdom's.
Across all 139 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
United Kingdom ranks 4th and United States ranks 2nd of 110 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 14 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | United Kingdom | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 5.5 years | 20.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1890s | 15.5 years | 30.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1900s | 25.5 years | 40.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1910s | 35.5 years | 50.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1920s | 45.5 years | 60.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1930s | 55.5 years | 70.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1940s | 65.5 years | 80.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1950s | 75.5 years | 90.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1960s | 85.5 years | 100.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1970s | 95.5 years | 110.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1980s | 105.5 years | 120.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 1990s | 115.5 years | 130.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 2000s | 125.5 years | 140.5 years | 15 years | United States |
| 2010s | 135 years | 150 years | 15 years | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of democracy, United Kingdom or United States?
- United States, at 155 years against 139 years in United Kingdom as of 2019.
- What is the difference in age of democracy between United Kingdom and United States?
- 16 years, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for United Kingdom and United States?
- 139 years are reported by both, from 1880 to 2018.
- How do United Kingdom and United States rank globally for age of democracy?
- United Kingdom ranks 4th and United States ranks 2nd of 110 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Polity 5 (2020) β 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.