United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland vs United States of America: Age of democracy

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
139 years
in 2018
United States of America
155 years
in 2019
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
4th
United States of America rank
2nd

Age of democracy over time

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • United States of America
050100150180119102019

How they compare

United States of America currently reports 155 years against 139 years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 16 years.

That makes United States of America's figure about 1.1 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.

Across all 139 years both countries report, United States of America has been ahead every year.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th and United States of America ranks 2nd of 110 countries.

United States of America has averaged higher in every one of the 14 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United States of America Difference Ahead
1880s 5.5 years 20.5 years 15 years United States of America
1890s 15.5 years 30.5 years 15 years United States of America
1900s 25.5 years 40.5 years 15 years United States of America
1910s 35.5 years 50.5 years 15 years United States of America
1920s 45.5 years 60.5 years 15 years United States of America
1930s 55.5 years 70.5 years 15 years United States of America
1940s 65.5 years 80.5 years 15 years United States of America
1950s 75.5 years 90.5 years 15 years United States of America
1960s 85.5 years 100.5 years 15 years United States of America
1970s 95.5 years 110.5 years 15 years United States of America
1980s 105.5 years 120.5 years 15 years United States of America
1990s 115.5 years 130.5 years 15 years United States of America
2000s 125.5 years 140.5 years 15 years United States of America
2010s 135 years 150 years 15 years United States of America

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher age of democracy, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or United States of America?
United States of America, at 155 years against 139 years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2019.
What is the difference in age of democracy between United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America?
16 years, with United States of America ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America?
139 years are reported by both, from 1880 to 2018.
How do United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America rank globally for age of democracy?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 4th and United States of America 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.

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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland vs United States of America: Age of democracy. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/age-of-democracy-polity/united-kingdom/united-states/

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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.