Iceland vs United States: Age of electoral democracy
Iceland
122 years
in 2025
United States
106 years
in 2025
Iceland rank
4th
United States rank
6th
Age of electoral democracy over time
- Iceland
- United States
How they compare
Iceland currently reports 122 years against 106 years in United States, a difference of 16 years.
That makes Iceland's figure about 1.2 times United States's.
Across all 106 years both countries report, Iceland has been ahead every year.
Iceland ranks 4th and United States ranks 6th of 111 countries.
Iceland has averaged higher in every one of the 11 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iceland | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 21.5 years | 5.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 1930s | 31.5 years | 15.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 1940s | 41.5 years | 25.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 1950s | 51.5 years | 35.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 1960s | 61.5 years | 45.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 1970s | 71.5 years | 55.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 1980s | 81.5 years | 65.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 1990s | 91.5 years | 75.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 2000s | 101.5 years | 85.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 2010s | 111.5 years | 95.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
| 2020s | 119.5 years | 103.5 years | 16 years | Iceland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of electoral democracy, Iceland or United States?
- Iceland, at 122 years against 106 years in United States as of 2025.
- What is the difference in age of electoral democracy between Iceland and United States?
- 16 years, with Iceland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iceland and United States?
- 106 years are reported by both, from 1920 to 2025.
- How do Iceland and United States rank globally for age of electoral democracy?
- Iceland ranks 4th and United States ranks 6th of 111 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- V-Dem (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Age of electoral 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 electoral democracy.