Ireland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Age of electoral democracy
Ireland
104 years
in 2025
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
107 years
in 2025
Ireland rank
8th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
5th
Age of electoral democracy over time
- Ireland
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 107 years against 104 years in Ireland, a difference of 3 years.
Across all 104 years both countries report, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been ahead every year.
Ireland ranks 8th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th of 111 countries.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 11 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ireland | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 4.5 years | 7.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1930s | 13.5 years | 16.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1940s | 23.5 years | 26.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1950s | 33.5 years | 36.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1960s | 43.5 years | 46.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1970s | 53.5 years | 56.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1980s | 63.5 years | 66.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1990s | 73.5 years | 76.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2000s | 83.5 years | 86.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2010s | 93.5 years | 96.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2020s | 101.5 years | 104.5 years | 3 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of electoral democracy, Ireland or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 107 years against 104 years in Ireland as of 2025.
- What is the difference in age of electoral democracy between Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 3 years, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 104 years are reported by both, from 1922 to 2025.
- How do Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for age of electoral democracy?
- Ireland ranks 8th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th of 111 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- V-Dem (2026) – 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.