Australia vs Switzerland: Age of liberal democracy
Australia
108 years
in 2025
Switzerland
177 years
in 2025
Australia rank
3rd
Switzerland rank
1st
Age of liberal democracy over time
- Australia
- Switzerland
How they compare
Switzerland currently reports 177 years against 108 years in Australia, a difference of 69 years.
That makes Switzerland's figure about 1.6 times Australia's.
Across all 166 years both countries report, Switzerland has been ahead every year.
Australia ranks 3rd and Switzerland ranks 1st of 47 countries.
Switzerland has averaged higher in every one of the 18 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Australia | Switzerland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.5 years | 10.5 years | 9 years | Switzerland |
| 1860s | 7.5 years | 16.5 years | 9 years | Switzerland |
| 1870s | 17.5 years | 26.5 years | 9 years | Switzerland |
| 1880s | 27.5 years | 36.5 years | 9 years | Switzerland |
| 1890s | 37.5 years | 46.5 years | 9 years | Switzerland |
| 1900s | 47.5 years | 56.5 years | 9 years | Switzerland |
| 1910s | 42 years | 66 years | 24 years | Switzerland |
| 1920s | 7.5 years | 76.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 1930s | 17.5 years | 86.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 1940s | 27.5 years | 96.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 1950s | 37.5 years | 106.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 1960s | 47.5 years | 116.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 1970s | 57.5 years | 126.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 1980s | 67.5 years | 136.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 1990s | 77.5 years | 146.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 2000s | 87.5 years | 156.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 2010s | 97.5 years | 166.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
| 2020s | 105.5 years | 174.5 years | 69 years | Switzerland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of liberal democracy, Australia or Switzerland?
- Switzerland, at 177 years against 108 years in Australia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in age of liberal democracy between Australia and Switzerland?
- 69 years, with Switzerland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Switzerland?
- 166 years are reported by both, from 1858 to 2025.
- How do Australia and Switzerland rank globally for age of liberal democracy?
- Australia ranks 3rd and Switzerland ranks 1st of 47 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- V-Dem (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Age of liberal 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.