Belgium vs Ireland: Age of liberal democracy
Belgium
80 years
in 2025
Ireland
102 years
in 2025
Belgium rank
8th
Ireland rank
6th
Age of liberal democracy over time
- Belgium
- Ireland
How they compare
Ireland currently reports 102 years against 80 years in Belgium, a difference of 22 years.
That makes Ireland's figure about 1.3 times Belgium's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 96 shared years of data; in 1924 it was Belgium ahead.
Belgium ranks 8th and Ireland ranks 6th of 47 countries.
Across the 11 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 2 and Ireland in 9.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Belgium | Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 6.5 years | 3.5 years | 3 years | Belgium |
| 1930s | 14.5 years | 11.5 years | 3 years | Belgium |
| 1940s | 2.5 years | 24.5 years | 22 years | Ireland |
| 1950s | 9.5 years | 31.5 years | 22 years | Ireland |
| 1960s | 19.5 years | 41.5 years | 22 years | Ireland |
| 1970s | 29.5 years | 51.5 years | 22 years | Ireland |
| 1980s | 39.5 years | 61.5 years | 22 years | Ireland |
| 1990s | 49.5 years | 71.5 years | 22 years | Ireland |
| 2000s | 59.5 years | 81.5 years | 22 years | Ireland |
| 2010s | 69.5 years | 91.5 years | 22 years | Ireland |
| 2020s | 77.5 years | 99.5 years | 22 years | Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of liberal democracy, Belgium or Ireland?
- Ireland, at 102 years against 80 years in Belgium as of 2025.
- What is the difference in age of liberal democracy between Belgium and Ireland?
- 22 years, with Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Ireland?
- 96 years are reported by both, from 1924 to 2025.
- How do Belgium and Ireland rank globally for age of liberal democracy?
- Belgium ranks 8th and Ireland ranks 6th of 47 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- V-Dem (2026) – 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.