Ireland vs United Kingdom: Age of liberal democracy
Ireland
102 years
in 2025
United Kingdom
105 years
in 2023
Ireland rank
6th
United Kingdom rank
4th
Age of liberal democracy over time
- Ireland
- United Kingdom
How they compare
United Kingdom currently reports 105 years against 102 years in Ireland, a difference of 3 years.
Across all 100 years both countries report, United Kingdom has been ahead every year.
Ireland ranks 6th and United Kingdom ranks 4th of 47 countries.
United Kingdom has averaged higher in every one of the 11 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ireland | United Kingdom | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 3.5 years | 8.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 1930s | 11.5 years | 16.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 1940s | 21.5 years | 26.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 1950s | 31.5 years | 36.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 1960s | 41.5 years | 46.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 1970s | 51.5 years | 56.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 1980s | 61.5 years | 66.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 1990s | 71.5 years | 76.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 2000s | 81.5 years | 86.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 2010s | 91.5 years | 96.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
| 2020s | 98.5 years | 103.5 years | 5 years | United Kingdom |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher age of liberal democracy, Ireland or United Kingdom?
- United Kingdom, at 105 years against 102 years in Ireland as of 2023.
- What is the difference in age of liberal democracy between Ireland and United Kingdom?
- 3 years, with United Kingdom ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ireland and United Kingdom?
- 100 years are reported by both, from 1924 to 2023.
- How do Ireland and United Kingdom rank globally for age of liberal democracy?
- Ireland ranks 6th and United Kingdom ranks 4th 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.