Which has higher direct democracy index, Belgium or Netherlands?

Belgium, at 0.017 against 0.015 in Netherlands as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Netherlands?

126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Direct Democracy Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Belgium vs Netherlands: Direct Democracy Index

Belgium

0.017

in 2025

Netherlands

0.015

in 2025

Belgium rank

120th

Netherlands rank

122nd

Direct Democracy Index over time

Belgium
Netherlands

How they compare

Belgium currently reports 0.017 against 0.015 in Netherlands, a difference of 0.002.

That makes Belgium's figure about 1.1 times Netherlands's.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Netherlands ahead.

Belgium ranks 120th and Netherlands ranks 122nd of 175 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 1 and Netherlands in 12.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Belgium	Netherlands	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0	0.015	0.015	Netherlands
1910s	0	0.015	0.015	Netherlands
1920s	0	0.015	0.015	Netherlands
1930s	0	0.015	0.015	Netherlands
1940s	0	0.015	0.015	Netherlands
1950s	0.01	0.015	0.005	Netherlands
1960s	0	0.015	0.015	Netherlands
1970s	0	0.015	0.015	Netherlands
1980s	0	0.015	0.015	Netherlands
1990s	0.0102	0.015	0.0048	Netherlands
2000s	0.017	0.075	0.058	Netherlands
2010s	0.017	0.1091	0.0921	Netherlands
2020s	0.017	0.015	0.002	Belgium

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher direct democracy index, Belgium or Netherlands?: Belgium, at 0.017 against 0.015 in Netherlands as of 2025.
What is the difference in direct democracy index between Belgium and Netherlands?: 0.002, with Belgium ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Netherlands?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Belgium and Netherlands rank globally for direct democracy index?: Belgium ranks 120th and Netherlands ranks 122nd of 175 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Direct Democracy Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Direct Democracy Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 20,802 data points, 1900–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Measures the extent of how easy it is for citizens to vote on specific issues themselves in popular initiatives, referendums, and plebiscites.