Which has higher direct democracy index, Belgium or Norway?

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

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

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 Norway: Direct Democracy Index

Belgium

0.017

in 2025

Norway

0.015

in 2025

Belgium rank

120th

Norway rank

122nd

Direct Democracy Index over time

Belgium
Norway

How they compare

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

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

The two have swapped places 3 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Norway ahead.

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

Across the 13 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 2 and Norway in 11.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Belgium	Norway	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0	0.0825	0.0825	Norway
1910s	0	0.1095	0.1095	Norway
1920s	0	0.1413	0.1413	Norway
1930s	0	0.069	0.069	Norway
1940s	0	0.015	0.015	Norway
1950s	0.01	0.015	0.005	Norway
1960s	0	0.015	0.015	Norway
1970s	0	0.102	0.102	Norway
1980s	0	0.03	0.03	Norway
1990s	0.0102	0.0855	0.0753	Norway
2000s	0.017	0.0465	0.0295	Norway
2010s	0.017	0.015	0.002	Belgium
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 Norway?: Belgium, at 0.017 against 0.015 in Norway as of 2025.
What is the difference in direct democracy index between Belgium and Norway?: 0.002, with Belgium ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and Norway?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Belgium and Norway rank globally for direct democracy index?: Belgium ranks 120th and Norway 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.