Which has higher distribution of democracy index, Brazil or United States?

Brazil, at 18 against 18 in United States as of 2018.

How many years of comparable data are there for Brazil and United States?

195 years are reported by both, from 1824 to 2018.

Where does this data come from?

Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Distribution of Democracy Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Brazil vs United States: Distribution of Democracy Index

Brazil

in 2018

United States

in 2018

Brazil rank

52nd

United States rank

52nd

Distribution of Democracy Index over time

Brazil
United States

How they compare

Brazil currently reports 18 against 18 in United States, a difference of 0.

Across all 195 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

Brazil ranks 52nd and United States ranks 52nd of 168 countries.

United States has averaged higher in every one of the 20 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Brazil	United States	Difference	Ahead
1820s	4	17.33	13.33	United States
1830s	4	20	16	United States
1840s	4	20	16	United States
1850s	4	18.4	14.4	United States
1860s	4	13.5	9.5	United States
1870s	4	18.1	14.1	United States
1880s	4.3	19	14.7	United States
1890s	7	19	12	United States
1900s	7	19	12	United States
1910s	7	19	12	United States
1920s	7	19	12	United States
1930s	3.7	19	15.3	United States
1940s	8.7	19	10.3	United States
1950s	15.2	19	3.8	United States
1960s	7.1	18.7	11.6	United States
1970s	4	19.2	15.2	United States
1980s	12	20	8	United States
1990s	18	20	2	United States
2000s	18	20	2	United States
2010s	18	19.33	1.33	United States

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher distribution of democracy index, Brazil or United States?: Brazil, at 18 against 18 in United States as of 2018.
What is the difference in distribution of democracy index between Brazil and United States?: 0, with Brazil ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Brazil and United States?: 195 years are reported by both, from 1824 to 2018.
How do Brazil and United States rank globally for distribution of democracy index?: Brazil ranks 52nd and United States ranks 52nd of 168 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Distribution of Democracy Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Brazil vs United States: Distribution of Democracy Index. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/distribution-democracy-index-polity/brazil/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator: Distribution of Democracy Index
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 168 places, 18,366 data points, 1800–2018
Last refreshed: 30 October 2026

It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from 0 to 20 (fully democratic).