Which has higher key features of democracy, Italy or South Africa?

Italy, at 0.745 against 0.743 in South Africa as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?

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 Key features of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Italy vs South Africa: Key features of democracy

Italy

0.745

in 2025

South Africa

0.743

in 2025

Italy rank

40th

South Africa rank

42nd

Key features of democracy over time

Italy
South Africa

How they compare

Italy currently reports 0.745 against 0.743 in South Africa, a difference of 0.002.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Italy ahead.

Italy ranks 40th and South Africa ranks 42nd of 176 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Italy averaged higher in 11 and South Africa in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Italy	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.3058	0.156	0.1498	Italy
1910s	0.3379	0.2207	0.1172	Italy
1920s	0.1836	0.2251	0.0415	South Africa
1930s	0.0552	0.2335	0.1783	South Africa
1940s	0.2805	0.2284	0.0521	Italy
1950s	0.6924	0.1963	0.4961	Italy
1960s	0.7286	0.1667	0.5619	Italy
1970s	0.7524	0.164	0.5884	Italy
1980s	0.8121	0.1758	0.6363	Italy
1990s	0.8338	0.4748	0.359	Italy
2000s	0.8455	0.7622	0.0833	Italy
2010s	0.8638	0.7576	0.1062	Italy
2020s	0.8152	0.7252	0.09	Italy

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher key features of democracy, Italy or South Africa?: Italy, at 0.745 against 0.743 in South Africa as of 2025.
What is the difference in key features of democracy between Italy and South Africa?: 0.002, with Italy ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Africa?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Italy and South Africa rank globally for key features of democracy?: Italy ranks 40th and South Africa ranks 42nd of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Key features of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Italy vs South Africa: Key features of democracy. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/key-features-of-democracy/italy/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Key features of democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,649 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.