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

Italy, at 0.642 against 0.633 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 liberal democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Italy vs South Africa: Key features of liberal democracy

Italy

0.642

in 2025

South Africa

0.633

in 2025

Italy rank

37th

South Africa rank

39th

Key features of liberal democracy over time

Italy
South Africa

How they compare

Italy currently reports 0.642 against 0.633 in South Africa, a difference of 0.009.

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

Italy ranks 37th and South Africa ranks 39th 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	0.2465	0.11	0.1365	Italy
1910s	0.2554	0.1274	0.128	Italy
1920s	0.1194	0.1286	0.0092	South Africa
1930s	0.0335	0.1316	0.0981	South Africa
1940s	0.224	0.127	0.097	Italy
1950s	0.5678	0.1016	0.4662	Italy
1960s	0.6168	0.0939	0.5229	Italy
1970s	0.6519	0.0932	0.5587	Italy
1980s	0.7172	0.1094	0.6078	Italy
1990s	0.7477	0.3698	0.3779	Italy
2000s	0.762	0.6459	0.1161	Italy
2010s	0.7864	0.6474	0.139	Italy
2020s	0.7278	0.6177	0.1102	Italy

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher key features of liberal democracy, Italy or South Africa?: Italy, at 0.642 against 0.633 in South Africa as of 2025.
What is the difference in key features of liberal democracy between Italy and South Africa?: 0.009, 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 liberal democracy?: Italy ranks 37th and South Africa ranks 39th of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Key features of liberal 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 liberal democracy. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/key-features-of-liberal-democracy/italy/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator: Key features of liberal democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 28,671 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent of suffrage, the freedom and fairness of elections, freedoms of association and expression, individual and minority rights, equality before the law, and executive constraints.