Which has higher liberal democracy index, South Africa or Vanuatu?

South Africa, at 0.633 against 0.623 in Vanuatu as of 2025.

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

120 years are reported by both, from 1906 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

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

South Africa vs Vanuatu: Liberal Democracy Index

South Africa

0.633

in 2025

Vanuatu

0.623

in 2025

South Africa rank

39th

Vanuatu rank

42nd

Liberal Democracy Index over time

South Africa
Vanuatu

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 0.633 against 0.623 in Vanuatu, a difference of 0.01.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 120 shared years of data; in 1906 it was Vanuatu ahead.

South Africa ranks 39th and Vanuatu ranks 42nd of 176 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade	South Africa	Vanuatu	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.11	0.151	0.041	Vanuatu
1910s	0.1274	0.151	0.0236	Vanuatu
1920s	0.1286	0.151	0.0224	Vanuatu
1930s	0.1316	0.152	0.0204	Vanuatu
1940s	0.127	0.152	0.025	Vanuatu
1950s	0.1016	0.1525	0.0509	Vanuatu
1960s	0.0939	0.152	0.0581	Vanuatu
1970s	0.0932	0.2545	0.1613	Vanuatu
1980s	0.1094	0.5812	0.4718	Vanuatu
1990s	0.3698	0.528	0.1582	Vanuatu
2000s	0.6459	0.53	0.1159	South Africa
2010s	0.6474	0.6434	0.004	South Africa
2020s	0.6177	0.671	0.0533	Vanuatu

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher liberal democracy index, South Africa or Vanuatu?: South Africa, at 0.633 against 0.623 in Vanuatu as of 2025.
What is the difference in liberal democracy index between South Africa and Vanuatu?: 0.01, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Vanuatu?: 120 years are reported by both, from 1906 to 2025.
How do South Africa and Vanuatu rank globally for liberal democracy index?: South Africa ranks 39th and Vanuatu ranks 42nd of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Liberal Democracy Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Vanuatu: Liberal Democracy Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/liberal-democracy-index/south-africa/vanuatu/

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<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/liberal-democracy-index/south-africa/vanuatu/">South Africa vs Vanuatu: Liberal Democracy Index</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Liberal Democracy Index
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: 30 October 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.