Which has higher participatory democracy index, China or Myanmar?

Myanmar, at 0.041 against 0.036 in China as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for China and Myanmar?

237 years are reported by both, from 1789 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

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

China vs Myanmar: Participatory Democracy Index

China

0.036

in 2025

Myanmar

0.041

in 2025

China rank

170th

Myanmar rank

168th

Participatory Democracy Index over time

China
Myanmar

How they compare

Myanmar currently reports 0.041 against 0.036 in China, a difference of 0.005.

That makes Myanmar's figure about 1.1 times China's.

The two have swapped places 6 times across 237 shared years of data; in 1789 it was Myanmar ahead.

China ranks 170th and Myanmar ranks 168th of 176 countries.

Across the 25 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and Myanmar in 23.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	Myanmar	Difference	Ahead
1780s	0.013	0.032	0.019	Myanmar
1790s	0.013	0.026	0.013	Myanmar
1800s	0.013	0.026	0.013	Myanmar
1810s	0.013	0.026	0.013	Myanmar
1820s	0.013	0.026	0.013	Myanmar
1830s	0.013	0.026	0.013	Myanmar
1840s	0.013	0.026	0.013	Myanmar
1850s	0.013	0.026	0.013	Myanmar
1860s	0.0137	0.0268	0.0131	Myanmar
1870s	0.014	0.0277	0.0137	Myanmar
1880s	0.014	0.0276	0.0136	Myanmar
1890s	0.0155	0.027	0.0115	Myanmar
1900s	0.0169	0.0288	0.0119	Myanmar
1910s	0.0378	0.029	0.0088	China
1920s	0.0427	0.0445	0.0018	Myanmar
1930s	0.04	0.0515	0.0115	Myanmar
1940s	0.043	0.077	0.034	Myanmar
1950s	0.0165	0.2124	0.1959	Myanmar
1960s	0.014	0.0766	0.0626	Myanmar
1970s	0.0153	0.0519	0.0366	Myanmar
1980s	0.031	0.0557	0.0247	Myanmar
1990s	0.0369	0.0439	0.007	Myanmar
2000s	0.048	0.0444	0.0036	China
2010s	0.0419	0.1955	0.1536	Myanmar
2020s	0.0352	0.0865	0.0513	Myanmar

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher participatory democracy index, China or Myanmar?: Myanmar, at 0.041 against 0.036 in China as of 2025.
What is the difference in participatory democracy index between China and Myanmar?: 0.005, with Myanmar ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and Myanmar?: 237 years are reported by both, from 1789 to 2025.
How do China and Myanmar rank globally for participatory democracy index?: China ranks 170th and Myanmar ranks 168th of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Participatory Democracy Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Participatory Democracy Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,363 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent of suffrage, the freedom and fairness of elections, freedoms of association and expression, as well as the extent to which citizens can engage in regional and local government, civil society organizations, and direct democracy.