Which has higher varieties of democracy, Belarus or Iran?

Belarus, at 0.163 against 0.159 in Iran as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Belarus and Iran?

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

Belarus vs Iran: Varieties of democracy

Belarus

0.163

in 2025

Iran

0.159

in 2025

Belarus rank

151st

Iran rank

152nd

Varieties of democracy over time

Belarus
Iran

How they compare

Belarus currently reports 0.163 against 0.159 in Iran, a difference of 0.004.

The two have swapped places 22 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Belarus ahead.

Belarus ranks 151st and Iran ranks 152nd of 176 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Belarus averaged higher in 7 and Iran in 6.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Belarus	Iran	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.0735	0.0599	0.0136	Belarus
1910s	0.1084	0.1241	0.0157	Iran
1920s	0.1123	0.1063	0.006	Belarus
1930s	0.1085	0.1135	0.005	Iran
1940s	0.0959	0.1424	0.0465	Iran
1950s	0.1043	0.1055	0.0012	Iran
1960s	0.0951	0.0904	0.0047	Belarus
1970s	0.1068	0.1155	0.0087	Iran
1980s	0.1225	0.134	0.0115	Iran
1990s	0.4604	0.1828	0.2776	Belarus
2000s	0.2398	0.1986	0.0412	Belarus
2010s	0.2416	0.1724	0.0692	Belarus
2020s	0.1718	0.1582	0.0137	Belarus

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher varieties of democracy, Belarus or Iran?: Belarus, at 0.163 against 0.159 in Iran as of 2025.
What is the difference in varieties of democracy between Belarus and Iran?: 0.004, with Belarus ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Belarus and Iran?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Belarus and Iran rank globally for varieties of democracy?: Belarus ranks 151st and Iran ranks 152nd of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Varieties of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Varieties 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: 07 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.