Which has higher varieties of democracy, China or Myanmar?

Myanmar, at 0.08 against 0.072 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 Varieties of democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

China vs Myanmar: Varieties of democracy

China

0.072

in 2025

Myanmar

0.08

in 2025

China rank

171st

Myanmar rank

169th

Varieties of democracy over time

China
Myanmar

How they compare

Myanmar currently reports 0.08 against 0.072 in China, a difference of 0.008.

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

The two have swapped places 11 times across 237 shared years of data; in 1789 it was China ahead.

China ranks 171st and Myanmar ranks 169th of 176 countries.

Across the 25 decades both report, China averaged higher in 12 and Myanmar in 13.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	Myanmar	Difference	Ahead
1780s	0.036	0.021	0.015	China
1790s	0.036	0.02	0.016	China
1800s	0.036	0.02	0.016	China
1810s	0.036	0.02	0.016	China
1820s	0.036	0.02	0.016	China
1830s	0.036	0.0233	0.0127	China
1840s	0.036	0.031	0.005	China
1850s	0.0332	0.031	0.0022	China
1860s	0.0401	0.0342	0.0059	China
1870s	0.044	0.0504	0.0064	Myanmar
1880s	0.044	0.0702	0.0262	Myanmar
1890s	0.0471	0.09	0.0429	Myanmar
1900s	0.056	0.089	0.033	Myanmar
1910s	0.1027	0.089	0.0137	China
1920s	0.1066	0.17	0.0634	Myanmar
1930s	0.0888	0.2067	0.1179	Myanmar
1940s	0.1056	0.1675	0.0619	Myanmar
1950s	0.0729	0.3809	0.308	Myanmar
1960s	0.0701	0.1473	0.0772	Myanmar
1970s	0.0721	0.0971	0.025	Myanmar
1980s	0.0998	0.1318	0.032	Myanmar
1990s	0.0996	0.0979	0.0017	China
2000s	0.0981	0.0961	0.002	China
2010s	0.0843	0.3352	0.2509	Myanmar
2020s	0.0743	0.142	0.0677	Myanmar

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher varieties of democracy, China or Myanmar?: Myanmar, at 0.08 against 0.072 in China as of 2025.
What is the difference in varieties of democracy between China and Myanmar?: 0.008, 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 varieties of democracy?: China ranks 171st and Myanmar ranks 169th 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.