What is citizen satisfaction with democracy in Belgium?

Citizen satisfaction with democracy in Belgium was 0.5193 in 2020, according to Claassen (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest citizen satisfaction with democracy recorded in Belgium?

The highest recorded value was 1.03 in 2017.

What is the lowest citizen satisfaction with democracy recorded in Belgium?

The lowest recorded value was -0.6875 in 1997.

How does Belgium rank for citizen satisfaction with democracy?

Belgium ranks 35th out of 131 countries with data for 2020.

Is citizen satisfaction with democracy rising or falling in Belgium?

Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Belgium data come from?

The figures come from Claassen (2022) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Citizen satisfaction with democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Citizen satisfaction with democracy in Belgium

Name: Citizen satisfaction with democracy in Belgium
Creator: Claassen (2022) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Belgium: Citizen satisfaction with democracy was 0.5193 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)

0.5193

Change on year

down 33.2%

World rank

35th

of 131 countries

All-time high

1.03

in 2017

All-time low

-0.6875

in 1997

Years of data

1973–2020

Citizen satisfaction with democracy in Belgium, 1973–2020

Source: Claassen (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 0.5193 for citizen satisfaction with democracy in 2020.

That represents a change of down 33.2% on the previous year and down 13.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, citizen satisfaction with democracy in Belgium peaked at 1.03 in 2017 and was at its lowest, -0.6875, in 1997.

Belgium ranks 35th of 131 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1970s	0.2043	-0.238	0.5639	7
1980s	-0.0505	-0.4844	0.4052	10
1990s	-0.0214	-0.6875	0.4504	10
2000s	0.7051	0.3212	0.8971	10
2010s	0.8702	0.6004	1.03	10
2020s	0.5193	0.5193	0.5193	1

Countries ranked near Belgium

32 Australia 0.6908 compare
33 Egypt 0.6336 compare
34 India 0.5969 compare
36 Taiwan 0.5141 compare
37 Mauritius 0.4603 compare
38 Cambodia 0.415 compare

See the full ranking of 131 places →

More social development data for Belgium

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 186,393 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 113 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.889 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.969 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.896 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.889 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.633 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.794 (2025)

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is citizen satisfaction with democracy in Belgium?: Citizen satisfaction with democracy in Belgium was 0.5193 in 2020, according to Claassen (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest citizen satisfaction with democracy recorded in Belgium?: The highest recorded value was 1.03 in 2017.
What is the lowest citizen satisfaction with democracy recorded in Belgium?: The lowest recorded value was -0.6875 in 1997.
How does Belgium rank for citizen satisfaction with democracy?: Belgium ranks 35th out of 131 countries with data for 2020.
Is citizen satisfaction with democracy rising or falling in Belgium?: Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Belgium data come from?: The figures come from Claassen (2022) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Citizen satisfaction with democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Citizen satisfaction with democracy
Source: Claassen (2022) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 131 places, 3,021 data points, 1973–2020
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the average extent to which citizens are satisfied with democracy in their own country. It combines responses across more than one thousand nationally-representative surveys on how citizens' satisfaction with democracy.