What is deliberative democracy index in Malawi?

Deliberative democracy index in Malawi was 0.468 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest deliberative democracy index recorded in Malawi?

The highest recorded value was 0.499 in 2022.

What is the lowest deliberative democracy index recorded in Malawi?

The lowest recorded value was 0.012 in 1900.

How does Malawi rank for deliberative democracy index?

Malawi ranks 61st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is deliberative democracy index rising or falling in Malawi?

Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Malawi data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Deliberative Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Deliberative Democracy Index in Malawi

Name: Deliberative Democracy Index in Malawi
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Malawi: Deliberative Democracy Index was 0.468 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.468

Change on year

up 5.2%

World rank

61st

of 175 countries

All-time high

0.499

in 2022

All-time low

0.012

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Deliberative Democracy Index in Malawi, 1900–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Malawi recorded 0.468 for deliberative democracy index in 2025.

That represents a change of up 5.2% on the previous year and up 8.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, deliberative democracy index in Malawi peaked at 0.499 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.012, in 1900.

Malawi ranks 61st of 175 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.

Deliberative Democracy Index in Malawi, year by year

Annual values for Deliberative Democracy Index in Malawi, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.012	—
1901	0.012	+0.0%
1902	0.012	+0.0%
1903	0.012	+0.0%
1904	0.012	+0.0%
1905	0.012	+0.0%
1906	0.012	+0.0%
1907	0.012	+0.0%
1908	0.012	+0.0%
1909	0.012	+0.0%
1910	0.012	+0.0%
1911	0.012	+0.0%
1912	0.012	+0.0%
1913	0.012	+0.0%
1914	0.012	+0.0%
1915	0.012	+0.0%
1916	0.012	+0.0%
1917	0.012	+0.0%
1918	0.012	+0.0%
1919	0.012	+0.0%
1920	0.012	+0.0%
1921	0.012	+0.0%
1922	0.012	+0.0%
1923	0.012	+0.0%
1924	0.012	+0.0%
1925	0.012	+0.0%
1926	0.012	+0.0%
1927	0.012	+0.0%
1928	0.012	+0.0%
1929	0.012	+0.0%
1930	0.012	+0.0%
1931	0.012	+0.0%
1932	0.012	+0.0%
1933	0.012	+0.0%
1934	0.012	+0.0%
1935	0.012	+0.0%
1936	0.012	+0.0%
1937	0.012	+0.0%
1938	0.012	+0.0%
1939	0.012	+0.0%
1940	0.012	+0.0%
1941	0.012	+0.0%
1942	0.012	+0.0%
1943	0.012	+0.0%
1944	0.012	+0.0%
1945	0.012	+0.0%
1946	0.012	+0.0%
1947	0.012	+0.0%
1948	0.012	+0.0%
1949	0.017	+41.7%
1950	0.017	+0.0%
1951	0.017	+0.0%
1952	0.017	+0.0%
1953	0.013	-23.5%
1954	0.013	+0.0%
1955	0.013	+0.0%
1956	0.013	+0.0%
1957	0.013	+0.0%
1958	0.013	+0.0%
1959	0.013	+0.0%
1960	0.014	+7.7%
1961	0.06	+328.6%
1962	0.07	+16.7%
1963	0.099	+41.4%
1964	0.124	+25.3%
1965	0.084	-32.3%
1966	0.063	-25.0%
1967	0.063	+0.0%
1968	0.063	+0.0%
1969	0.063	+0.0%
1970	0.063	+0.0%
1971	0.054	-14.3%
1972	0.054	+0.0%
1973	0.054	+0.0%
1974	0.054	+0.0%
1975	0.054	+0.0%
1976	0.05	-7.4%
1977	0.046	-8.0%
1978	0.047	+2.2%
1979	0.047	+0.0%
1980	0.047	+0.0%
1981	0.047	+0.0%
1982	0.047	+0.0%
1983	0.047	+0.0%
1984	0.047	+0.0%
1985	0.047	+0.0%
1986	0.047	+0.0%
1987	0.047	+0.0%
1988	0.047	+0.0%
1989	0.047	+0.0%
1990	0.047	+0.0%
1991	0.047	+0.0%
1992	0.072	+53.2%
1993	0.156	+116.7%
1994	0.352	+125.6%
1995	0.44	+25.0%
1996	0.444	+0.9%
1997	0.444	+0.0%
1998	0.444	+0.0%
1999	0.403	-9.2%
2000	0.347	-13.9%
2001	0.347	+0.0%
2002	0.347	+0.0%
2003	0.34	-2.0%
2004	0.36	+5.9%
2005	0.376	+4.4%
2006	0.377	+0.3%
2007	0.38	+0.8%
2008	0.384	+1.1%
2009	0.418	+8.9%
2010	0.386	-7.7%
2011	0.391	+1.3%
2012	0.432	+10.5%
2013	0.45	+4.2%
2014	0.434	-3.6%
2015	0.433	-0.2%
2016	0.422	-2.5%
2017	0.406	-3.8%
2018	0.404	-0.5%
2019	0.361	-10.6%
2020	0.453	+25.5%
2021	0.493	+8.8%
2022	0.499	+1.2%
2023	0.446	-10.6%
2024	0.445	-0.2%
2025	0.468	+5.2%

Malawi compared with similar countries

Malawi's 0.468 is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.17, 2.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Malawi's 0.468 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.2275, 2.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.012	0.012	0.012	10
1910s	0.012	0.012	0.012	10
1920s	0.012	0.012	0.012	10
1930s	0.012	0.012	0.012	10
1940s	0.0125	0.012	0.017	10
1950s	0.0142	0.013	0.017	10
1960s	0.0703	0.014	0.124	10
1970s	0.0523	0.046	0.063	10
1980s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1990s	0.2849	0.047	0.444	10
2000s	0.3676	0.34	0.418	10
2010s	0.4119	0.361	0.45	10
2020s	0.4673	0.445	0.499	6

Countries ranked near Malawi

58 United States 0.481 compare
59 Bulgaria 0.474 compare
60 Guatemala 0.471 compare
62 Vanuatu 0.467 compare
63 Namibia 0.464 compare
64 Colombia 0.458 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Malawi

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 35,241 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 551 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate -33.33 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 551 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0016 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Malawi →

Frequently asked questions

What is deliberative democracy index in Malawi?: Deliberative democracy index in Malawi was 0.468 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest deliberative democracy index recorded in Malawi?: The highest recorded value was 0.499 in 2022.
What is the lowest deliberative democracy index recorded in Malawi?: The lowest recorded value was 0.012 in 1900.
How does Malawi rank for deliberative democracy index?: Malawi ranks 61st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is deliberative democracy index rising or falling in Malawi?: Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malawi data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Deliberative Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Deliberative Democracy Index in Malawi. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/deliberative-democracy-index-vdem/malawi/

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About this data

Indicator: Deliberative Democracy Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 20,734 data points, 1900–2025
Last refreshed: 18 September 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 political elites justify their positions, justify them with the common good, acknowledge counterarguments, consult elites in policy changes, and society deliberates policy changes.