Democracy Index in Belarus
Belarus: Democracy Index was -7 in 2018. ▲ Rising
Democracy Index in Belarus, 1800–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Belarus recorded -7 for democracy index in 2018.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Belarus peaked at 8 in 1994 and was at its lowest, -10, in 1800.
Belarus ranks 150th of 168 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 219 years of available data.
Democracy Index in Belarus, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | -10 | — |
| 1801 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1802 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1803 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1804 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1805 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1806 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1807 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1808 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1809 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1810 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1811 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1812 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1813 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1814 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1815 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1816 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1817 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1818 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1819 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1820 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1821 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1822 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1823 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1824 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1825 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1826 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1827 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1828 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1829 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1830 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1831 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1832 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1833 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1834 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1835 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1836 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1837 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1838 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1839 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1840 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1841 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1842 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1843 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1844 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1845 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1846 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1847 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1848 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1849 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1850 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1851 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1852 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1853 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1854 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1855 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1856 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1857 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1858 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1859 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1860 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1861 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1862 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1863 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1864 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1865 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1866 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1867 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1868 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1869 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1870 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1871 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1872 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1873 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1874 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1875 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1876 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1877 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1878 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1879 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1880 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1881 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1882 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1883 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1884 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1885 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1886 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1887 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1888 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1889 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1890 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1891 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1892 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1893 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1894 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1895 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1896 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1897 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1898 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1899 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1900 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1901 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -8 | -20.0% |
| 1906 | -6 | -25.0% |
| 1907 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -1 | -83.3% |
| 1918 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -7 | +600.0% |
| 1923 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -8 | +14.3% |
| 1928 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -9 | +12.5% |
| 1934 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -7 | -22.2% |
| 1954 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -6 | -14.3% |
| 1989 | -4 | -33.3% |
| 1990 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1991 | 6 | — |
| 1992 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 8 | +33.3% |
| 1995 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1996 | -7 | — |
| 1997 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -7 | -0.0% |
Belarus compared with similar countries
- Belarus's -7 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7. (47 countries reporting)
- Belarus's -7 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1810s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1820s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1830s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1840s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1850s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1860s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1870s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1880s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1890s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1900s | -8.2 | -10 | -6 | 10 |
| 1910s | -4.5 | -6 | -1 | 10 |
| 1920s | -6.1 | -8 | -1 | 10 |
| 1930s | -8.7 | -9 | -8 | 10 |
| 1940s | -9 | -9 | -9 | 10 |
| 1950s | -7.6 | -9 | -7 | 10 |
| 1960s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1970s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1980s | -6.6 | -7 | -4 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.2 | -7 | 8 | 10 |
| 2000s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 2010s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Belarus
More social development data for Belarus
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 40,794 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,462 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0021 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,462 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0045 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in Belarus?
- Democracy index in Belarus was -7 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democracy index recorded in Belarus?
- The highest recorded value was 8 in 1994.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Belarus?
- The lowest recorded value was -10 in 1800.
- How does Belarus rank for democracy index?
- Belarus ranks 150th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Belarus?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belarus data come from?
- The figures come from Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 219 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from -10 to 10 (fully democratic).