Democracy Index in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Democracy Index was 9 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Bulgaria, 1879–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for democracy index in Bulgaria is 9, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 139 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Bulgaria peaked at 9 in 2001 and was at its lowest, -10, in 1935.
That places Bulgaria 33rd out of 167 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | -4 | -4 | -4 | 1 |
| 1880s | -3.9 | -6 | -1 | 10 |
| 1890s | -7.4 | -9 | -5 | 10 |
| 1900s | -9 | -9 | -9 | 10 |
| 1910s | -7.11 | -9 | 2 | 9 |
| 1920s | -3 | -3 | -3 | 10 |
| 1930s | -6.9 | -10 | -3 | 10 |
| 1940s | -6.3 | -10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1950s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1960s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1970s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1980s | -6.2 | -7 | 1 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.8 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.9 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 33 Albania 9 compare
- 33 Argentina 9 compare
- 33 Croatia 9 compare
- 33 Czechia 9 compare
- 33 Estonia 9 compare
- 33 India 9 compare
- 33 Indonesia 9 compare
- 33 Jamaica 9 compare
- 33 Kenya 9 compare
- 33 Moldova 9 compare
- 33 Montenegro 9 compare
- 33 North Macedonia 9 compare
- 33 Panama 9 compare
- 33 Paraguay 9 compare
- 33 Peru 9 compare
- 33 Romania 9 compare
- 33 South Africa 9 compare
- 33 Trinidad and Tobago 9 compare
More social development data for Bulgaria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 105,596 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 533 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Key features of liberal democracy 0.499 (2025)
- Varieties of democracy 0.599 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.754 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.833 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.599 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in Bulgaria?
- Democracy index in Bulgaria was 9 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 2001.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -10 in 1935.
- How does Bulgaria rank for democracy index?
- Bulgaria ranks 33rd out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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 — 139 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).