Democracy Index in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Democracy Index was -3 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1960–2018
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 Democratic Republic of Congo is -3, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 160.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 5 in 2006 and was at its lowest, -9, in 1965.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 132nd of 168 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy Index in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | -3 | — |
| 1964 | -6 | +100.0% |
| 1965 | -9 | +50.0% |
| 1966 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -8 | -11.1% |
| 1991 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 1 | — |
| 2004 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 2005 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 2006 | 5 | +25.0% |
| 2007 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | -3 | -160.0% |
| 2017 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -3 | -0.0% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -3 is below the median for low income countries, which is 1. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -3 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.5. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -5.4 | -9 | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | -9 | -9 | -9 | 10 |
| 1980s | -9 | -9 | -9 | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.6 | -8 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.8 | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.33 | -3 | 5 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More social development data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 503,732 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.18 million (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 0.0104 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.18 million (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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Democracy index in Democratic Republic of Congo was -3 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 5 in 2006.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -9 in 1965.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for democracy index?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 132nd out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 160.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.
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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).