Democracy Index in Croatia
Croatia: Democracy Index was 9 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Croatia, 1921–2018
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 Croatia is 9, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 98 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Croatia peaked at 9 in 2005 and was at its lowest, -10, in 1929.
That places Croatia 33rd out of 168 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.
Democracy Index in Croatia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 0 | — |
| 1922 | 0 | — |
| 1923 | 0 | — |
| 1924 | 0 | — |
| 1925 | 0 | — |
| 1926 | 0 | — |
| 1927 | 0 | — |
| 1928 | 0 | — |
| 1929 | -10 | — |
| 1930 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -9 | -10.0% |
| 1936 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -5 | -44.4% |
| 1938 | -2 | -60.0% |
| 1939 | 2 | -200.0% |
| 1940 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1942 | 0 | — |
| 1943 | 0 | — |
| 1944 | -4 | — |
| 1945 | -7 | +75.0% |
| 1946 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 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 | -5 | -28.6% |
| 1981 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | -3 | -40.0% |
| 1992 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -5 | +66.7% |
| 1996 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 1 | -120.0% |
| 2000 | 8 | +700.0% |
| 2001 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 9 | +12.5% |
| 2006 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9 | +0.0% |
Croatia compared with similar countries
- Croatia's 9 is below the median for high income countries, which is 10, 90% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Croatia's 9 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | -1.11 | -10 | 0 | 9 |
| 1930s | -7.3 | -10 | 2 | 10 |
| 1940s | -3.7 | -7 | 2 | 10 |
| 1950s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1960s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1970s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1980s | -5 | -5 | -5 | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.6 | -5 | 1 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.5 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Croatia
- 33 Albania 9 compare
- 33 Argentina 9 compare
- 33 Bulgaria 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 Croatia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 29,748 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17,207 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % 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 0.0044 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17,207 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0077 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 Croatia?
- Democracy index in Croatia 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 Croatia?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 2005.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Croatia?
- The lowest recorded value was -10 in 1929.
- How does Croatia rank for democracy index?
- Croatia ranks 33rd out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Croatia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Croatia 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).