Democracy Index in Cuba
Cuba: Democracy Index was -5 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
-5
Change on year
up 28.6%
World rank
145th
of 168 countries
All-time high
3
in 1902
All-time low
-9
in 1955
Years of data
117
1902–2018
Democracy Index in Cuba, 1902–2018
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 Cuba is -5, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.6% on the previous year and up 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Cuba peaked at 3 in 1902 and was at its lowest, -9, in 1955.
Cuba ranks 145th 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 Cuba, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 3 | — |
| 1903 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 1 | -66.7% |
| 1929 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 1934 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1953 | -3 | — |
| 1954 | -6 | +100.0% |
| 1955 | -9 | +50.0% |
| 1956 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1960 | -4 | — |
| 1961 | -7 | +75.0% |
| 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 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 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 | -5 | -28.6% |
Cuba compared with similar countries
- Cuba's -5 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7. (47 countries reporting)
- Cuba's -5 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 8. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 1910s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.6 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.4 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 1940s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1950s | -3.9 | -9 | 3 | 10 |
| 1960s | -6.7 | -7 | -4 | 10 |
| 1970s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1980s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1990s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 2000s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.78 | -7 | -5 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
- 145 Cameroon -5 compare
- 147 Bangladesh -6 compare
- 147 Equatorial Guinea -6 compare
- 147 Kazakhstan -6 compare
More social development data for Cuba
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 115 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 29,395 (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 0.0027 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 29,395 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in Cuba?
- Democracy index in Cuba was -5 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 Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 3 in 1902.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was -9 in 1955.
- How does Cuba rank for democracy index?
- Cuba ranks 145th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cuba 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 — 117 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).