Democracy Index in Gabon
Gabon: Democracy Index was 3 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Gabon, 1960–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, democracy index in Gabon stood at 3. That is the highest value across all 59 years on record.
That represents a change of up 175.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Gabon peaked at 3 in 2009 and was at its lowest, -9, in 1968.
That places Gabon 113th out of 168 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy Index in Gabon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -7 | — |
| 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 | -9 | +28.6% |
| 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 | -6 | -33.3% |
| 1991 | -4 | -33.3% |
| 1992 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 3 | -175.0% |
| 2010 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3 | +0.0% |
Gabon compared with similar countries
- Gabon's 3 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7, 43% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Gabon's 3 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.5, 67% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -7.4 | -9 | -7 | 10 |
| 1970s | -9 | -9 | -9 | 10 |
| 1980s | -9 | -9 | -9 | 10 |
| 1990s | -4.2 | -6 | -4 | 10 |
| 2000s | -3.3 | -4 | 3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
More social development data for Gabon
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 166 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 984 (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 0.0004 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 984 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 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 Gabon?
- Democracy index in Gabon 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 Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 3 in 2009.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was -9 in 1968.
- How does Gabon rank for democracy index?
- Gabon ranks 113th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 175.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gabon 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 — 59 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).