Democracy Index in Iran
Iran: Democracy Index was -7 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
-7
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
150th
of 168 countries
All-time high
4
in 1946
All-time low
-10
in 1800
Years of data
219
1800–2018
Democracy Index in Iran, 1800–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, democracy index in Iran stood at -7.
That represents a change of down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Iran peaked at 4 in 1946 and was at its lowest, -10, in 1800.
That places Iran 150th out of 168 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy Index in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | -10 | — |
| 1801 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1802 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1803 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1804 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1805 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1806 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1807 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1808 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1809 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1810 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1811 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1812 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1813 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1814 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1815 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1816 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1817 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1818 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1819 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1820 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1821 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1822 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1823 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1824 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1825 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1826 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1827 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1828 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1829 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1830 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1831 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1832 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1833 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1834 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1835 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1836 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1837 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1838 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1839 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1840 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1841 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1842 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1843 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1844 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1845 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1846 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1847 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1848 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1849 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1850 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1851 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1852 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1853 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1854 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1855 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1856 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1857 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1858 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1859 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1860 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1861 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1862 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1863 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1864 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1865 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1866 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1867 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1868 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1869 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1870 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1871 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1872 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1873 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1874 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1875 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1876 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1877 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1878 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1879 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1880 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1881 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1882 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1883 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1884 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1885 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1886 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1887 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1888 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1889 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1890 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1891 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1892 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1893 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1894 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1895 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1896 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1897 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1898 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1899 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1900 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1901 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1907 | 0 | — |
| 1908 | 0 | — |
| 1909 | 0 | — |
| 1910 | 0 | — |
| 1911 | 0 | — |
| 1912 | 0 | — |
| 1913 | 0 | — |
| 1914 | 0 | — |
| 1915 | 0 | — |
| 1916 | 0 | — |
| 1917 | 0 | — |
| 1918 | 0 | — |
| 1919 | 0 | — |
| 1920 | 0 | — |
| 1921 | -1 | — |
| 1922 | -3 | +200.0% |
| 1923 | -4 | +33.3% |
| 1924 | -6 | +50.0% |
| 1925 | -7 | +16.7% |
| 1926 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -8 | +14.3% |
| 1936 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -1 | -87.5% |
| 1942 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -1 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | 4 | -500.0% |
| 1947 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | -10 | -350.0% |
| 1954 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -10 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -6 | -40.0% |
| 1980 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 3 | -150.0% |
| 1998 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | -7 | -333.3% |
| 2005 | -6 | -14.3% |
| 2006 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -7 | +16.7% |
| 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 | -7 | -0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's -7 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7. (47 countries reporting)
- Iran's -7 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -3, 2.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1810s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1820s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1830s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1840s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1850s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1860s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1870s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1880s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1890s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1900s | -6 | -10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1920s | -4.9 | -7 | 0 | 10 |
| 1930s | -7.5 | -8 | -7 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.3 | -8 | 4 | 10 |
| 1950s | -5.8 | -10 | 4 | 10 |
| 1960s | -10 | -10 | -10 | 10 |
| 1970s | -9.6 | -10 | -6 | 10 |
| 1980s | -6 | -6 | -6 | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.3 | -6 | 3 | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.6 | -7 | 3 | 10 |
| 2010s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More social development data for Iran
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 770,514 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 157,912 (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 0.0017 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 157,912 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0083 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 Iran?
- Democracy index in Iran was -7 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 4 in 1946.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was -10 in 1800.
- How does Iran rank for democracy index?
- Iran ranks 150th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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 — 219 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).