Democracy Index in Kenya
Kenya: Democracy Index was 9 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Kenya, 1963–2018
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 Kenya is 9, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Kenya peaked at 9 in 2013 and was at its lowest, -7, in 1969.
Kenya ranks 33rd of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1 | -7 | 5 | 7 |
| 1970s | -6.9 | -7 | -6 | 10 |
| 1980s | -6.8 | -7 | -6 | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.5 | -7 | 4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.9 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.67 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 33 Albania 9 compare
- 33 Argentina 9 compare
- 33 Bulgaria 9 compare
- 33 Croatia 9 compare
- 33 Czechia 9 compare
- 33 Estonia 9 compare
- 33 India 9 compare
- 33 Indonesia 9 compare
- 33 Jamaica 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 Kenya
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 617,125 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 13,325 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Key features of liberal democracy 0.446 (2025)
- Varieties of democracy 0.563 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.9 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.793 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.563 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in Kenya?
- Democracy index in Kenya 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 2013.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -7 in 1969.
- How does Kenya rank for democracy index?
- Kenya ranks 33rd out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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 — 56 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).