Democracy Index in Myanmar
Myanmar: Democracy Index was 8 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Myanmar, 1948–2018
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 Myanmar is 8, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 71 years on record.
That represents a change of up 233.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Myanmar peaked at 8 in 2016 and was at its lowest, -9, in 1974.
That places Myanmar 52nd 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 Myanmar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 6 | — |
| 1949 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 1 | -83.3% |
| 1959 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 5 | +400.0% |
| 1961 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | -6 | -220.0% |
| 1963 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -7 | +16.7% |
| 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 | -9 | +28.6% |
| 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 | -4 | -55.6% |
| 1989 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -5 | +25.0% |
| 1991 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -6 | +20.0% |
| 2005 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -3 | -50.0% |
| 2012 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 2 | -166.7% |
| 2016 | 8 | +300.0% |
| 2017 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 8 | +0.0% |
Myanmar compared with similar countries
- Myanmar's 8 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5, 1.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Myanmar's 8 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.5, 1.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| 1950s | 5 | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| 1960s | -4.4 | -7 | 5 | 10 |
| 1970s | -8.2 | -9 | -7 | 10 |
| 1980s | -8 | -9 | -4 | 10 |
| 1990s | -5 | -5 | -5 | 10 |
| 2000s | -5.6 | -6 | -5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8889 | -6 | 8 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
- 52 Belgium 8 compare
- 52 Botswana 8 compare
- 52 Brazil 8 compare
- 52 East Timor 8 compare
- 52 El Salvador 8 compare
- 52 Ghana 8 compare
- 52 Guatemala 8 compare
- 52 Kyrgyzstan 8 compare
- 52 Latvia 8 compare
- 52 Lesotho 8 compare
- 52 Mexico 8 compare
- 52 Philippines 8 compare
- 52 Serbia 8 compare
- 52 Solomon Islands 8 compare
- 52 South Korea 8 compare
- 52 United Kingdom 8 compare
More social development data for Myanmar
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.52 million (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 0.0278 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.52 million (2025)
- Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 15.27 % change on previous year (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 Myanmar?
- Democracy index in Myanmar was 8 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 Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 8 in 2016.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was -9 in 1974.
- How does Myanmar rank for democracy index?
- Myanmar ranks 52nd out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 233.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Myanmar 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 — 71 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).