Democracy Index in Netherlands
Netherlands: Democracy Index was 10 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
10
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 168 countries
All-time high
10
in 1917
All-time low
-7
in 1840
Years of data
199
1815–2018
Democracy Index in Netherlands, 1815–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 10 for democracy index in 2018. That is the highest value across all 199 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Netherlands peaked at 10 in 1917 and was at its lowest, -7, in 1840.
That places Netherlands 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy Index in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1815 | -6 | — |
| 1816 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1817 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1818 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1819 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1820 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1821 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1822 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1823 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1824 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1825 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1826 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1827 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1828 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1829 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1830 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1831 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1832 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1833 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1834 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1835 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1836 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1837 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1838 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1839 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1840 | -7 | +16.7% |
| 1841 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1842 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1843 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1844 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1845 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1846 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1847 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1848 | -4 | -42.9% |
| 1849 | -3 | -25.0% |
| 1850 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1851 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1852 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1853 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1854 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1855 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1856 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1857 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1858 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1859 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1860 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1861 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1862 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1863 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1864 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1865 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1866 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1867 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1868 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1869 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1870 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1871 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1872 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1873 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1874 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1875 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1876 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1877 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1878 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1879 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1880 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1881 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1882 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1883 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1884 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1885 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1886 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1887 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1888 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1889 | -2 | -33.3% |
| 1890 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1891 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1892 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1893 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1894 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1895 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1896 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1897 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1898 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1899 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1900 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1901 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | 10 | -600.0% |
| 1918 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 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 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 10 | +0.0% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 10 is above the median for high income countries, which is 10, 1.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 10 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810s | -6 | -6 | -6 | 5 |
| 1820s | -6 | -6 | -6 | 10 |
| 1830s | -6 | -6 | -6 | 10 |
| 1840s | -6.3 | -7 | -3 | 10 |
| 1850s | -3 | -3 | -3 | 10 |
| 1860s | -3 | -3 | -3 | 10 |
| 1870s | -3 | -3 | -3 | 10 |
| 1880s | -2.9 | -3 | -2 | 10 |
| 1890s | -2 | -2 | -2 | 10 |
| 1900s | -2 | -2 | -2 | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.6 | -2 | 10 | 10 |
| 1920s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 1930s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 1940s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
| 1950s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 1960s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 1970s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 1980s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 1990s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 2000s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 1 Australia 10 compare
- 1 Austria 10 compare
- 1 Canada 10 compare
- 1 Cape Verde 10 compare
- 1 Chile 10 compare
- 1 Costa Rica 10 compare
- 1 Cyprus 10 compare
- 1 Denmark 10 compare
- 1 Finland 10 compare
- 1 France 10 compare
- 1 Germany 10 compare
- 1 Greece 10 compare
- 1 Hungary 10 compare
- 1 Ireland 10 compare
- 1 Italy 10 compare
- 1 Japan 10 compare
- 1 Lithuania 10 compare
- 1 Luxembourg 10 compare
- 1 Mauritius 10 compare
- 1 Mongolia 10 compare
- 1 New Zealand 10 compare
- 1 Norway 10 compare
- 1 Poland 10 compare
- 1 Portugal 10 compare
- 1 Slovakia 10 compare
- 1 Slovenia 10 compare
- 1 Spain 10 compare
- 1 Sweden 10 compare
- 1 Switzerland 10 compare
- 1 Taiwan 10 compare
- 1 Uruguay 10 compare
More social development data for Netherlands
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 283,935 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 159 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 159 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0157 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 Netherlands?
- Democracy index in Netherlands was 10 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 10 in 1917.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was -7 in 1840.
- How does Netherlands rank for democracy index?
- Netherlands ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Netherlands 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 — 199 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).