Democracy Index in Romania
Romania: Democracy Index was 9 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Romania, 1859–2018
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 Romania is 9, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 159 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Romania peaked at 9 in 2004 and was at its lowest, -8, in 1977.
Romania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1860s | -3.2 | -7 | 0 | 10 |
| 1870s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1880s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1890s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1900s | -6 | -6 | -6 | 10 |
| 1910s | -4 | -4 | -4 | 9 |
| 1920s | -4 | -4 | -4 | 10 |
| 1930s | -4.4 | -6 | -4 | 10 |
| 1940s | -6.6 | -7 | -3 | 10 |
| 1950s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1960s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1970s | -7.3 | -8 | -7 | 10 |
| 1980s | -7.3 | -8 | -1 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.2 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.6 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Romania
- 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 Kenya 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 South Africa 9 compare
- 33 Trinidad and Tobago 9 compare
More social development data for Romania
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 206,671 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 3,130 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Key features of liberal democracy 0.464 (2025)
- Varieties of democracy 0.605 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.777 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.806 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.605 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in Romania?
- Democracy index in Romania 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 2004.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was -8 in 1977.
- How does Romania rank for democracy index?
- Romania ranks 33rd out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Romania 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 — 159 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).