What is democracy index in Saudi Arabia?

Democracy index in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia?

The highest recorded value was -10 in 1926.

What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Saudi Arabia?

The lowest recorded value was -10 in 1926.

How does Saudi Arabia rank for democracy index?

Saudi Arabia ranks 164th out of 167 countries with data for 2018.

Is democracy index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.

Democracy Index in Saudi Arabia

Name: Democracy Index in Saudi Arabia
Creator: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Saudi Arabia: Democracy Index was -10 in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)

-10

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

164th

of 167 countries

All-time high

-10

in 1926

All-time low

-10

in 1926

Years of data

1926–2018

Democracy Index in Saudi Arabia, 1926–2018

Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia recorded -10 for democracy index in 2018. That is the highest value across all 93 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, democracy index in Saudi Arabia peaked at -10 in 1926 and was at its lowest, -10, in 1926.

That places Saudi Arabia 164th out of 167 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1920s	-10	-10	-10	4
1930s	-10	-10	-10	10
1940s	-10	-10	-10	10
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 Saudi Arabia

161 Syria -9 compare
161 Uzbekistan -9 compare
161 Vatican -9 compare
164 Bahrain -10 compare
164 North Korea -10 compare
164 Qatar -10 compare

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More social development data for Saudi Arabia

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 448 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 2,368 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.047 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.016 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.092 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.026 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.016 (2025)
Liberal democracy 0 (2025)

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is democracy index in Saudi Arabia?: Democracy index in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia?: The highest recorded value was -10 in 1926.
What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Saudi Arabia?: The lowest recorded value was -10 in 1926.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for democracy index?: Saudi Arabia ranks 164th out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
Is democracy index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 — 93 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Democracy Index
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 168 places, 18,392 data points, 1776–2020
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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).