Democracy Index in Somalia
Somalia: Democracy Index was 5 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Somalia, 1960–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 5 for democracy index in 2018.
The figure is unchanged over five years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Somalia peaked at 7 in 1960 and was at its lowest, -7, in 1969.
Somalia ranks 98th of 168 countries on this measure, 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7 | — |
| 1961 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | -7 | -200.0% |
| 1970 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1992 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 5 | — |
| 2013 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 5 | +0.0% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 5 is above the median for low income countries, which is 1, 5.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 5 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.5, 1.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.6 | -7 | 7 | 10 |
| 1970s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1980s | -7 | -7 | -7 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.7 | -7 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.38 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More social development data for Somalia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,967 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 892,037 (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 0.0454 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 892,037 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0011 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 Somalia?
- Democracy index in Somalia was 5 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 1960.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was -7 in 1969.
- How does Somalia rank for democracy index?
- Somalia ranks 98th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Where does this Somalia 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
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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).