Democracy Index in Syria
Syria: Democracy Index was -9 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Syria, 1944–2018
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 Syria is -9, measured in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 72 years on record.
That represents a change of down 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Syria peaked at 7 in 1955 and was at its lowest, -9, in 1970.
That places Syria 161st out of 167 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 3.83 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 1950s | 0.5 | -6 | 7 | 8 |
| 1960s | -6.33 | -8 | 2 | 9 |
| 1970s | -9 | -9 | -9 | 10 |
| 1980s | -9 | -9 | -9 | 10 |
| 1990s | -9 | -9 | -9 | 10 |
| 2000s | -6 | -6 | -6 | 10 |
| 2010s | -8.33 | -9 | -6 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 158 Oman -8 compare
- 158 Turkmenistan -8 compare
- 158 United Arab Emirates -8 compare
- 161 Uzbekistan -9 compare
- 161 Vatican -9 compare
- 164 Bahrain -10 compare
- 164 North Korea -10 compare
- 164 Qatar -10 compare
- 164 Saudi Arabia -10 compare
More social development data for Syria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 9,885 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 4.87 million (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Key features of liberal democracy 0.054 (2025)
- Varieties of democracy 0.128 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.358 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.159 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.128 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 0 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in Syria?
- Democracy index in Syria 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 Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 1955.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was -9 in 1970.
- How does Syria rank for democracy index?
- Syria ranks 161st out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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 — 72 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).