What is democracy index in Taiwan?

Democracy index in Taiwan 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 Taiwan?

The highest recorded value was 10 in 2004.

What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Taiwan?

The lowest recorded value was -8 in 1949.

How does Taiwan rank for democracy index?

Taiwan ranks 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2018.

Is democracy index rising or falling in Taiwan?

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

Where does this Taiwan 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 Taiwan

Name: Democracy Index in Taiwan
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)

Taiwan: Democracy Index was 10 in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 167 countries

All-time high

in 2004

All-time low

-8

in 1949

Years of data

1949–2018

Democracy Index in Taiwan, 1949–2018

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

Analysis

Taiwan recorded 10 for democracy index in 2018. That is the highest value across all 70 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, democracy index in Taiwan peaked at 10 in 2004 and was at its lowest, -8, in 1949.

Taiwan ranks 1st of 167 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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	-8	-8	-8	1
1950s	-8	-8	-8	10
1960s	-8	-8	-8	10
1970s	-7.5	-8	-7	10
1980s	-5.2	-7	-1	10
1990s	6.1	-1	9	10
2000s	9.6	9	10	10
2010s	10	10	10	9

Countries ranked near Taiwan

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More social development data for Taiwan

Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.704 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.801 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.838 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.892 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.801 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)
Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.704 (2025)

All data for Taiwan →

Frequently asked questions

What is democracy index in Taiwan?: Democracy index in Taiwan 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 Taiwan?: The highest recorded value was 10 in 2004.
What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Taiwan?: The lowest recorded value was -8 in 1949.
How does Taiwan rank for democracy index?: Taiwan ranks 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
Is democracy index rising or falling in Taiwan?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Taiwan 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 — 70 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).