What is democracy index in Vatican?

Democracy index in Vatican was -9 in 1870, 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 Vatican?

The highest recorded value was -9 in 1815.

What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Vatican?

The lowest recorded value was -9 in 1815.

How does Vatican rank for democracy index?

Vatican ranks 161st out of 167 countries with data for 1870.

Is democracy index rising or falling in Vatican?

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

Where does this Vatican 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 Vatican

Name: Democracy Index in Vatican
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)

Vatican: Democracy Index was -9 in 1870. ▬ Flat

Latest (1870)

-9

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

161st

of 167 countries

All-time high

-9

in 1815

All-time low

-9

in 1815

Years of data

1815–1870

Democracy Index in Vatican, 1815–1870

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 Vatican is -9, measured in 1870. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, democracy index in Vatican peaked at -9 in 1815 and was at its lowest, -9, in 1815.

Vatican ranks 161st of 167 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1810s	-9	-9	-9	5
1820s	-9	-9	-9	10
1830s	-9	-9	-9	10
1840s	-9	-9	-9	10
1850s	-9	-9	-9	10
1860s	-9	-9	-9	10
1870s	-9	-9	-9	1

Countries ranked near Vatican

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More social development data for Vatican

Electoral democracy 0 (1869)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.027 (1870)
Varieties of democracy 0.026 (1870)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.13 (1870)
Freedom of Association Index 0.065 (1870)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.026 (1870)
Liberal democracy 0 (1861)
Electoral democracy 0 (1861)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.027 (1870)
Human Rights Index 0.3 (1870)

All data for Vatican →

Frequently asked questions

What is democracy index in Vatican?: Democracy index in Vatican was -9 in 1870, 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 Vatican?: The highest recorded value was -9 in 1815.
What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Vatican?: The lowest recorded value was -9 in 1815.
How does Vatican rank for democracy index?: Vatican ranks 161st out of 167 countries with data for 1870.
Is democracy index rising or falling in Vatican?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Vatican 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 — 56 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).