Direct Democracy Index by country
Measures the extent of how easy it is for citizens to vote on specific issues themselves in popular initiatives, referendums, and plebiscites.
Countries reporting
172
Highest
0.679
Switzerland
Lowest
0
United States
Median
0.033
Years covered
126
1900–2025
Data points
20,802
What the numbers show
Direct Democracy Index is currently reported for 172 countries. The highest value is 0.679 in Switzerland; the lowest is 0 in United States.
The median across all reporting countries is 0.033, and the mean is 0.0898.
Over the past decade 36 countries rose and 54 fell. The largest increase was in Vanuatu (up 907.7%), and the largest decrease in Sudan (down 100.0%).
Direct Democracy Index: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland | 0.679 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 2 | Uruguay | 0.618 | 2025 | up 6.0% | volatile |
| 3 | Ecuador | 0.551 | 2025 | up 56.5% | volatile |
| 4 | Taiwan | 0.518 | 2025 | up 112.3% | volatile |
| 5 | Mexico | 0.466 | 2025 | up 538.4% | volatile |
| 6 | Romania | 0.403 | 2025 | up 55.6% | volatile |
| 7 | Italy | 0.353 | 2025 | up 12.4% | volatile |
| 8 | Kyrgyzstan | 0.326 | 2025 | up 65.5% | volatile |
| 9 | Venezuela | 0.297 | 2025 | up 2.8% | volatile |
| 10 | Moldova | 0.291 | 2025 | up 59.9% | volatile |
| 11 | Slovakia | 0.279 | 2025 | down 23.1% | volatile |
| 12 | Australia | 0.264 | 2025 | up 725.0% | falling |
| 13 | Central African Republic | 0.259 | 2025 | up 129.2% | volatile |
| 14 | Hungary | 0.258 | 2025 | down 3.0% | volatile |
| 14 | Slovenia | 0.258 | 2025 | down 42.9% | volatile |
| 16 | Egypt | 0.232 | 2025 | up 8.9% | volatile |
| 17 | Russia | 0.229 | 2025 | up 218.1% | volatile |
| 18 | New Zealand | 0.222 | 2025 | down 45.3% | volatile |
| 19 | Mali | 0.22 | 2025 | up 566.7% | volatile |
| 20 | Gabon | 0.213 | 2025 | up 545.5% | volatile |
| 20 | Chad | 0.213 | 2025 | up 104.8% | volatile |
| 22 | Lithuania | 0.211 | 2025 | down 49.4% | volatile |
| 22 | Serbia | 0.211 | 2025 | up 23.4% | volatile |
| 24 | Bulgaria | 0.201 | 2025 | down 16.2% | volatile |
| 25 | Qatar | 0.2 | 2025 | up 92.3% | volatile |
| 26 | Peru | 0.195 | 2025 | down 23.8% | volatile |
| 27 | Kazakhstan | 0.194 | 2025 | up 424.3% | volatile |
| 30 | Uzbekistan | 0.188 | 2025 | up 100.0% | volatile |
| 31 | Denmark | 0.185 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 32 | Croatia | 0.174 | 2025 | down 44.2% | volatile |
| 33 | Poland | 0.169 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 34 | North Macedonia | 0.166 | 2025 | down 16.6% | volatile |
| 35 | Mauritania | 0.165 | 2025 | up 7.8% | volatile |
| 36 | Thailand | 0.161 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 37 | Azerbaijan | 0.158 | 2025 | down 18.6% | volatile |
| 38 | Colombia | 0.154 | 2025 | up 170.2% | volatile |
| 39 | Cuba | 0.151 | 2025 | up 357.6% | volatile |
| 39 | Guinea | 0.151 | 2025 | up 62.4% | volatile |
| 39 | Tunisia | 0.151 | 2025 | up 43.8% | volatile |
| 42 | Algeria | 0.143 | 2025 | up 1.4% | volatile |
| 43 | Tajikistan | 0.14 | 2025 | up 29.6% | volatile |
| 44 | Bolivia | 0.138 | 2025 | down 63.2% | volatile |
| 45 | Chile | 0.133 | 2025 | up 786.7% | volatile |
| 46 | Turkey | 0.132 | 2025 | down 52.0% | volatile |
| 47 | Vanuatu | 0.131 | 2025 | up 907.7% | volatile |
| 48 | Belarus | 0.13 | 2025 | up 10.2% | volatile |
| 49 | Burundi | 0.128 | 2025 | down 9.2% | volatile |
| 49 | Greece | 0.128 | 2025 | down 36.0% | volatile |
| 49 | Guatemala | 0.128 | 2025 | up 287.9% | volatile |
| 52 | Zimbabwe | 0.117 | 2025 | down 41.5% | volatile |
| 53 | Armenia | 0.113 | 2025 | down 28.0% | volatile |
| 54 | Cote d'Ivoire | 0.112 | 2025 | up 38.3% | volatile |
| 54 | Senegal | 0.112 | 2025 | up 55.6% | volatile |
| 56 | Comoros | 0.108 | 2025 | down 6.9% | volatile |
| 57 | Latvia | 0.106 | 2025 | down 76.9% | volatile |
| 58 | Congo | 0.104 | 2025 | down 31.1% | volatile |
| 58 | Rwanda | 0.104 | 2025 | down 55.7% | volatile |
| 60 | Morocco | 0.093 | 2025 | down 56.3% | volatile |
| 61 | Syria | 0.092 | 2025 | down 54.0% | volatile |
| 62 | Costa Rica | 0.083 | 2025 | down 57.9% | volatile |
| 64 | Iceland | 0.082 | 2025 | down 49.7% | volatile |
| 65 | Madagascar | 0.081 | 2025 | down 59.7% | volatile |
| 65 | Niger | 0.081 | 2025 | down 64.0% | volatile |
| 67 | Equatorial Guinea | 0.08 | 2025 | down 60.0% | volatile |
| 67 | Nicaragua | 0.08 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 69 | Turkmenistan | 0.075 | 2025 | up 1.4% | volatile |
| 70 | Paraguay | 0.072 | 2025 | down 52.3% | volatile |
| 71 | Philippines | 0.07 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 72 | Kenya | 0.069 | 2025 | down 52.7% | volatile |
| 73 | Zambia | 0.065 | 2025 | up 109.7% | volatile |
| 74 | Cape Verde | 0.063 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 75 | Uganda | 0.062 | 2025 | down 69.2% | volatile |
| 75 | Ukraine | 0.062 | 2025 | down 52.3% | volatile |
| 77 | Albania | 0.06 | 2025 | down 11.8% | volatile |
| 77 | United Kingdom | 0.06 | 2025 | down 55.6% | volatile |
| 77 | Montenegro | 0.06 | 2025 | down 53.8% | volatile |
| 80 | Liberia | 0.059 | 2025 | down 20.3% | volatile |
| 81 | Georgia | 0.053 | 2025 | down 76.7% | volatile |
| 82 | Maldives | 0.045 | 2025 | down 72.7% | volatile |
| 83 | Togo | 0.042 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 84 | Djibouti | 0.04 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 85 | Estonia | 0.038 | 2025 | down 65.8% | volatile |
| 86 | Austria | 0.033 | 2025 | down 82.9% | volatile |
| 86 | Benin | 0.033 | 2025 | up 65.0% | volatile |
| 86 | Burkina Faso | 0.033 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 86 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 0.033 | 2025 | down 68.3% | volatile |
| 86 | France | 0.033 | 2025 | down 54.8% | volatile |
| 86 | Somalia | 0.033 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 92 | South Korea | 0.031 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 92 | Sri Lanka | 0.031 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 92 | Mozambique | 0.031 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 92 | Namibia | 0.031 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 96 | Iran | 0.029 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 96 | Mongolia | 0.029 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 98 | Spain | 0.028 | 2025 | down 74.3% | volatile |
| 98 | Portugal | 0.028 | 2025 | down 78.9% | volatile |
| 98 | Sweden | 0.028 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 101 | Gambia | 0.026 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 102 | Ghana | 0.024 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 103 | Myanmar | 0.021 | 2025 | down 72.7% | volatile |
| 104 | Afghanistan | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Bahrain | 0.02 | 2025 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 104 | Brazil | 0.02 | 2025 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 104 | Bhutan | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Cameroon | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Guinea-Bissau | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Japan | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Nepal | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Pakistan | 0.02 | 2025 | down 78.3% | volatile |
| 104 | South Sudan | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Suriname | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Vietnam | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 104 | South Africa | 0.02 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 118 | Angola | 0.018 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 118 | East Timor | 0.018 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 120 | Belgium | 0.017 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 120 | Honduras | 0.017 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 122 | Argentina | 0.015 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 122 | Canada | 0.015 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 122 | Finland | 0.015 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 122 | Netherlands | 0.015 | 2025 | down 75.8% | volatile |
| 122 | Norway | 0.015 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 122 | Tanzania | 0.015 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | Botswana | 0.013 | 2025 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 128 | Czechia | 0.013 | 2025 | down 80.9% | volatile |
| 128 | Ethiopia | 0.013 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | Guyana | 0.013 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | Iraq | 0.013 | 2025 | down 84.5% | volatile |
| 128 | Israel | 0.013 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | Jamaica | 0.013 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | Lesotho | 0.013 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | Malawi | 0.013 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | Panama | 0.013 | 2025 | down 85.9% | volatile |
| 128 | Papua New Guinea | 0.013 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | El Salvador | 0.013 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | Eswatini | 0.013 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 128 | Yemen | 0.013 | 2025 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 142 | Dominican Republic | 0.012 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 142 | Seychelles | 0.012 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 144 | Germany | 0.011 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 144 | Libya | 0.011 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 144 | Singapore | 0.011 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 147 | Mauritius | 0.009 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 147 | Sierra Leone | 0.009 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 149 | Fiji | 0.007 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 149 | Nigeria | 0.007 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 151 | United Arab Emirates | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Bangladesh | 0 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 151 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 151 | Barbados | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | China | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Cyprus | 0 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 151 | Eritrea | 0 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 151 | Hong Kong | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Haiti | 0 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 151 | Indonesia | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | India | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Jordan | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Cambodia | 0 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 151 | Kuwait | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Laos | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Lebanon | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Malaysia | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Oman | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | North Korea | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Palestine | 0 | 1948 | — | flat |
| 151 | Saudi Arabia | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Sudan | 0 | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 151 | Solomon Islands | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 151 | United States | 0 | 2025 | — | flat |
About this data
Measures the extent of how easy it is for citizens to vote on specific issues themselves in popular initiatives, referendums, and plebiscites.