What is direct democracy index in Australia?

Direct democracy index in Australia was 0.264 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Australia?

The highest recorded value was 0.317 in 1977.

What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Australia?

The lowest recorded value was 0.032 in 1963.

How does Australia rank for direct democracy index?

Australia ranks 12th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Australia?

Over the last ten years it is up 725.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this Australia data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Direct Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Direct Democracy Index in Australia

Name: Direct Democracy Index in Australia
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Australia: Direct Democracy Index was 0.264 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)

0.264

Change on year

down 3.3%

World rank

12th

of 175 countries

All-time high

0.317

in 1977

All-time low

0.032

in 1963

Years of data

125

1901–2025

Direct Democracy Index in Australia, 1901–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for direct democracy index in Australia is 0.264, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and up 725.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, direct democracy index in Australia peaked at 0.317 in 1977 and was at its lowest, 0.032, in 1963.

Australia ranks 12th of 175 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 125 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.2237	0.167	0.308	9
1910s	0.2604	0.21	0.285	10
1920s	0.2295	0.182	0.285	10
1930s	0.172	0.142	0.182	10
1940s	0.1756	0.162	0.182	10
1950s	0.1501	0.098	0.182	10
1960s	0.0869	0.032	0.182	10
1970s	0.2147	0.165	0.317	10
1980s	0.2714	0.228	0.317	10
1990s	0.149	0.065	0.219	10
2000s	0.1301	0.065	0.165	10
2010s	0.0741	0.032	0.167	10
2020s	0.2185	0.158	0.282	6

Countries ranked near Australia

9 Venezuela 0.297 compare
10 Moldova 0.291 compare
11 Slovakia 0.279 compare
13 Central African Republic 0.259 compare
14 Hungary 0.258 compare
14 Slovenia 0.258 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Australia

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 33,415 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 41 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.793 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.844 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.915 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.876 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.844 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is direct democracy index in Australia?: Direct democracy index in Australia was 0.264 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Australia?: The highest recorded value was 0.317 in 1977.
What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Australia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.032 in 1963.
How does Australia rank for direct democracy index?: Australia ranks 12th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Australia?: Over the last ten years it is up 725.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Australia data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Direct Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 125 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Direct Democracy Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 20,802 data points, 1900–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Measures the extent of how easy it is for citizens to vote on specific issues themselves in popular initiatives, referendums, and plebiscites.