Direct Democracy Index in Canada
Canada: Direct Democracy Index was 0.015 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Direct Democracy Index in Canada, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Canada recorded 0.015 for direct democracy index in 2025.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct democracy index in Canada peaked at 0.135 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.
That places Canada 122nd out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.01 | 0 | 0.1 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.099 | 0 | 0.135 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.03 | 0.015 | 0.075 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More social development data for Canada
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 416,028 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 360 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Key features of liberal democracy 0.736 (2025)
- Varieties of democracy 0.84 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.933 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.865 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.84 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is direct democracy index in Canada?
- Direct democracy index in Canada was 0.015 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 0.135 in 1992.
- What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
- How does Canada rank for direct democracy index?
- Canada ranks 122nd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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 — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.