What is direct democracy index in Estonia?

Direct democracy index in Estonia was 0.038 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Estonia?

The highest recorded value was 0.291 in 2003.

What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Estonia?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.

How does Estonia rank for direct democracy index?

Estonia ranks 85th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Estonia?

Over the last ten years it is down 65.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Estonia 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 Estonia

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

Estonia: Direct Democracy Index was 0.038 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.038

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

85th

of 175 countries

All-time high

0.291

in 2003

All-time low

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Direct Democracy Index in Estonia, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

Estonia recorded 0.038 for direct democracy index in 2025.

The figure is down 65.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, direct democracy index in Estonia peaked at 0.291 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.

Estonia ranks 85th of 175 countries on this measure, 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	0.0674	0.055	0.159	10
1930s	0.1075	0.02	0.239	10
1940s	0.02	0.02	0.02	10
1950s	0.02	0.02	0.02	10
1960s	0.02	0.02	0.02	10
1970s	0.0239	0.02	0.033	10
1980s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
1990s	0.1872	0	0.218	10
2000s	0.2227	0.146	0.291	10
2010s	0.1175	0.069	0.176	10
2020s	0.0432	0.038	0.059	6

Countries ranked near Estonia

82 Maldives 0.045 compare
83 Togo 0.042 compare
84 Djibouti 0.04 compare
86 Austria 0.033 compare
86 Benin 0.033 compare
86 Burkina Faso 0.033 compare
86 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.033 compare
86 France 0.033 compare
86 Somalia 0.033 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Estonia

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 41,299 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 86 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.837 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.887 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.969 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.908 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.887 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)

All data for Estonia →

Frequently asked questions

What is direct democracy index in Estonia?: Direct democracy index in Estonia was 0.038 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Estonia?: The highest recorded value was 0.291 in 2003.
What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Estonia?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
How does Estonia rank for direct democracy index?: Estonia ranks 85th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Estonia?: Over the last ten years it is down 65.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Estonia 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

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.