Direct Democracy Index in Germany
Germany: Direct Democracy Index was 0.011 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.011
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
144th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.423
in 1933
All-time low
0
in 1900
Years of data
80
1900–2025
Direct Democracy Index in Germany, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for direct democracy index in Germany is 0.011, measured in 2025.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct democracy index in Germany peaked at 0.423 in 1933 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.
Germany ranks 144th of 175 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Direct Democracy Index in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0 | — |
| 1901 | 0 | — |
| 1902 | 0 | — |
| 1903 | 0 | — |
| 1904 | 0 | — |
| 1905 | 0 | — |
| 1906 | 0 | — |
| 1907 | 0 | — |
| 1908 | 0 | — |
| 1909 | 0 | — |
| 1910 | 0 | — |
| 1911 | 0 | — |
| 1912 | 0 | — |
| 1913 | 0 | — |
| 1914 | 0 | — |
| 1915 | 0 | — |
| 1916 | 0 | — |
| 1917 | 0 | — |
| 1918 | 0 | — |
| 1919 | 0.045 | — |
| 1920 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.268 | +495.6% |
| 1927 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.243 | -9.3% |
| 1932 | 0.243 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.423 | +74.1% |
| 1934 | 0.2 | -52.7% |
| 1935 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.188 | -6.0% |
| 1944 | 0.176 | -6.4% |
| 1991 | 0.011 | -93.7% |
| 1992 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 0.011 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.033, 33% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Germany's 0.011 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.1205, 9% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.0045 | 0 | 0.045 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.1342 | 0.045 | 0.268 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.2377 | 0.2 | 0.423 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1928 | 0.176 | 0.2 | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.011 | 0.011 | 0.011 | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.011 | 0.011 | 0.011 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.011 | 0.011 | 0.011 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.011 | 0.011 | 0.011 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 142 Dominican Republic 0.012 compare
- 142 Seychelles 0.012 compare
- 144 Libya 0.011 compare
- 144 Singapore 0.011 compare
- 147 Mauritius 0.009 compare
- 147 Sierra Leone 0.009 compare
More social development data for Germany
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.66 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 327 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 327 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0318 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is direct democracy index in Germany?
- Direct democracy index in Germany was 0.011 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 0.423 in 1933.
- What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
- How does Germany rank for direct democracy index?
- Germany ranks 144th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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 — 80 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.