Direct Democracy Index in Malawi
Malawi: Direct Democracy Index was 0.013 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Direct Democracy Index in Malawi, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 0.013 for direct democracy index in 2025.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct democracy index in Malawi peaked at 0.1 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.
Malawi ranks 128th 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 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0178 | 0 | 0.1 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.013 | 0.013 | 0.013 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.013 | 0.013 | 0.013 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.013 | 0.013 | 0.013 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 128 Botswana 0.013 compare
- 128 Czechia 0.013 compare
- 128 El Salvador 0.013 compare
- 128 Eswatini 0.013 compare
- 128 Ethiopia 0.013 compare
- 128 Guyana 0.013 compare
- 128 Iraq 0.013 compare
- 128 Israel 0.013 compare
- 128 Jamaica 0.013 compare
- 128 Lesotho 0.013 compare
- 128 Panama 0.013 compare
- 128 Papua New Guinea 0.013 compare
- 128 Yemen 0.013 compare
More social development data for Malawi
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 35,241 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 551 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Key features of liberal democracy 0.462 (2025)
- Varieties of democracy 0.557 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.754 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.767 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.557 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is direct democracy index in Malawi?
- Direct democracy index in Malawi was 0.013 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1 in 1993.
- What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
- How does Malawi rank for direct democracy index?
- Malawi ranks 128th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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.