Direct Democracy Index in Pakistan
Pakistan: Direct Democracy Index was 0.02 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.02
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
104th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.2
in 1984
All-time low
0
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Direct Democracy Index in Pakistan, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, direct democracy index in Pakistan stood at 0.02.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 78.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct democracy index in Pakistan peaked at 0.2 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.
That places Pakistan 104th 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.
Direct Democracy Index in Pakistan, 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 | — |
| 1920 | 0 | — |
| 1921 | 0 | — |
| 1922 | 0 | — |
| 1923 | 0 | — |
| 1924 | 0 | — |
| 1925 | 0 | — |
| 1926 | 0 | — |
| 1927 | 0 | — |
| 1928 | 0 | — |
| 1929 | 0 | — |
| 1930 | 0 | — |
| 1931 | 0 | — |
| 1932 | 0 | — |
| 1933 | 0 | — |
| 1934 | 0 | — |
| 1935 | 0 | — |
| 1936 | 0 | — |
| 1937 | 0 | — |
| 1938 | 0 | — |
| 1939 | 0 | — |
| 1940 | 0 | — |
| 1941 | 0 | — |
| 1942 | 0 | — |
| 1943 | 0 | — |
| 1944 | 0 | — |
| 1945 | 0 | — |
| 1946 | 0 | — |
| 1947 | 0 | — |
| 1948 | 0 | — |
| 1949 | 0 | — |
| 1950 | 0 | — |
| 1951 | 0 | — |
| 1952 | 0 | — |
| 1953 | 0 | — |
| 1954 | 0 | — |
| 1955 | 0 | — |
| 1956 | 0 | — |
| 1957 | 0 | — |
| 1958 | 0 | — |
| 1959 | 0 | — |
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0.02 | — |
| 1978 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.2 | +900.0% |
| 1985 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.188 | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 0.176 | -6.4% |
| 1991 | 0.164 | -6.8% |
| 1992 | 0.152 | -7.3% |
| 1993 | 0.14 | -7.9% |
| 1994 | 0.128 | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 0.116 | -9.4% |
| 1996 | 0.104 | -10.3% |
| 1997 | 0.02 | -80.8% |
| 1998 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.2 | +900.0% |
| 2003 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.188 | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 0.176 | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 0.164 | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 0.152 | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 0.14 | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 0.128 | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 0.116 | -9.4% |
| 2014 | 0.104 | -10.3% |
| 2015 | 0.092 | -11.5% |
| 2016 | 0.08 | -13.0% |
| 2017 | 0.068 | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 0.056 | -17.6% |
| 2019 | 0.044 | -21.4% |
| 2020 | 0.032 | -27.3% |
| 2021 | 0.02 | -37.5% |
| 2022 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 0.02 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0275, 73% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 0.02 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.02, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Direct Democracy Index in Pakistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +900.0% | 0.02 | 0.2 |
| 2002 | +900.0% | 0.02 | 0.2 |
| 1997 | -80.8% | 0.104 | 0.02 |
| 2021 | -37.5% | 0.032 | 0.02 |
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 | 0.006 | 0 | 0.02 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1268 | 0.02 | 0.2 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.104 | 0.02 | 0.176 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1568 | 0.02 | 0.2 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.098 | 0.044 | 0.152 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.022 | 0.02 | 0.032 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 101 Gambia 0.026 compare
- 102 Ghana 0.024 compare
- 103 Myanmar 0.021 compare
- 104 Afghanistan 0.02 compare
- 104 Bahrain 0.02 compare
- 104 Bhutan 0.02 compare
- 104 Brazil 0.02 compare
- 104 Cameroon 0.02 compare
- 104 Guinea-Bissau 0.02 compare
- 104 Japan 0.02 compare
- 104 Nepal 0.02 compare
- 104 Sao Tome and Principe 0.02 compare
- 104 South Africa 0.02 compare
- 104 South Sudan 0.02 compare
- 104 Suriname 0.02 compare
- 104 Vietnam 0.02 compare
More social development data for Pakistan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.16 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 90,497 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0004 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 90,497 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0045 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 Pakistan?
- Direct democracy index in Pakistan was 0.02 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2 in 1984.
- What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
- How does Pakistan rank for direct democracy index?
- Pakistan ranks 104th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 78.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.