Direct Democracy Index in Panama
Panama: Direct Democracy Index was 0.013 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.013
Change on year
down 38.1%
World rank
128th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.131
in 1977
All-time low
0
in 1903
Years of data
123
1903–2025
Direct Democracy Index in Panama, 1903–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, direct democracy index in Panama stood at 0.013.
That represents a change of down 38.1% on the previous year and down 85.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct democracy index in Panama peaked at 0.131 in 1977 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1903.
That places Panama 128th 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 Panama, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.1 | — |
| 1941 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 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 | 0.013 | — |
| 1973 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.131 | +907.7% |
| 1978 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.123 | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 0.131 | +6.5% |
| 1984 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.123 | -6.1% |
| 1989 | 0.116 | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 0.108 | -6.9% |
| 1991 | 0.1 | -7.4% |
| 1992 | 0.118 | +18.0% |
| 1993 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.105 | -11.0% |
| 1998 | 0.118 | +12.4% |
| 1999 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.105 | -11.0% |
| 2004 | 0.092 | -12.4% |
| 2005 | 0.079 | -14.1% |
| 2006 | 0.131 | +65.8% |
| 2007 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.123 | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 0.116 | -5.7% |
| 2013 | 0.108 | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 0.1 | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 0.092 | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 0.084 | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 0.076 | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 0.068 | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 0.06 | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 0.052 | -13.3% |
| 2021 | 0.045 | -13.5% |
| 2022 | 0.037 | -17.8% |
| 2023 | 0.029 | -21.6% |
| 2024 | 0.021 | -27.6% |
| 2025 | 0.013 | -38.1% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 0.013 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.033, 39% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Panama's 0.013 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.072, 18% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Direct Democracy Index in Panama 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +907.7% | 0.013 | 0.131 |
| 1941 | -100.0% | 0.1 | 0 |
| 2006 | +65.8% | 0.079 | 0.131 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 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 | 0.0458 | 0 | 0.131 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1279 | 0.116 | 0.131 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1139 | 0.1 | 0.118 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1154 | 0.079 | 0.131 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0958 | 0.06 | 0.131 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0328 | 0.013 | 0.052 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Panama
- 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 Malawi 0.013 compare
- 128 Papua New Guinea 0.013 compare
- 128 Yemen 0.013 compare
More social development data for Panama
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,694 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 375 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 375 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0006 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 Panama?
- Direct democracy index in Panama 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 Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 0.131 in 1977.
- What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1903.
- How does Panama rank for direct democracy index?
- Panama ranks 128th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 85.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Panama 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 — 123 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.