Direct Democracy Index in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Direct Democracy Index was 0.031 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.031
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
92nd
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.149
in 1982
All-time low
0
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Direct Democracy Index in Sri Lanka, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for direct democracy index in Sri Lanka is 0.031, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct democracy index in Sri Lanka peaked at 0.149 in 1982 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.
Sri Lanka ranks 92nd 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.
Direct Democracy Index in Sri Lanka, 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 | — |
| 1978 | 0.031 | — |
| 1979 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.149 | +380.6% |
| 1983 | 0.149 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.149 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.149 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.149 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.141 | -5.4% |
| 1988 | 0.133 | -5.7% |
| 1989 | 0.125 | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 0.118 | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 0.11 | -6.8% |
| 1992 | 0.102 | -7.3% |
| 1993 | 0.094 | -7.8% |
| 1994 | 0.086 | -8.5% |
| 1995 | 0.078 | -9.3% |
| 1996 | 0.07 | -10.3% |
| 1997 | 0.062 | -11.4% |
| 1998 | 0.055 | -11.3% |
| 1999 | 0.047 | -14.5% |
| 2000 | 0.039 | -17.0% |
| 2001 | 0.031 | -20.5% |
| 2002 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 0.031 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.06, 52% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 0.031 is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.02, 1.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
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 | 0.0062 | 0 | 0.031 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1206 | 0.031 | 0.149 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0822 | 0.047 | 0.118 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0318 | 0.031 | 0.039 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.031 | 0.031 | 0.031 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.031 | 0.031 | 0.031 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 92 Mozambique 0.031 compare
- 92 Namibia 0.031 compare
- 92 South Korea 0.031 compare
More social development data for Sri Lanka
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 213 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0068 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is direct democracy index in Sri Lanka?
- Direct democracy index in Sri Lanka was 0.031 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest direct democracy index recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 0.149 in 1982.
- What is the lowest direct democracy index recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for direct democracy index?
- Sri Lanka ranks 92nd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is direct democracy index rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.