Distribution of Democracy Index in Cambodia
Cambodia: Distribution of Democracy Index was 6 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of Democracy Index in Cambodia, 1953–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, distribution of democracy index in Cambodia stood at 6.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of democracy index in Cambodia peaked at 13 in 1953 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1955.
Cambodia ranks 139th of 168 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of Democracy Index in Cambodia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 13 | — |
| 1954 | 7 | -46.2% |
| 1955 | 1 | -85.7% |
| 1956 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1971 | 4 | +100.0% |
| 1972 | 5 | +25.0% |
| 1973 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 10 | +100.0% |
| 1976 | 3 | -70.0% |
| 1977 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 5 | +66.7% |
| 1991 | 7 | +40.0% |
| 1992 | 9 | +28.6% |
| 1993 | 11 | +22.2% |
| 1994 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 3 | -72.7% |
| 1998 | 12 | +300.0% |
| 1999 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 6 | -50.0% |
| 2018 | 6 | +0.0% |
Cambodia compared with similar countries
- Cambodia's 6 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15, 40% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Cambodia's 6 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 17.5, 34% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.57 | 1 | 13 | 7 |
| 1960s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.44 | 2 | 10 | 9 |
| 1980s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | 9.2 | 3 | 12 | 10 |
| 2000s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.67 | 6 | 12 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Cambodia
More social development data for Cambodia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 23 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11,332 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (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 11,332 (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 distribution of democracy index in Cambodia?
- Distribution of democracy index in Cambodia was 6 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in Cambodia?
- The highest recorded value was 13 in 1953.
- What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in Cambodia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1955.
- How does Cambodia rank for distribution of democracy index?
- Cambodia ranks 139th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is distribution of democracy index rising or falling in Cambodia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cambodia data come from?
- The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from 0 to 20 (fully democratic).