Distribution of Democracy Index in Eswatini
Eswatini: Distribution of Democracy Index was 3 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of Democracy Index in Eswatini, 1968–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for distribution of democracy index in Eswatini is 3, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of democracy index in Eswatini peaked at 4 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1973.
Eswatini ranks 150th 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 Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 2 | — |
| 1969 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1974 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 1983 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1 | -66.7% |
| 1987 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 4 | +300.0% |
| 1993 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 1994 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3 | +0.0% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 3 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15, 20% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 3 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.5, 21% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.7 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.8 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.7 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More social development data for Eswatini
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,414 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (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 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0011 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 Eswatini?
- Distribution of democracy index in Eswatini was 3 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 4 in 1992.
- What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1973.
- How does Eswatini rank for distribution of democracy index?
- Eswatini ranks 150th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is distribution of democracy index rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini 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 — 51 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).