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Distribution of Democracy Index in Italy

Italy: Distribution of Democracy Index was 20 in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
20
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 168 countries
All-time high
20
in 1948
All-time low
1
in 1928
Years of data
158
1861–2018

Distribution of Democracy Index in Italy, 1861–2018

05101520186119392018

Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2018, distribution of democracy index in Italy stood at 20. That is the highest value across all 158 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, distribution of democracy index in Italy peaked at 20 in 1948 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1928.

Italy ranks 1st of 168 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Distribution of Democracy Index in Italy, year by year

Year Value Change
1861 6 —
1862 6 +0.0%
1863 6 +0.0%
1864 6 +0.0%
1865 6 +0.0%
1866 6 +0.0%
1867 6 +0.0%
1868 6 +0.0%
1869 6 +0.0%
1870 6 +0.0%
1871 6 +0.0%
1872 6 +0.0%
1873 6 +0.0%
1874 6 +0.0%
1875 6 +0.0%
1876 6 +0.0%
1877 6 +0.0%
1878 6 +0.0%
1879 6 +0.0%
1880 6 +0.0%
1881 6 +0.0%
1882 6 +0.0%
1883 6 +0.0%
1884 6 +0.0%
1885 6 +0.0%
1886 6 +0.0%
1887 6 +0.0%
1888 6 +0.0%
1889 6 +0.0%
1890 6 +0.0%
1891 6 +0.0%
1892 6 +0.0%
1893 6 +0.0%
1894 6 +0.0%
1895 6 +0.0%
1896 6 +0.0%
1897 6 +0.0%
1898 6 +0.0%
1899 6 +0.0%
1900 9 +50.0%
1901 9 +0.0%
1902 9 +0.0%
1903 9 +0.0%
1904 9 +0.0%
1905 9 +0.0%
1906 9 +0.0%
1907 9 +0.0%
1908 9 +0.0%
1909 9 +0.0%
1910 9 +0.0%
1911 9 +0.0%
1912 9 +0.0%
1913 9 +0.0%
1914 9 +0.0%
1915 9 +0.0%
1916 9 +0.0%
1917 9 +0.0%
1918 9 +0.0%
1919 9 +0.0%
1920 9 +0.0%
1921 9 +0.0%
1922 8 -11.1%
1923 7 -12.5%
1924 6 -14.3%
1925 4 -33.3%
1926 3 -25.0%
1927 2 -33.3%
1928 1 -50.0%
1929 1 +0.0%
1930 1 +0.0%
1931 1 +0.0%
1932 1 +0.0%
1933 1 +0.0%
1934 1 +0.0%
1935 1 +0.0%
1936 1 +0.0%
1937 1 +0.0%
1938 1 +0.0%
1939 1 +0.0%
1940 1 +0.0%
1941 1 +0.0%
1942 1 +0.0%
1943 10 +900.0%
1944 10 +0.0%
1945 12 +20.0%
1946 15 +25.0%
1947 18 +20.0%
1948 20 +11.1%
1949 20 +0.0%
1950 20 +0.0%
1951 20 +0.0%
1952 20 +0.0%
1953 20 +0.0%
1954 20 +0.0%
1955 20 +0.0%
1956 20 +0.0%
1957 20 +0.0%
1958 20 +0.0%
1959 20 +0.0%
1960 20 +0.0%
1961 20 +0.0%
1962 20 +0.0%
1963 20 +0.0%
1964 20 +0.0%
1965 20 +0.0%
1966 20 +0.0%
1967 20 +0.0%
1968 20 +0.0%
1969 20 +0.0%
1970 20 +0.0%
1971 20 +0.0%
1972 20 +0.0%
1973 20 +0.0%
1974 20 +0.0%
1975 20 +0.0%
1976 20 +0.0%
1977 20 +0.0%
1978 20 +0.0%
1979 20 +0.0%
1980 20 +0.0%
1981 20 +0.0%
1982 20 +0.0%
1983 20 +0.0%
1984 20 +0.0%
1985 20 +0.0%
1986 20 +0.0%
1987 20 +0.0%
1988 20 +0.0%
1989 20 +0.0%
1990 20 +0.0%
1991 20 +0.0%
1992 20 +0.0%
1993 20 +0.0%
1994 20 +0.0%
1995 20 +0.0%
1996 20 +0.0%
1997 20 +0.0%
1998 20 +0.0%
1999 20 +0.0%
2000 20 +0.0%
2001 20 +0.0%
2002 20 +0.0%
2003 20 +0.0%
2004 20 +0.0%
2005 20 +0.0%
2006 20 +0.0%
2007 20 +0.0%
2008 20 +0.0%
2009 20 +0.0%
2010 20 +0.0%
2011 20 +0.0%
2012 20 +0.0%
2013 20 +0.0%
2014 20 +0.0%
2015 20 +0.0%
2016 20 +0.0%
2017 20 +0.0%
2018 20 +0.0%

Italy compared with similar countries

  • Italy's 20 is above the median for high income countries, which is 20, 1.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
  • Italy's 20 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 19, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1860s 6 6 6 9
1870s 6 6 6 10
1880s 6 6 6 10
1890s 6 6 6 10
1900s 9 9 9 10
1910s 9 9 9 10
1920s 5 1 9 10
1930s 1 1 1 10
1940s 10.8 1 20 10
1950s 20 20 20 10
1960s 20 20 20 10
1970s 20 20 20 10
1980s 20 20 20 10
1990s 20 20 20 10
2000s 20 20 20 10
2010s 20 20 20 9

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 1 Australia 20 compare
  2. 1 Austria 20 compare
  3. 1 Canada 20 compare
  4. 1 Cape Verde 20 compare
  5. 1 Chile 20 compare
  6. 1 Costa Rica 20 compare
  7. 1 Cyprus 20 compare
  8. 1 Denmark 20 compare
  9. 1 Finland 20 compare
  10. 1 France 20 compare
  11. 1 Germany 20 compare
  12. 1 Greece 20 compare
  13. 1 Hungary 20 compare
  14. 1 Ireland 20 compare
  15. 1 Japan 20 compare
  16. 1 Lithuania 20 compare
  17. 1 Luxembourg 20 compare
  18. 1 Mauritius 20 compare
  19. 1 Mongolia 20 compare
  20. 1 Netherlands 20 compare
  21. 1 New Zealand 20 compare
  22. 1 Norway 20 compare
  23. 1 Poland 20 compare
  24. 1 Portugal 20 compare
  25. 1 Slovakia 20 compare
  26. 1 Slovenia 20 compare
  27. 1 Spain 20 compare
  28. 1 Sweden 20 compare
  29. 1 Switzerland 20 compare
  30. 1 Taiwan 20 compare
  31. 1 Uruguay 20 compare

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More social development data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is distribution of democracy index in Italy?
Distribution of democracy index in Italy was 20 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 20 in 1948.
What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1928.
How does Italy rank for distribution of democracy index?
Italy ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
Is distribution of democracy index rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Italy 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.

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Distribution of Democracy Index in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/distribution-democracy-index-polity/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Distribution of Democracy Index
Source
Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
168 places, 18,366 data points, 1800–2018
Last refreshed

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).