Distribution of Democracy Index in Japan
Japan: 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 1952
All-time low
0
in 1800
Years of data
212
1800–2018
Distribution of Democracy Index in Japan, 1800–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Japan recorded 20 for distribution of democracy index in 2018. That is the highest value across all 212 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of democracy index in Japan peaked at 20 in 1952 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1800.
Japan 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 0 | — |
| 1801 | 0 | — |
| 1802 | 0 | — |
| 1803 | 0 | — |
| 1804 | 0 | — |
| 1805 | 0 | — |
| 1806 | 0 | — |
| 1807 | 0 | — |
| 1808 | 0 | — |
| 1809 | 0 | — |
| 1810 | 0 | — |
| 1811 | 0 | — |
| 1812 | 0 | — |
| 1813 | 0 | — |
| 1814 | 0 | — |
| 1815 | 0 | — |
| 1816 | 0 | — |
| 1817 | 0 | — |
| 1818 | 0 | — |
| 1819 | 0 | — |
| 1820 | 0 | — |
| 1821 | 0 | — |
| 1822 | 0 | — |
| 1823 | 0 | — |
| 1824 | 0 | — |
| 1825 | 0 | — |
| 1826 | 0 | — |
| 1827 | 0 | — |
| 1828 | 0 | — |
| 1829 | 0 | — |
| 1830 | 0 | — |
| 1831 | 0 | — |
| 1832 | 0 | — |
| 1833 | 0 | — |
| 1834 | 0 | — |
| 1835 | 0 | — |
| 1836 | 0 | — |
| 1837 | 0 | — |
| 1838 | 0 | — |
| 1839 | 0 | — |
| 1840 | 0 | — |
| 1841 | 0 | — |
| 1842 | 0 | — |
| 1843 | 0 | — |
| 1844 | 0 | — |
| 1845 | 0 | — |
| 1846 | 0 | — |
| 1847 | 0 | — |
| 1848 | 0 | — |
| 1849 | 0 | — |
| 1850 | 0 | — |
| 1851 | 0 | — |
| 1852 | 0 | — |
| 1853 | 0 | — |
| 1854 | 0 | — |
| 1855 | 0 | — |
| 1856 | 0 | — |
| 1857 | 0 | — |
| 1858 | 1 | — |
| 1859 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1860 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 1861 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 1862 | 5 | +25.0% |
| 1863 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 1864 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 1865 | 8 | +14.3% |
| 1866 | 9 | +12.5% |
| 1867 | 10 | +11.1% |
| 1868 | 11 | +10.0% |
| 1869 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 20 | +81.8% |
| 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% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 20 is above the median for high income countries, which is 20, 1.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Japan's 20 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 17.5, 1.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.3 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1860s | 7.4 | 3 | 11 | 10 |
| 1870s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 1880s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 1890s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 1900s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 1910s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 1920s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 1930s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 1940s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 5 |
| 1950s | 20 | 20 | 20 | 8 |
| 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 Japan
- 1 Australia 20 compare
- 1 Austria 20 compare
- 1 Canada 20 compare
- 1 Cape Verde 20 compare
- 1 Chile 20 compare
- 1 Costa Rica 20 compare
- 1 Cyprus 20 compare
- 1 Denmark 20 compare
- 1 Finland 20 compare
- 1 France 20 compare
- 1 Germany 20 compare
- 1 Greece 20 compare
- 1 Hungary 20 compare
- 1 Ireland 20 compare
- 1 Italy 20 compare
- 1 Lithuania 20 compare
- 1 Luxembourg 20 compare
- 1 Mauritius 20 compare
- 1 Mongolia 20 compare
- 1 Netherlands 20 compare
- 1 New Zealand 20 compare
- 1 Norway 20 compare
- 1 Poland 20 compare
- 1 Portugal 20 compare
- 1 Slovakia 20 compare
- 1 Slovenia 20 compare
- 1 Spain 20 compare
- 1 Sweden 20 compare
- 1 Switzerland 20 compare
- 1 Taiwan 20 compare
- 1 Uruguay 20 compare
More social development data for Japan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,450 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 56 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 56 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 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 Japan?
- Distribution of democracy index in Japan 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 20 in 1952.
- What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1800.
- How does Japan rank for distribution of democracy index?
- Japan ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is distribution of democracy index rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 212 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).