Distribution of Democracy Index in Kenya
Kenya: Distribution of Democracy Index was 19 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of Democracy Index in Kenya, 1963–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, distribution of democracy index in Kenya stood at 19. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of democracy index in Kenya peaked at 19 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3, in 1969.
That places Kenya 33rd out of 168 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of Democracy Index in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 15 | — |
| 1964 | 9 | -40.0% |
| 1965 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 3 | -66.7% |
| 1970 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 1980 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 1983 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 5 | +66.7% |
| 1992 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 14 | +180.0% |
| 1998 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 18 | +28.6% |
| 2003 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 17 | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 18 | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 19 | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 19 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 19 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 19 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 19 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 19 | +0.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 19 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15, 1.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 19 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.5, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9 | 3 | 15 | 7 |
| 1970s | 3.1 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.2 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.5 | 3 | 14 | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.9 | 14 | 18 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.67 | 18 | 19 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 33 Albania 19 compare
- 33 Argentina 19 compare
- 33 Bulgaria 19 compare
- 33 Croatia 19 compare
- 33 Czechia 19 compare
- 33 Estonia 19 compare
- 33 India 19 compare
- 33 Indonesia 19 compare
- 33 Jamaica 19 compare
- 33 Moldova 19 compare
- 33 Montenegro 19 compare
- 33 North Macedonia 19 compare
- 33 Panama 19 compare
- 33 Paraguay 19 compare
- 33 Peru 19 compare
- 33 Romania 19 compare
- 33 South Africa 19 compare
- 33 Trinidad and Tobago 19 compare
More social development data for Kenya
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 617,125 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 13,325 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (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 13,325 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0107 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 Kenya?
- Distribution of democracy index in Kenya was 19 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 19 in 2013.
- What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 1969.
- How does Kenya rank for distribution of democracy index?
- Kenya ranks 33rd out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is distribution of democracy index rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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).