Distribution of Democracy Index in Nigeria
Nigeria: Distribution of Democracy Index was 17 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of Democracy Index in Nigeria, 1960–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for distribution of democracy index in Nigeria is 17, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of democracy index in Nigeria peaked at 18 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 3, in 1966.
Nigeria ranks 70th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of Democracy Index in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 18 | — |
| 1961 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 18 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 17 | -5.6% |
| 1965 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 3 | -82.4% |
| 1967 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 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 | 10 | +233.3% |
| 1979 | 17 | +70.0% |
| 1980 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3 | -82.4% |
| 1985 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 5 | +66.7% |
| 1990 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 3 | -40.0% |
| 1994 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 1996 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 9 | +125.0% |
| 1999 | 14 | +55.6% |
| 2000 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 17 | +21.4% |
| 2016 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 17 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 17 | +0.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 17 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 17 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.5, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.8 | 3 | 18 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.1 | 3 | 17 | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.8 | 3 | 17 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.6 | 3 | 14 | 10 |
| 2000s | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.33 | 14 | 17 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 70 Armenia 17 compare
- 70 Benin 17 compare
- 70 Bhutan 17 compare
- 70 Bolivia 17 compare
- 70 Colombia 17 compare
- 70 Dominican Republic 17 compare
- 70 Georgia 17 compare
- 70 Guyana 17 compare
- 70 Honduras 17 compare
- 70 Liberia 17 compare
- 70 Malaysia 17 compare
- 70 Nepal 17 compare
- 70 Pakistan 17 compare
- 70 Senegal 17 compare
- 70 Sierra Leone 17 compare
- 70 Tunisia 17 compare
More social development data for Nigeria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 123,848 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (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 0.002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0005 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 Nigeria?
- Distribution of democracy index in Nigeria was 17 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 18 in 1960.
- What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 1966.
- How does Nigeria rank for distribution of democracy index?
- Nigeria ranks 70th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is distribution of democracy index rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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 — 59 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).