Electoral Democracy Index in Nepal
Nepal: Electoral Democracy Index was 0.656 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Electoral Democracy Index in Nepal, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, electoral democracy index in Nepal stood at 0.656.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electoral democracy index in Nepal peaked at 0.685 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.006, in 1846.
Nepal ranks 61st of 176 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.
Electoral Democracy Index in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.007 | — |
| 1790 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.006 | -14.3% |
| 1847 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.006 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.01 | +66.7% |
| 1901 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.009 | -10.0% |
| 1921 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.01 | +11.1% |
| 1933 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.01 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.013 | +30.0% |
| 1946 | 0.013 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.014 | +7.7% |
| 1948 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.027 | +92.9% |
| 1951 | 0.054 | +100.0% |
| 1952 | 0.141 | +161.1% |
| 1953 | 0.141 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.141 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.141 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.141 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.141 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.143 | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 0.207 | +44.8% |
| 1960 | 0.199 | -3.9% |
| 1961 | 0.101 | -49.2% |
| 1962 | 0.092 | -8.9% |
| 1963 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.094 | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 0.094 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.094 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.094 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.094 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.094 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.094 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.094 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.094 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.098 | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 0.106 | +8.2% |
| 1982 | 0.11 | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.11 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.112 | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.258 | +130.4% |
| 1991 | 0.383 | +48.4% |
| 1992 | 0.407 | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 0.407 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.407 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.405 | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 0.398 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 0.395 | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 0.395 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.388 | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 0.36 | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 0.352 | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 0.271 | -23.0% |
| 2003 | 0.224 | -17.3% |
| 2004 | 0.224 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.222 | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 0.23 | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 0.274 | +19.1% |
| 2008 | 0.478 | +74.5% |
| 2009 | 0.56 | +17.2% |
| 2010 | 0.554 | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 0.556 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 0.39 | -29.9% |
| 2013 | 0.28 | -28.2% |
| 2014 | 0.625 | +123.2% |
| 2015 | 0.643 | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 0.665 | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 0.66 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 0.633 | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 0.606 | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 0.598 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 0.609 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 0.631 | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 0.685 | +8.6% |
| 2024 | 0.669 | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 0.656 | -1.9% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 0.656 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.3475, 1.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 0.656 is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.561, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.0066 | 0.006 | 0.007 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.006 | 0.006 | 0.006 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.006 | 0.006 | 0.006 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.006 | 0.006 | 0.006 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.006 | 0.006 | 0.006 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.006 | 0.006 | 0.006 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.009 | 0.009 | 0.009 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0098 | 0.009 | 0.01 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0118 | 0.01 | 0.014 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1277 | 0.027 | 0.207 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1036 | 0.092 | 0.199 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0938 | 0.092 | 0.094 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1092 | 0.098 | 0.112 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3843 | 0.258 | 0.407 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3195 | 0.222 | 0.56 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5612 | 0.28 | 0.665 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6413 | 0.598 | 0.685 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More social development data for Nepal
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,613 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,019 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (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 8,019 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0007 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 electoral democracy index in Nepal?
- Electoral democracy index in Nepal was 0.656 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electoral democracy index recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 0.685 in 2023.
- What is the lowest electoral democracy index recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.006 in 1846.
- How does Nepal rank for electoral democracy index?
- Nepal ranks 61st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electoral democracy index rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Electoral Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.