What is key features of democracy in Belgium?

Key features of democracy in Belgium was 0.889 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest key features of democracy recorded in Belgium?

The highest recorded value was 0.902 in 2013.

What is the lowest key features of democracy recorded in Belgium?

The lowest recorded value was 0.035 in 1794.

How does Belgium rank for key features of democracy?

Belgium ranks 3rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is key features of democracy rising or falling in Belgium?

Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Belgium data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key features of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Key features of democracy in Belgium

Name: Key features of democracy in Belgium
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Belgium: Key features of democracy was 0.889 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.889

Change on year

down 0.2%

World rank

3rd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.902

in 2013

All-time low

0.035

in 1794

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Key features of democracy in Belgium, 1789–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for key features of democracy in Belgium is 0.889, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, key features of democracy in Belgium peaked at 0.902 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.035, in 1794.

That places Belgium 3rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.047	0.047	0.047	1
1790s	0.1336	0.035	0.269	10
1800s	0.118	0.118	0.118	10
1810s	0.0998	0.043	0.118	10
1820s	0.098	0.098	0.098	10
1830s	0.2588	0.188	0.272	10
1840s	0.3257	0.314	0.337	10
1850s	0.3381	0.337	0.339	10
1860s	0.3391	0.338	0.344	10
1870s	0.3483	0.344	0.365	10
1880s	0.3603	0.352	0.366	10
1890s	0.4394	0.351	0.498	10
1900s	0.5079	0.505	0.51	10
1910s	0.3235	0.156	0.511	10
1920s	0.4933	0.364	0.51	10
1930s	0.504	0.502	0.507	10
1940s	0.3255	0.122	0.7	10
1950s	0.7286	0.72	0.733	10
1960s	0.8422	0.836	0.846	10
1970s	0.8511	0.846	0.854	10
1980s	0.8595	0.854	0.866	10
1990s	0.8787	0.869	0.883	10
2000s	0.8863	0.864	0.899	10
2010s	0.9007	0.9	0.902	10
2020s	0.894	0.889	0.897	6

Countries ranked near Belgium

1 Denmark 0.913 compare
2 Norway 0.89 compare
3 Sweden 0.889 compare
5 Estonia 0.887 compare
5 Ireland 0.887 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Belgium

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 186,393 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 113 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Public Sector Corruption Index 0.033 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.969 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.896 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.889 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.633 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.794 (2025)

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is key features of democracy in Belgium?: Key features of democracy in Belgium was 0.889 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest key features of democracy recorded in Belgium?: The highest recorded value was 0.902 in 2013.
What is the lowest key features of democracy recorded in Belgium?: The lowest recorded value was 0.035 in 1794.
How does Belgium rank for key features of democracy?: Belgium ranks 3rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is key features of democracy rising or falling in Belgium?: Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Belgium data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key features of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Key features of democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,649 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.