Key features of democracy in Burundi
Burundi: Key features of democracy was 0.185 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.185
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
141st
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.418
in 2006
All-time low
0.018
in 1920
Years of data
110
1916–2025
Key features of democracy in Burundi, 1916–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key features of democracy in Burundi is 0.185, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of democracy in Burundi peaked at 0.418 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.018, in 1920.
Burundi ranks 141st of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Key features of democracy in Burundi, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1916 | 0.019 | — |
| 1917 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.018 | -5.3% |
| 1921 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.02 | +11.1% |
| 1927 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.02 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.023 | +15.0% |
| 1941 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.038 | +65.2% |
| 1954 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.044 | +15.8% |
| 1958 | 0.053 | +20.5% |
| 1959 | 0.065 | +22.6% |
| 1960 | 0.108 | +66.2% |
| 1961 | 0.127 | +17.6% |
| 1962 | 0.19 | +49.6% |
| 1963 | 0.195 | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 0.195 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.181 | -7.2% |
| 1966 | 0.123 | -32.0% |
| 1967 | 0.086 | -30.1% |
| 1968 | 0.086 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.083 | -3.5% |
| 1970 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.083 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.08 | -3.6% |
| 1977 | 0.082 | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 0.082 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.082 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.084 | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 0.09 | +7.1% |
| 1982 | 0.137 | +52.2% |
| 1983 | 0.136 | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 0.136 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.193 | +41.9% |
| 1986 | 0.193 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.159 | -17.6% |
| 1988 | 0.088 | -44.7% |
| 1989 | 0.088 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.089 | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 0.089 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.165 | +85.4% |
| 1993 | 0.277 | +67.9% |
| 1994 | 0.237 | -14.4% |
| 1995 | 0.253 | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 0.224 | -11.5% |
| 1997 | 0.188 | -16.1% |
| 1998 | 0.183 | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 0.185 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 0.187 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 0.188 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 0.202 | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 0.209 | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 0.208 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 0.299 | +43.8% |
| 2006 | 0.418 | +39.8% |
| 2007 | 0.413 | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 0.405 | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 0.397 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 0.323 | -18.6% |
| 2011 | 0.287 | -11.1% |
| 2012 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.278 | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 0.27 | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 0.196 | -27.4% |
| 2016 | 0.166 | -15.3% |
| 2017 | 0.157 | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 0.157 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.159 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 0.168 | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 0.181 | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 0.189 | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 0.186 | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 0.178 | -4.3% |
| 2025 | 0.185 | +3.9% |
Burundi compared with similar countries
- Burundi's 0.185 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.227, 81% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burundi's 0.185 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.317, 58% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Key features of democracy in Burundi changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +85.4% | 0.089 | 0.165 |
| 1993 | +67.9% | 0.165 | 0.277 |
| 1960 | +66.2% | 0.065 | 0.108 |
| 1953 | +65.2% | 0.023 | 0.038 |
| 1982 | +52.2% | 0.09 | 0.137 |
| 1962 | +49.6% | 0.127 | 0.19 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0.019 | 0.019 | 0.019 | 4 |
| 1920s | 0.0188 | 0.018 | 0.02 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.023 | 0.023 | 0.023 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.0383 | 0.023 | 0.065 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1374 | 0.083 | 0.195 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0824 | 0.08 | 0.083 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1304 | 0.084 | 0.193 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.189 | 0.089 | 0.277 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2926 | 0.187 | 0.418 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.228 | 0.157 | 0.323 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1812 | 0.168 | 0.189 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Burundi
More social development data for Burundi
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 110,800 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 318,291 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0221 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 318,291 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0077 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 key features of democracy in Burundi?
- Key features of democracy in Burundi was 0.185 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of democracy recorded in Burundi?
- The highest recorded value was 0.418 in 2006.
- What is the lowest key features of democracy recorded in Burundi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.018 in 1920.
- How does Burundi rank for key features of democracy?
- Burundi ranks 141st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of democracy rising or falling in Burundi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Burundi 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 — 110 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.