Key features of democracy in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan: Key features of democracy was 0.259 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key features of democracy in Kazakhstan, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, key features of democracy in Kazakhstan stood at 0.259.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of democracy in Kazakhstan peaked at 0.303 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0.016, in 1848.
Kazakhstan ranks 125th 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.
Key features of democracy in Kazakhstan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.029 | — |
| 1790 | 0.019 | -34.5% |
| 1791 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.019 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.018 | -5.3% |
| 1827 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.016 | -11.1% |
| 1849 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.026 | +62.5% |
| 1856 | 0.029 | +11.5% |
| 1857 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.035 | +20.7% |
| 1866 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.032 | -8.6% |
| 1874 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.035 | +9.4% |
| 1883 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.037 | +5.7% |
| 1894 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.033 | -10.8% |
| 1899 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.048 | +45.5% |
| 1901 | 0.047 | -2.1% |
| 1902 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.048 | +2.1% |
| 1905 | 0.067 | +39.6% |
| 1906 | 0.108 | +61.2% |
| 1907 | 0.109 | +0.9% |
| 1908 | 0.107 | -1.8% |
| 1909 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.108 | +0.9% |
| 1913 | 0.108 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.106 | -1.9% |
| 1915 | 0.105 | -0.9% |
| 1916 | 0.105 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.098 | -6.7% |
| 1918 | 0.126 | +28.6% |
| 1919 | 0.114 | -9.5% |
| 1920 | 0.114 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.111 | -2.6% |
| 1922 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.114 | +2.7% |
| 1924 | 0.114 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.112 | -1.8% |
| 1926 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.111 | -0.9% |
| 1930 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.116 | +4.5% |
| 1938 | 0.096 | -17.2% |
| 1939 | 0.096 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.096 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.093 | -3.1% |
| 1942 | 0.093 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.093 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.093 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.093 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.1 | +7.5% |
| 1947 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.099 | -1.0% |
| 1949 | 0.099 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.102 | +3.0% |
| 1951 | 0.103 | +1.0% |
| 1952 | 0.103 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.103 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.105 | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 0.105 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.105 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.105 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.106 | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.106 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.095 | -10.4% |
| 1963 | 0.092 | -3.2% |
| 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 | 0.101 | +9.8% |
| 1971 | 0.109 | +7.9% |
| 1972 | 0.108 | -0.9% |
| 1973 | 0.108 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.107 | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.106 | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 0.109 | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 0.117 | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 0.144 | +23.1% |
| 1988 | 0.145 | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 0.176 | +21.4% |
| 1990 | 0.247 | +40.3% |
| 1991 | 0.289 | +17.0% |
| 1992 | 0.303 | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 0.302 | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 0.303 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 0.288 | -5.0% |
| 1996 | 0.283 | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 0.295 | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 0.284 | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 0.268 | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 0.27 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 0.255 | -5.6% |
| 2002 | 0.252 | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 0.247 | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 0.246 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 0.239 | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 0.242 | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 0.24 | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 0.241 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 0.242 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 0.236 | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 0.233 | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 0.232 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 0.229 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 0.23 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 0.234 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 0.242 | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 0.235 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 0.232 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 0.236 | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 0.241 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.253 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 0.265 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 0.269 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 0.267 | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 0.259 | -3.0% |
Kazakhstan compared with similar countries
- Kazakhstan's 0.259 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.491, 53% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Kazakhstan's 0.259 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.737, 35% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.029 | 0.029 | 0.029 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.019 | 0.019 | 0.019 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.019 | 0.019 | 0.019 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.019 | 0.019 | 0.019 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.0186 | 0.018 | 0.019 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.018 | 0.018 | 0.018 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.0176 | 0.016 | 0.018 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.0222 | 0.016 | 0.029 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.032 | 0.029 | 0.035 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.0329 | 0.032 | 0.035 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.0344 | 0.032 | 0.035 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.0356 | 0.033 | 0.037 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.0735 | 0.047 | 0.109 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.1084 | 0.098 | 0.126 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.1123 | 0.111 | 0.114 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1085 | 0.096 | 0.116 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0959 | 0.093 | 0.1 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1043 | 0.102 | 0.106 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0951 | 0.092 | 0.106 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1068 | 0.101 | 0.109 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1225 | 0.106 | 0.176 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2862 | 0.247 | 0.303 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2474 | 0.239 | 0.27 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2339 | 0.229 | 0.242 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.259 | 0.241 | 0.269 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kazakhstan
More social development data for Kazakhstan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,377 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,144 (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 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,144 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key features of democracy in Kazakhstan?
- Key features of democracy in Kazakhstan was 0.259 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of democracy recorded in Kazakhstan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.303 in 1992.
- What is the lowest key features of democracy recorded in Kazakhstan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.016 in 1848.
- How does Kazakhstan rank for key features of democracy?
- Kazakhstan ranks 125th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of democracy rising or falling in Kazakhstan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kazakhstan 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.
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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.