What is key features of democracy in Somalia?

Key features of democracy in Somalia was 0.165 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.362 in 1961.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.029 in 1940.

How does Somalia rank for key features of democracy?

Somalia ranks 149th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is key features of democracy rising or falling in Somalia?

Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Somalia 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 Somalia

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

Somalia: Key features of democracy was 0.165 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.165

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

149th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.362

in 1961

All-time low

0.029

in 1940

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Key features of democracy in Somalia, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, key features of democracy in Somalia stood at 0.165.

The figure is up 1.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, key features of democracy in Somalia peaked at 0.362 in 1961 and was at its lowest, 0.029, in 1940.

That places Somalia 149th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Somalia, year by year

Annual values for Key features of democracy in Somalia, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.037	—
1901	0.037	+0.0%
1902	0.037	+0.0%
1903	0.037	+0.0%
1904	0.037	+0.0%
1905	0.037	+0.0%
1906	0.037	+0.0%
1907	0.037	+0.0%
1908	0.037	+0.0%
1909	0.037	+0.0%
1910	0.033	-10.8%
1911	0.033	+0.0%
1912	0.033	+0.0%
1913	0.033	+0.0%
1914	0.033	+0.0%
1915	0.033	+0.0%
1916	0.033	+0.0%
1917	0.033	+0.0%
1918	0.033	+0.0%
1919	0.033	+0.0%
1920	0.033	+0.0%
1921	0.033	+0.0%
1922	0.033	+0.0%
1923	0.033	+0.0%
1924	0.033	+0.0%
1925	0.033	+0.0%
1926	0.033	+0.0%
1927	0.033	+0.0%
1928	0.033	+0.0%
1929	0.033	+0.0%
1930	0.033	+0.0%
1931	0.033	+0.0%
1932	0.033	+0.0%
1933	0.033	+0.0%
1934	0.033	+0.0%
1935	0.033	+0.0%
1936	0.033	+0.0%
1937	0.033	+0.0%
1938	0.033	+0.0%
1939	0.033	+0.0%
1940	0.029	-12.1%
1941	0.04	+37.9%
1942	0.044	+10.0%
1943	0.044	+0.0%
1944	0.044	+0.0%
1945	0.043	-2.3%
1946	0.044	+2.3%
1947	0.049	+11.4%
1948	0.049	+0.0%
1949	0.049	+0.0%
1950	0.067	+36.7%
1951	0.071	+6.0%
1952	0.071	+0.0%
1953	0.071	+0.0%
1954	0.071	+0.0%
1955	0.084	+18.3%
1956	0.269	+220.2%
1957	0.269	+0.0%
1958	0.269	+0.0%
1959	0.268	-0.4%
1960	0.353	+31.7%
1961	0.362	+2.5%
1962	0.361	-0.3%
1963	0.361	+0.0%
1964	0.351	-2.8%
1965	0.339	-3.4%
1966	0.335	-1.2%
1967	0.335	+0.0%
1968	0.335	+0.0%
1969	0.21	-37.3%
1970	0.076	-63.8%
1971	0.076	+0.0%
1972	0.076	+0.0%
1973	0.076	+0.0%
1974	0.076	+0.0%
1975	0.076	+0.0%
1976	0.076	+0.0%
1977	0.076	+0.0%
1978	0.076	+0.0%
1979	0.075	-1.3%
1980	0.084	+12.0%
1981	0.144	+71.4%
1982	0.144	+0.0%
1983	0.144	+0.0%
1984	0.144	+0.0%
1985	0.142	-1.4%
1986	0.142	+0.0%
1987	0.143	+0.7%
1988	0.143	+0.0%
1989	0.143	+0.0%
1990	0.144	+0.7%
1991	0.132	-8.3%
1992	0.151	+14.4%
1993	0.156	+3.3%
1994	0.157	+0.6%
1995	0.158	+0.6%
1996	0.158	+0.0%
1997	0.158	+0.0%
1998	0.158	+0.0%
1999	0.158	+0.0%
2000	0.167	+5.7%
2001	0.166	-0.6%
2002	0.166	+0.0%
2003	0.166	+0.0%
2004	0.166	+0.0%
2005	0.171	+3.0%
2006	0.172	+0.6%
2007	0.172	+0.0%
2008	0.172	+0.0%
2009	0.172	+0.0%
2010	0.186	+8.1%
2011	0.19	+2.2%
2012	0.167	-12.1%
2013	0.162	-3.0%
2014	0.162	+0.0%
2015	0.162	+0.0%
2016	0.16	-1.2%
2017	0.167	+4.4%
2018	0.154	-7.8%
2019	0.148	-3.9%
2020	0.154	+4.1%
2021	0.161	+4.5%
2022	0.158	-1.9%
2023	0.167	+5.7%
2024	0.165	-1.2%
2025	0.165	+0.0%

Somalia compared with similar countries

Somalia's 0.165 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.227, 73% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Somalia's 0.165 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.317, 52% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.037	0.037	0.037	10
1910s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
1920s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
1930s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
1940s	0.0435	0.029	0.049	10
1950s	0.151	0.067	0.269	10
1960s	0.3342	0.21	0.362	10
1970s	0.0759	0.075	0.076	10
1980s	0.1373	0.084	0.144	10
1990s	0.153	0.132	0.158	10
2000s	0.169	0.166	0.172	10
2010s	0.1658	0.148	0.19	10
2020s	0.1617	0.154	0.167	6

Countries ranked near Somalia

146 Equatorial Guinea 0.172 compare
147 Azerbaijan 0.171 compare
148 Russia 0.17 compare
150 Mali 0.164 compare
151 Belarus 0.163 compare
152 Iran 0.159 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Somalia

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,967 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 892,037 (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 0.0454 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 892,037 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0011 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Somalia →

Frequently asked questions

What is key features of democracy in Somalia?: Key features of democracy in Somalia was 0.165 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest key features of democracy recorded in Somalia?: The highest recorded value was 0.362 in 1961.
What is the lowest key features of democracy recorded in Somalia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.029 in 1940.
How does Somalia rank for key features of democracy?: Somalia ranks 149th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is key features of democracy rising or falling in Somalia?: Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Somalia 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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Key features of democracy in Somalia. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 October 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/key-features-of-democracy/somalia-fed-rep/

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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: 18 September 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.