What is key features of democracy in Sweden?

Key features of democracy in Sweden 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 Sweden?

The highest recorded value was 0.917 in 2012.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.187 in 1789.

How does Sweden rank for key features of democracy?

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

Is key features of democracy rising or falling in Sweden?

Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Sweden 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 Sweden

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

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

Latest (2025)

0.889

Change on year

up 0.9%

World rank

3rd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.917

in 2012

All-time low

0.187

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Key features of democracy in Sweden, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

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

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, key features of democracy in Sweden peaked at 0.917 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.187, in 1789.

That places Sweden 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	0.187	0.187	0.187	1
1790s	0.1898	0.187	0.208	10
1800s	0.1952	0.188	0.26	10
1810s	0.261	0.256	0.269	10
1820s	0.2708	0.27	0.272	10
1830s	0.2748	0.274	0.276	10
1840s	0.3065	0.305	0.308	10
1850s	0.3078	0.307	0.309	10
1860s	0.3095	0.307	0.313	10
1870s	0.3133	0.313	0.314	10
1880s	0.3135	0.313	0.314	10
1890s	0.3147	0.314	0.315	10
1900s	0.3129	0.31	0.322	10
1910s	0.3682	0.324	0.484	10
1920s	0.661	0.487	0.704	10
1930s	0.7	0.685	0.711	10
1940s	0.7107	0.673	0.766	10
1950s	0.7719	0.77	0.773	10
1960s	0.7756	0.775	0.776	10
1970s	0.8891	0.775	0.907	10
1980s	0.9074	0.907	0.909	10
1990s	0.9115	0.909	0.913	10
2000s	0.9115	0.909	0.914	10
2010s	0.9126	0.899	0.917	10
2020s	0.891	0.881	0.901	6

Countries ranked near Sweden

1 Denmark 0.913 compare
2 Norway 0.89 compare
3 Belgium 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 Sweden

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 144,116 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 128 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Public Sector Corruption Index 0.019 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.946 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.931 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.889 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.635 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.853 (2025)

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is key features of democracy in Sweden?: Key features of democracy in Sweden 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 Sweden?: The highest recorded value was 0.917 in 2012.
What is the lowest key features of democracy recorded in Sweden?: The lowest recorded value was 0.187 in 1789.
How does Sweden rank for key features of democracy?: Sweden ranks 3rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is key features of democracy rising or falling in Sweden?: Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sweden 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.