Key features of electoral democracy in Russia
Russia: Key features of electoral democracy was 0.17 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key features of electoral democracy in Russia, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Russia recorded 0.17 for key features of electoral democracy in 2025.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 35.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of electoral democracy in Russia peaked at 0.498 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0.016, in 1848.
Russia ranks 148th 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 electoral democracy in Russia, 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 | 0.234 | +33.0% |
| 1991 | 0.255 | +9.0% |
| 1992 | 0.498 | +95.3% |
| 1993 | 0.48 | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 0.477 | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.461 | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 0.456 | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 0.456 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.461 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 0.403 | -12.6% |
| 2001 | 0.374 | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 0.354 | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 0.339 | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 0.321 | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 0.32 | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 0.322 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 0.316 | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 0.302 | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 0.309 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 0.306 | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 0.299 | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 0.278 | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 0.276 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.264 | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 0.265 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 0.263 | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 0.261 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 0.264 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 0.259 | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 0.255 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 0.245 | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 0.206 | -15.9% |
| 2023 | 0.19 | -7.8% |
| 2024 | 0.171 | -10.0% |
| 2025 | 0.17 | -0.6% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 0.17 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.786, 22% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Russia's 0.17 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.737, 23% 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 | 0.4255 | 0.234 | 0.498 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.336 | 0.302 | 0.403 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2735 | 0.259 | 0.306 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2062 | 0.17 | 0.255 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More social development data for Russia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11,811 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 99,360 (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 0.0007 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 99,360 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 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 electoral democracy in Russia?
- Key features of electoral democracy in Russia was 0.17 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of electoral democracy recorded in Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.498 in 1992.
- What is the lowest key features of electoral democracy recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.016 in 1848.
- How does Russia rank for key features of electoral democracy?
- Russia ranks 148th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of electoral democracy rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key features of electoral democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.