Key features of electoral democracy in Thailand
Thailand: Key features of electoral democracy was 0.424 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key features of electoral democracy in Thailand, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, key features of electoral democracy in Thailand stood at 0.424.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 165.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of electoral democracy in Thailand peaked at 0.55 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.022, in 1880.
Thailand ranks 96th 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 electoral democracy in Thailand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.025 | — |
| 1790 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.026 | +4.0% |
| 1831 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.023 | -11.5% |
| 1879 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.022 | -4.3% |
| 1881 | 0.022 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.022 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.022 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.023 | +4.5% |
| 1885 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.024 | +4.3% |
| 1911 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.028 | +16.7% |
| 1917 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.027 | -3.6% |
| 1933 | 0.108 | +300.0% |
| 1934 | 0.131 | +21.3% |
| 1935 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.133 | +1.5% |
| 1937 | 0.149 | +12.0% |
| 1938 | 0.152 | +2.0% |
| 1939 | 0.151 | -0.7% |
| 1940 | 0.148 | -2.0% |
| 1941 | 0.155 | +4.7% |
| 1942 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.162 | +4.5% |
| 1946 | 0.172 | +6.2% |
| 1947 | 0.143 | -16.9% |
| 1948 | 0.13 | -9.1% |
| 1949 | 0.13 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.131 | +0.8% |
| 1951 | 0.129 | -1.5% |
| 1952 | 0.118 | -8.5% |
| 1953 | 0.121 | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 0.123 | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 0.133 | +8.1% |
| 1956 | 0.137 | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 0.142 | +3.6% |
| 1958 | 0.127 | -10.6% |
| 1959 | 0.108 | -15.0% |
| 1960 | 0.112 | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.114 | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 0.126 | +10.5% |
| 1969 | 0.15 | +19.0% |
| 1970 | 0.154 | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 0.148 | -3.9% |
| 1972 | 0.114 | -23.0% |
| 1973 | 0.127 | +11.4% |
| 1974 | 0.177 | +39.4% |
| 1975 | 0.271 | +53.1% |
| 1976 | 0.231 | -14.8% |
| 1977 | 0.124 | -46.3% |
| 1978 | 0.125 | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 0.142 | +13.6% |
| 1980 | 0.25 | +76.1% |
| 1981 | 0.288 | +15.2% |
| 1982 | 0.292 | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 0.316 | +8.2% |
| 1984 | 0.326 | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 0.327 | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 0.322 | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 0.327 | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 0.345 | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 0.363 | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 0.371 | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 0.209 | -43.7% |
| 1992 | 0.271 | +29.7% |
| 1993 | 0.405 | +49.4% |
| 1994 | 0.404 | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 0.412 | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 0.394 | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 0.476 | +20.8% |
| 1998 | 0.507 | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 0.507 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.501 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 0.55 | +9.8% |
| 2002 | 0.547 | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 0.537 | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 0.53 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 0.507 | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 0.227 | -55.2% |
| 2007 | 0.181 | -20.3% |
| 2008 | 0.402 | +122.1% |
| 2009 | 0.418 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 0.411 | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 0.462 | +12.4% |
| 2012 | 0.493 | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 0.446 | -9.5% |
| 2014 | 0.162 | -63.7% |
| 2015 | 0.16 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 0.16 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.154 | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 0.17 | +10.4% |
| 2019 | 0.208 | +22.4% |
| 2020 | 0.201 | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 0.208 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 0.216 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 0.295 | +36.6% |
| 2024 | 0.41 | +39.0% |
| 2025 | 0.424 | +3.4% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 0.424 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.491, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 0.424 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.4645, 91% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.025 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.026 | 0.026 | 0.026 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.026 | 0.026 | 0.026 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.026 | 0.026 | 0.026 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.026 | 0.026 | 0.026 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.0254 | 0.023 | 0.026 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.0226 | 0.022 | 0.023 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.023 | 0.023 | 0.023 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.023 | 0.023 | 0.023 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.0256 | 0.024 | 0.028 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.028 | 0.028 | 0.028 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1038 | 0.027 | 0.152 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1505 | 0.13 | 0.172 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1269 | 0.108 | 0.142 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1174 | 0.112 | 0.15 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1613 | 0.114 | 0.271 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3156 | 0.25 | 0.363 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3956 | 0.209 | 0.507 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.44 | 0.181 | 0.55 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2826 | 0.154 | 0.493 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2923 | 0.201 | 0.424 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More social development data for Thailand
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 84,017 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 327 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 327 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0012 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 Thailand?
- Key features of electoral democracy in Thailand was 0.424 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of electoral democracy recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 0.55 in 2001.
- What is the lowest key features of electoral democracy recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.022 in 1880.
- How does Thailand rank for key features of electoral democracy?
- Thailand ranks 96th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of electoral democracy rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 165.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.