Key features of liberal democracy in Germany
Germany: Key features of liberal democracy was 0.782 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key features of liberal democracy in Germany, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Germany recorded 0.782 for key features of liberal democracy in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of liberal democracy in Germany peaked at 0.864 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.011, in 1939.
That places Germany 15th 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.
Key features of liberal democracy in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.063 | — |
| 1790 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.066 | +4.8% |
| 1809 | 0.068 | +3.0% |
| 1810 | 0.068 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.068 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.068 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.068 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.068 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.069 | +1.5% |
| 1816 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.13 | +88.4% |
| 1849 | 0.138 | +6.2% |
| 1850 | 0.135 | -2.2% |
| 1851 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.167 | +23.7% |
| 1862 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.178 | +6.6% |
| 1868 | 0.181 | +1.7% |
| 1869 | 0.182 | +0.6% |
| 1870 | 0.182 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.218 | +19.8% |
| 1872 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.219 | +0.5% |
| 1878 | 0.218 | -0.5% |
| 1879 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.219 | +0.5% |
| 1886 | 0.219 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.218 | -0.5% |
| 1888 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.218 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.22 | +0.9% |
| 1891 | 0.221 | +0.5% |
| 1892 | 0.221 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.221 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.221 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.221 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.221 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.221 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.221 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.221 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.223 | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 0.224 | +0.4% |
| 1902 | 0.223 | -0.4% |
| 1903 | 0.227 | +1.8% |
| 1904 | 0.23 | +1.3% |
| 1905 | 0.23 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.229 | -0.4% |
| 1907 | 0.23 | +0.4% |
| 1908 | 0.229 | -0.4% |
| 1909 | 0.23 | +0.4% |
| 1910 | 0.23 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.23 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.23 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.23 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.219 | -4.8% |
| 1915 | 0.215 | -1.8% |
| 1916 | 0.214 | -0.5% |
| 1917 | 0.215 | +0.5% |
| 1918 | 0.224 | +4.2% |
| 1919 | 0.456 | +103.6% |
| 1920 | 0.506 | +11.0% |
| 1921 | 0.515 | +1.8% |
| 1922 | 0.511 | -0.8% |
| 1923 | 0.503 | -1.6% |
| 1924 | 0.491 | -2.4% |
| 1925 | 0.482 | -1.8% |
| 1926 | 0.49 | +1.7% |
| 1927 | 0.49 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.487 | -0.6% |
| 1929 | 0.488 | +0.2% |
| 1930 | 0.471 | -3.5% |
| 1931 | 0.457 | -3.0% |
| 1932 | 0.434 | -5.0% |
| 1933 | 0.059 | -86.4% |
| 1934 | 0.017 | -71.2% |
| 1935 | 0.013 | -23.5% |
| 1936 | 0.014 | +7.7% |
| 1937 | 0.013 | -7.1% |
| 1938 | 0.014 | +7.7% |
| 1939 | 0.011 | -21.4% |
| 1940 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.011 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.853 | +7654.5% |
| 1992 | 0.853 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.853 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.853 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.853 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.854 | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 0.854 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.856 | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 0.86 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 0.86 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.86 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.859 | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 0.857 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 0.857 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.859 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 0.864 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 0.864 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.864 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.862 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 0.862 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.864 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 0.863 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 0.853 | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 0.845 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 0.845 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.848 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 0.842 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 0.834 | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 0.831 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 0.821 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 0.814 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 0.806 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 0.812 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 0.778 | -4.2% |
| 2025 | 0.782 | +0.5% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 0.782 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.689, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Germany's 0.782 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.591, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.063 | 0.063 | 0.063 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.063 | 0.063 | 0.063 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.0638 | 0.063 | 0.068 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.0685 | 0.068 | 0.069 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.069 | 0.069 | 0.069 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.069 | 0.069 | 0.069 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.082 | 0.069 | 0.138 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.135 | 0.135 | 0.135 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.1678 | 0.135 | 0.182 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.2145 | 0.182 | 0.219 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.2182 | 0.218 | 0.219 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.2209 | 0.22 | 0.221 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.2275 | 0.223 | 0.23 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.2463 | 0.214 | 0.456 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.4963 | 0.482 | 0.515 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1503 | 0.011 | 0.471 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.011 | 0.011 | 0.011 | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.8543 | 0.853 | 0.86 | 9 |
| 2000s | 0.8606 | 0.857 | 0.864 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8487 | 0.831 | 0.864 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8022 | 0.778 | 0.821 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 12 Australia 0.793 compare
- 13 Uruguay 0.79 compare
- 14 New Zealand 0.787 compare
- 16 Chile 0.781 compare
- 17 Luxembourg 0.777 compare
- 18 Netherlands 0.774 compare
More social development data for Germany
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.66 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 327 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 0.0318 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 liberal democracy in Germany?
- Key features of liberal democracy in Germany was 0.782 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of liberal democracy recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 0.864 in 2006.
- What is the lowest key features of liberal democracy recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.011 in 1939.
- How does Germany rank for key features of liberal democracy?
- Germany ranks 15th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of liberal democracy rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key features of liberal democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 191 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent of suffrage, the freedom and fairness of elections, freedoms of association and expression, individual and minority rights, equality before the law, and executive constraints.