Key features of liberal democracy in Russia
Russia: Key features of liberal democracy was 0.056 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key features of liberal democracy in Russia, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Russia recorded 0.056 for key features of liberal democracy in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 48.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of liberal democracy in Russia peaked at 0.299 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0.014, in 1789.
That places Russia 158th 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 liberal democracy in Russia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.014 | — |
| 1790 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.015 | +7.1% |
| 1802 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.014 | -6.7% |
| 1823 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.015 | +7.1% |
| 1834 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.016 | +6.7% |
| 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 | 0.027 | +68.8% |
| 1856 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.031 | +14.8% |
| 1862 | 0.031 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.032 | +3.2% |
| 1864 | 0.068 | +112.5% |
| 1865 | 0.081 | +19.1% |
| 1866 | 0.091 | +12.3% |
| 1867 | 0.092 | +1.1% |
| 1868 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.092 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.093 | +1.1% |
| 1871 | 0.093 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.093 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.093 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.096 | +3.2% |
| 1875 | 0.096 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.096 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.096 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.055 | -42.7% |
| 1879 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.039 | -29.1% |
| 1882 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.04 | +2.6% |
| 1886 | 0.04 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.04 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.04 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.04 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.04 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.04 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.04 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.04 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.046 | +15.0% |
| 1895 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.045 | -2.2% |
| 1898 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.038 | -15.6% |
| 1901 | 0.039 | +2.6% |
| 1902 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.038 | -2.6% |
| 1906 | 0.06 | +57.9% |
| 1907 | 0.063 | +5.0% |
| 1908 | 0.071 | +12.7% |
| 1909 | 0.073 | +2.8% |
| 1910 | 0.072 | -1.4% |
| 1911 | 0.074 | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 0.074 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.074 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.072 | -2.7% |
| 1915 | 0.07 | -2.8% |
| 1916 | 0.069 | -1.4% |
| 1917 | 0.063 | -8.7% |
| 1918 | 0.028 | -55.6% |
| 1919 | 0.022 | -21.4% |
| 1920 | 0.021 | -4.5% |
| 1921 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.018 | -14.3% |
| 1925 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.017 | -5.6% |
| 1929 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.016 | -5.9% |
| 1934 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.017 | +6.3% |
| 1938 | 0.014 | -17.6% |
| 1939 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.015 | +7.1% |
| 1947 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.021 | +40.0% |
| 1955 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.022 | +4.8% |
| 1957 | 0.024 | +9.1% |
| 1958 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.023 | -4.2% |
| 1963 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.023 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.024 | +4.3% |
| 1971 | 0.025 | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.024 | -4.0% |
| 1978 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.025 | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 0.028 | +12.0% |
| 1981 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.027 | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.029 | +7.4% |
| 1986 | 0.037 | +27.6% |
| 1987 | 0.041 | +10.8% |
| 1988 | 0.043 | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 0.064 | +48.8% |
| 1990 | 0.096 | +50.0% |
| 1991 | 0.129 | +34.4% |
| 1992 | 0.299 | +131.8% |
| 1993 | 0.294 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 0.293 | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 0.297 | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 0.29 | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 0.284 | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 0.282 | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 0.284 | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 0.223 | -21.5% |
| 2001 | 0.201 | -9.9% |
| 2002 | 0.175 | -12.9% |
| 2003 | 0.165 | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 0.153 | -7.3% |
| 2005 | 0.149 | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 0.15 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 0.146 | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 0.139 | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 0.141 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 0.135 | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 0.134 | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.122 | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 0.116 | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 0.109 | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 0.109 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.106 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 0.107 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 0.107 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.105 | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 0.097 | -7.6% |
| 2021 | 0.094 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 0.07 | -25.5% |
| 2023 | 0.065 | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 0.057 | -12.3% |
| 2025 | 0.056 | -1.8% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 0.056 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.689, 8% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Russia's 0.056 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.591, 9% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.014 | 0.014 | 0.014 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.014 | 0.014 | 0.014 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.0149 | 0.014 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.0142 | 0.014 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.0147 | 0.014 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.0152 | 0.015 | 0.016 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.0215 | 0.016 | 0.027 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.0637 | 0.027 | 0.092 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.0866 | 0.055 | 0.096 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.0411 | 0.039 | 0.055 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.0433 | 0.04 | 0.046 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.0499 | 0.038 | 0.073 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.0618 | 0.022 | 0.074 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.019 | 0.017 | 0.021 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.016 | 0.014 | 0.017 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0144 | 0.014 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.0196 | 0.015 | 0.024 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0232 | 0.023 | 0.024 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0247 | 0.024 | 0.025 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0352 | 0.027 | 0.064 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2548 | 0.096 | 0.299 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1642 | 0.139 | 0.223 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.115 | 0.105 | 0.135 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0732 | 0.056 | 0.097 | 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 liberal democracy in Russia?
- Key features of liberal democracy in Russia was 0.056 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of liberal democracy recorded in Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.299 in 1992.
- What is the lowest key features of liberal democracy recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.014 in 1789.
- How does Russia rank for key features of liberal democracy?
- Russia ranks 158th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of liberal democracy rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.6%. 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 liberal democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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.