Key features of liberal democracy in Syria
Syria: Key features of liberal democracy was 0.054 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key features of liberal democracy in Syria, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, key features of liberal democracy in Syria stood at 0.054.
That represents a change of up 116.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of liberal democracy in Syria peaked at 0.202 in 1948 and was at its lowest, 0.024, in 2013.
Syria ranks 159th 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 liberal democracy in Syria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.03 | — |
| 1790 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.029 | -3.3% |
| 1809 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.06 | +106.9% |
| 1832 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.044 | -26.7% |
| 1841 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.045 | +2.3% |
| 1858 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.046 | +2.2% |
| 1861 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.055 | +19.6% |
| 1869 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.073 | +32.7% |
| 1877 | 0.058 | -20.5% |
| 1878 | 0.038 | -34.5% |
| 1879 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.033 | -13.2% |
| 1881 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.034 | +3.0% |
| 1891 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.035 | +2.9% |
| 1899 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.036 | +2.9% |
| 1908 | 0.065 | +80.6% |
| 1909 | 0.113 | +73.8% |
| 1910 | 0.108 | -4.4% |
| 1911 | 0.103 | -4.6% |
| 1912 | 0.098 | -4.9% |
| 1913 | 0.064 | -34.7% |
| 1914 | 0.059 | -7.8% |
| 1915 | 0.051 | -13.6% |
| 1916 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.097 | +90.2% |
| 1919 | 0.134 | +38.1% |
| 1922 | 0.051 | -61.9% |
| 1923 | 0.052 | +2.0% |
| 1924 | 0.052 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.051 | -1.9% |
| 1926 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.072 | +41.2% |
| 1929 | 0.057 | -20.8% |
| 1930 | 0.068 | +19.3% |
| 1931 | 0.069 | +1.5% |
| 1932 | 0.088 | +27.5% |
| 1933 | 0.097 | +10.2% |
| 1934 | 0.069 | -28.9% |
| 1935 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.072 | +4.3% |
| 1937 | 0.097 | +34.7% |
| 1938 | 0.096 | -1.0% |
| 1939 | 0.062 | -35.4% |
| 1940 | 0.061 | -1.6% |
| 1941 | 0.061 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.062 | +1.6% |
| 1943 | 0.072 | +16.1% |
| 1944 | 0.088 | +22.2% |
| 1945 | 0.088 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.076 | -13.6% |
| 1947 | 0.148 | +94.7% |
| 1948 | 0.202 | +36.5% |
| 1949 | 0.169 | -16.3% |
| 1950 | 0.171 | +1.2% |
| 1951 | 0.156 | -8.8% |
| 1952 | 0.103 | -34.0% |
| 1953 | 0.11 | +6.8% |
| 1954 | 0.139 | +26.4% |
| 1955 | 0.198 | +42.4% |
| 1956 | 0.198 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.198 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.092 | -53.5% |
| 1959 | 0.064 | -30.4% |
| 1960 | 0.061 | -4.7% |
| 1961 | 0.068 | +11.5% |
| 1962 | 0.156 | +129.4% |
| 1963 | 0.106 | -32.1% |
| 1964 | 0.063 | -40.6% |
| 1965 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.048 | -23.8% |
| 1967 | 0.045 | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.043 | -4.4% |
| 1970 | 0.027 | -37.2% |
| 1971 | 0.038 | +40.7% |
| 1972 | 0.04 | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 0.038 | -5.0% |
| 1974 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.037 | -2.6% |
| 1976 | 0.038 | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.037 | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.035 | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.037 | +5.7% |
| 1984 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.035 | -5.4% |
| 1988 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.035 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.037 | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.038 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.051 | +34.2% |
| 2001 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.05 | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 0.049 | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 0.05 | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 0.05 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.05 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.05 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.05 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.049 | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 0.038 | -22.4% |
| 2012 | 0.031 | -18.4% |
| 2013 | 0.024 | -22.6% |
| 2014 | 0.024 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.025 | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.026 | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 0.031 | +19.2% |
| 2021 | 0.033 | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 0.031 | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 0.044 | +41.9% |
| 2024 | 0.054 | +22.7% |
| 2025 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 0.054 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.102, 53% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 0.054 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.118, 46% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.0298 | 0.029 | 0.03 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.029 | 0.029 | 0.029 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.029 | 0.029 | 0.029 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.0569 | 0.029 | 0.06 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.044 | 0.044 | 0.044 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.0443 | 0.044 | 0.045 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.0478 | 0.046 | 0.055 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.0537 | 0.038 | 0.073 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.033 | 0.033 | 0.033 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.0342 | 0.034 | 0.035 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.0459 | 0.035 | 0.113 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.0816 | 0.051 | 0.134 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.0546 | 0.051 | 0.072 | 8 |
| 1930s | 0.0787 | 0.062 | 0.097 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1027 | 0.061 | 0.202 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1429 | 0.064 | 0.198 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0698 | 0.043 | 0.156 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0368 | 0.027 | 0.04 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0358 | 0.035 | 0.037 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0372 | 0.037 | 0.038 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0502 | 0.049 | 0.051 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0292 | 0.024 | 0.049 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0412 | 0.031 | 0.054 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 156 Burundi 0.06 compare
- 157 Cuba 0.057 compare
- 158 Russia 0.056 compare
- 160 Azerbaijan 0.053 compare
- 161 Cambodia 0.051 compare
- 162 Equatorial Guinea 0.047 compare
- 162 Saudi Arabia 0.047 compare
More social development data for Syria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 9,885 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4.87 million (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 0.1899 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4.87 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0004 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key features of liberal democracy in Syria?
- Key features of liberal democracy in Syria was 0.054 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of liberal democracy recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 0.202 in 1948.
- What is the lowest key features of liberal democracy recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.024 in 2013.
- How does Syria rank for key features of liberal democracy?
- Syria ranks 159th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of liberal democracy rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 116.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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.
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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.