Key features of liberal democracy in Uruguay
Uruguay: Key features of liberal democracy was 0.79 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key features of liberal democracy in Uruguay, 1825–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, key features of liberal democracy in Uruguay stood at 0.79.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of liberal democracy in Uruguay peaked at 0.847 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.042, in 1977.
That places Uruguay 13th 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 Uruguay, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1825 | 0.064 | — |
| 1826 | 0.064 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.064 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.065 | +1.6% |
| 1829 | 0.065 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.143 | +120.0% |
| 1831 | 0.16 | +11.9% |
| 1832 | 0.16 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.161 | +0.6% |
| 1834 | 0.169 | +5.0% |
| 1835 | 0.193 | +14.2% |
| 1836 | 0.193 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.198 | +2.6% |
| 1838 | 0.18 | -9.1% |
| 1839 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.176 | -2.2% |
| 1841 | 0.174 | -1.1% |
| 1842 | 0.179 | +2.9% |
| 1843 | 0.177 | -1.1% |
| 1844 | 0.179 | +1.1% |
| 1845 | 0.153 | -14.5% |
| 1846 | 0.12 | -21.6% |
| 1847 | 0.103 | -14.2% |
| 1848 | 0.103 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.103 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.103 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.128 | +24.3% |
| 1852 | 0.24 | +87.5% |
| 1853 | 0.229 | -4.6% |
| 1854 | 0.228 | -0.4% |
| 1855 | 0.185 | -18.9% |
| 1856 | 0.224 | +21.1% |
| 1857 | 0.229 | +2.2% |
| 1858 | 0.23 | +0.4% |
| 1859 | 0.228 | -0.9% |
| 1860 | 0.284 | +24.6% |
| 1861 | 0.303 | +6.7% |
| 1862 | 0.303 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.303 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.303 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.131 | -56.8% |
| 1866 | 0.129 | -1.5% |
| 1867 | 0.129 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.249 | +93.0% |
| 1869 | 0.255 | +2.4% |
| 1870 | 0.269 | +5.5% |
| 1871 | 0.269 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.278 | +3.3% |
| 1873 | 0.303 | +9.0% |
| 1874 | 0.303 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.303 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.14 | -53.8% |
| 1877 | 0.128 | -8.6% |
| 1878 | 0.128 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.143 | +11.7% |
| 1880 | 0.188 | +31.5% |
| 1881 | 0.192 | +2.1% |
| 1882 | 0.196 | +2.1% |
| 1883 | 0.196 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.215 | +9.7% |
| 1885 | 0.254 | +18.1% |
| 1886 | 0.258 | +1.6% |
| 1887 | 0.268 | +3.9% |
| 1888 | 0.268 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.272 | +1.5% |
| 1890 | 0.265 | -2.6% |
| 1891 | 0.272 | +2.6% |
| 1892 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.283 | +4.0% |
| 1895 | 0.283 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.265 | -6.4% |
| 1897 | 0.247 | -6.8% |
| 1898 | 0.274 | +10.9% |
| 1899 | 0.3 | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 0.295 | -1.7% |
| 1901 | 0.293 | -0.7% |
| 1902 | 0.279 | -4.8% |
| 1903 | 0.279 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.272 | -2.5% |
| 1905 | 0.282 | +3.7% |
| 1906 | 0.287 | +1.8% |
| 1907 | 0.287 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.281 | -2.1% |
| 1909 | 0.284 | +1.1% |
| 1910 | 0.287 | +1.1% |
| 1911 | 0.297 | +3.5% |
| 1912 | 0.302 | +1.7% |
| 1913 | 0.302 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.297 | -1.7% |
| 1915 | 0.301 | +1.3% |
| 1916 | 0.331 | +10.0% |
| 1917 | 0.368 | +11.2% |
| 1918 | 0.384 | +4.3% |
| 1919 | 0.417 | +8.6% |
| 1920 | 0.416 | -0.2% |
| 1921 | 0.411 | -1.2% |
| 1922 | 0.414 | +0.7% |
| 1923 | 0.428 | +3.4% |
| 1924 | 0.445 | +4.0% |
| 1925 | 0.459 | +3.1% |
| 1926 | 0.468 | +2.0% |
| 1927 | 0.468 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.468 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.466 | -0.4% |
| 1930 | 0.466 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.462 | -0.9% |
| 1932 | 0.456 | -1.3% |
| 1933 | 0.233 | -48.9% |
| 1934 | 0.254 | +9.0% |
| 1935 | 0.307 | +20.9% |
| 1936 | 0.323 | +5.2% |
| 1937 | 0.326 | +0.9% |
| 1938 | 0.333 | +2.1% |
| 1939 | 0.42 | +26.1% |
| 1940 | 0.42 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.42 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.456 | +8.6% |
| 1943 | 0.597 | +30.9% |
| 1944 | 0.598 | +0.2% |
| 1945 | 0.603 | +0.8% |
| 1946 | 0.631 | +4.6% |
| 1947 | 0.649 | +2.9% |
| 1948 | 0.649 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.655 | +0.9% |
| 1950 | 0.655 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.657 | +0.3% |
| 1952 | 0.657 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.661 | +0.6% |
| 1954 | 0.661 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.662 | +0.2% |
| 1956 | 0.669 | +1.1% |
| 1957 | 0.669 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.669 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.665 | -0.6% |
| 1960 | 0.664 | -0.2% |
| 1961 | 0.664 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.664 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.649 | -2.3% |
| 1964 | 0.643 | -0.9% |
| 1965 | 0.641 | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 0.646 | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 0.63 | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 0.492 | -21.9% |
| 1969 | 0.483 | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 0.44 | -8.9% |
| 1971 | 0.411 | -6.6% |
| 1972 | 0.337 | -18.0% |
| 1973 | 0.061 | -81.9% |
| 1974 | 0.044 | -27.9% |
| 1975 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.043 | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 0.042 | -2.3% |
| 1978 | 0.042 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.042 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.045 | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.046 | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 0.046 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.054 | +17.4% |
| 1985 | 0.573 | +961.1% |
| 1986 | 0.7 | +22.2% |
| 1987 | 0.726 | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 0.726 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.727 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 0.76 | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 0.762 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 0.762 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.762 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.761 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 0.794 | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 0.796 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 0.795 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 0.804 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 0.802 | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 0.797 | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 0.802 | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 0.802 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.79 | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 0.808 | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 0.819 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 0.823 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 0.823 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.822 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 0.825 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 0.847 | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 0.847 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.847 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.843 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 0.843 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.832 | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 0.832 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.828 | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 0.836 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 0.836 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.808 | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 0.789 | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 0.747 | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 0.756 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 0.768 | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 0.79 | +2.9% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 0.79 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.689, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 0.79 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.506, 1.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Key features of liberal democracy in Uruguay changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +961.1% | 0.054 | 0.573 |
| 1830 | +120.0% | 0.065 | 0.143 |
| 1868 | +93.0% | 0.129 | 0.249 |
| 1852 | +87.5% | 0.128 | 0.24 |
| 1973 | -81.9% | 0.337 | 0.061 |
| 1865 | -56.8% | 0.303 | 0.131 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.0644 | 0.064 | 0.065 | 5 |
| 1830s | 0.1737 | 0.143 | 0.198 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.1467 | 0.103 | 0.179 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.2024 | 0.103 | 0.24 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.2389 | 0.129 | 0.303 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.2264 | 0.128 | 0.303 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.2307 | 0.188 | 0.272 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.2733 | 0.247 | 0.3 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.2839 | 0.272 | 0.295 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.3286 | 0.287 | 0.417 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.4443 | 0.411 | 0.468 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.358 | 0.233 | 0.466 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.5678 | 0.42 | 0.655 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.6625 | 0.655 | 0.669 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.6176 | 0.483 | 0.664 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1506 | 0.042 | 0.44 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3688 | 0.045 | 0.727 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7798 | 0.76 | 0.804 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8111 | 0.79 | 0.825 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8391 | 0.828 | 0.847 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7763 | 0.747 | 0.808 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More social development data for Uruguay
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,195 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 126 (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 126 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 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 Uruguay?
- Key features of liberal democracy in Uruguay was 0.79 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of liberal democracy recorded in Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 0.847 in 2010.
- What is the lowest key features of liberal democracy recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.042 in 1977.
- How does Uruguay rank for key features of liberal democracy?
- Uruguay ranks 13th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of liberal democracy rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uruguay 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 — 201 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.