What is liberal democracy index in Eswatini?

Liberal democracy index in Eswatini was 0.097 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest liberal democracy index recorded in Eswatini?

The highest recorded value was 0.136 in 1969.

What is the lowest liberal democracy index recorded in Eswatini?

The lowest recorded value was 0.066 in 1900.

How does Eswatini rank for liberal democracy index?

Eswatini ranks 145th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is liberal democracy index rising or falling in Eswatini?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Eswatini data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Liberal Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Liberal Democracy Index in Eswatini

Name: Liberal Democracy Index in Eswatini
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Eswatini: Liberal Democracy Index was 0.097 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.097

Change on year

down 4.0%

World rank

145th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.136

in 1969

All-time low

0.066

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Liberal Democracy Index in Eswatini, 1900–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Eswatini recorded 0.097 for liberal democracy index in 2025.

The figure is down 4.0% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, liberal democracy index in Eswatini peaked at 0.136 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 0.066, in 1900.

Eswatini ranks 145th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.

Liberal Democracy Index in Eswatini, year by year

Annual values for Liberal Democracy Index in Eswatini, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.066	—
1901	0.066	+0.0%
1902	0.067	+1.5%
1903	0.067	+0.0%
1904	0.067	+0.0%
1905	0.067	+0.0%
1906	0.067	+0.0%
1907	0.067	+0.0%
1908	0.067	+0.0%
1909	0.068	+1.5%
1910	0.068	+0.0%
1911	0.068	+0.0%
1912	0.068	+0.0%
1913	0.068	+0.0%
1914	0.068	+0.0%
1915	0.068	+0.0%
1916	0.068	+0.0%
1917	0.068	+0.0%
1918	0.068	+0.0%
1919	0.068	+0.0%
1920	0.069	+1.5%
1921	0.07	+1.4%
1922	0.07	+0.0%
1923	0.07	+0.0%
1924	0.07	+0.0%
1925	0.07	+0.0%
1926	0.07	+0.0%
1927	0.07	+0.0%
1928	0.07	+0.0%
1929	0.07	+0.0%
1930	0.07	+0.0%
1931	0.07	+0.0%
1932	0.07	+0.0%
1933	0.07	+0.0%
1934	0.07	+0.0%
1935	0.07	+0.0%
1936	0.07	+0.0%
1937	0.07	+0.0%
1938	0.07	+0.0%
1939	0.07	+0.0%
1940	0.07	+0.0%
1941	0.07	+0.0%
1942	0.07	+0.0%
1943	0.07	+0.0%
1944	0.07	+0.0%
1945	0.07	+0.0%
1946	0.07	+0.0%
1947	0.07	+0.0%
1948	0.07	+0.0%
1949	0.07	+0.0%
1950	0.073	+4.3%
1951	0.073	+0.0%
1952	0.073	+0.0%
1953	0.073	+0.0%
1954	0.073	+0.0%
1955	0.073	+0.0%
1956	0.073	+0.0%
1957	0.073	+0.0%
1958	0.073	+0.0%
1959	0.073	+0.0%
1960	0.073	+0.0%
1961	0.073	+0.0%
1962	0.073	+0.0%
1963	0.074	+1.4%
1964	0.096	+29.7%
1965	0.116	+20.8%
1966	0.118	+1.7%
1967	0.127	+7.6%
1968	0.134	+5.5%
1969	0.136	+1.5%
1970	0.136	+0.0%
1971	0.133	-2.2%
1972	0.132	-0.8%
1973	0.097	-26.5%
1974	0.08	-17.5%
1975	0.08	+0.0%
1976	0.081	+1.3%
1977	0.081	+0.0%
1978	0.087	+7.4%
1979	0.108	+24.1%
1980	0.109	+0.9%
1981	0.109	+0.0%
1982	0.109	+0.0%
1983	0.109	+0.0%
1984	0.106	-2.8%
1985	0.106	+0.0%
1986	0.106	+0.0%
1987	0.106	+0.0%
1988	0.105	-0.9%
1989	0.105	+0.0%
1990	0.104	-1.0%
1991	0.104	+0.0%
1992	0.104	+0.0%
1993	0.104	+0.0%
1994	0.099	-4.8%
1995	0.099	+0.0%
1996	0.098	-1.0%
1997	0.098	+0.0%
1998	0.095	-3.1%
1999	0.096	+1.1%
2000	0.097	+1.0%
2001	0.097	+0.0%
2002	0.097	+0.0%
2003	0.097	+0.0%
2004	0.096	-1.0%
2005	0.096	+0.0%
2006	0.096	+0.0%
2007	0.095	-1.0%
2008	0.097	+2.1%
2009	0.097	+0.0%
2010	0.094	-3.1%
2011	0.093	-1.1%
2012	0.093	+0.0%
2013	0.097	+4.3%
2014	0.097	+0.0%
2015	0.097	+0.0%
2016	0.097	+0.0%
2017	0.099	+2.1%
2018	0.115	+16.2%
2019	0.114	-0.9%
2020	0.115	+0.9%
2021	0.095	-17.4%
2022	0.097	+2.1%
2023	0.099	+2.1%
2024	0.101	+2.0%
2025	0.097	-4.0%

Eswatini compared with similar countries

Eswatini's 0.097 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.203, 48% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Eswatini's 0.097 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.17, 57% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.0669	0.066	0.068	10
1910s	0.068	0.068	0.068	10
1920s	0.0699	0.069	0.07	10
1930s	0.07	0.07	0.07	10
1940s	0.07	0.07	0.07	10
1950s	0.073	0.073	0.073	10
1960s	0.102	0.073	0.136	10
1970s	0.1015	0.08	0.136	10
1980s	0.107	0.105	0.109	10
1990s	0.1001	0.095	0.104	10
2000s	0.0965	0.095	0.097	10
2010s	0.0996	0.093	0.115	10
2020s	0.1007	0.095	0.115	6

Countries ranked near Eswatini

142 Palestine 0.099 compare
143 Haiti 0.098 compare
143 Libya 0.098 compare
146 Guinea 0.095 compare
146 Guinea-Bissau 0.095 compare
148 Qatar 0.091 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Eswatini

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,414 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (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 0.0002 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0011 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Eswatini →

Frequently asked questions

What is liberal democracy index in Eswatini?: Liberal democracy index in Eswatini was 0.097 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest liberal democracy index recorded in Eswatini?: The highest recorded value was 0.136 in 1969.
What is the lowest liberal democracy index recorded in Eswatini?: The lowest recorded value was 0.066 in 1900.
How does Eswatini rank for liberal democracy index?: Eswatini ranks 145th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is liberal democracy index rising or falling in Eswatini?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Eswatini data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Liberal Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Liberal Democracy Index in Eswatini. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/liberal-democracy-index/eswatini/

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About this data

Indicator: Liberal Democracy Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 28,671 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

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.