What is liberal democracy index in United Kingdom?

Liberal democracy index in United Kingdom was 0.689 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest liberal democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?

The highest recorded value was 0.811 in 2018.

What is the lowest liberal democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?

The lowest recorded value was 0.229 in 1789.

How does United Kingdom rank for liberal democracy index?

United Kingdom ranks 30th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is liberal democracy index rising or falling in United Kingdom?

Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom

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

United Kingdom: Liberal Democracy Index was 0.689 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.689

Change on year

down 8.1%

World rank

30th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.811

in 2018

All-time low

0.229

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Liberal Democracy Index in United Kingdom, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 0.689 for liberal democracy index in 2025.

The figure is down 8.1% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, liberal democracy index in United Kingdom peaked at 0.811 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.229, in 1789.

That places United Kingdom 30th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.229	0.229	0.229	1
1790s	0.244	0.239	0.248	10
1800s	0.2475	0.246	0.249	10
1810s	0.2465	0.242	0.249	10
1820s	0.2477	0.243	0.255	10
1830s	0.2755	0.261	0.286	10
1840s	0.2905	0.289	0.294	10
1850s	0.2933	0.292	0.296	10
1860s	0.3041	0.293	0.318	10
1870s	0.3247	0.318	0.33	10
1880s	0.3653	0.339	0.388	10
1890s	0.3986	0.388	0.405	10
1900s	0.4152	0.412	0.416	10
1910s	0.4272	0.403	0.585	10
1920s	0.603	0.594	0.611	10
1930s	0.6093	0.585	0.614	10
1940s	0.6241	0.584	0.682	10
1950s	0.696	0.693	0.699	10
1960s	0.714	0.698	0.731	10
1970s	0.7372	0.729	0.742	10
1980s	0.724	0.719	0.726	10
1990s	0.7491	0.742	0.77	10
2000s	0.7984	0.785	0.807	10
2010s	0.7971	0.787	0.811	10
2020s	0.7598	0.689	0.8	6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

27 Lithuania 0.712 compare
28 Brazil 0.704 compare
28 Taiwan 0.704 compare
31 Seychelles 0.68 compare
32 Barbados 0.679 compare
32 Jamaica 0.679 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for United Kingdom

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 581,072 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 517 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Liberal democracy 2 (2025)
Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.844 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.533 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.844 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.772 (2025)

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is liberal democracy index in United Kingdom?: Liberal democracy index in United Kingdom was 0.689 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest liberal democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?: The highest recorded value was 0.811 in 2018.
What is the lowest liberal democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?: The lowest recorded value was 0.229 in 1789.
How does United Kingdom rank for liberal democracy index?: United Kingdom ranks 30th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is liberal democracy index rising or falling in United Kingdom?: Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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: 07 August 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.