What is liberal democracy in Portugal?

Liberal democracy in Portugal was 2 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest liberal democracy recorded in Portugal?

The highest recorded value was 3 in 1977.

What is the lowest liberal democracy recorded in Portugal?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.

How does Portugal rank for liberal democracy?

Portugal ranks 32nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is liberal democracy rising or falling in Portugal?

Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Portugal data come from?

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

Liberal democracy in Portugal

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

Portugal: Liberal democracy was 2 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

32nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

in 1977

All-time low

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Liberal democracy in Portugal, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

Portugal recorded 2 for liberal democracy in 2025.

The figure is down 33.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, liberal democracy in Portugal peaked at 3 in 1977 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1789.

Portugal ranks 32nd of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0	0	0	1
1790s	0	0	0	10
1800s	0	0	0	10
1810s	0	0	0	10
1820s	0	0	0	10
1830s	0	0	0	10
1840s	0	0	0	10
1850s	0	0	0	10
1860s	0	0	0	10
1870s	0	0	0	10
1880s	0	0	0	10
1890s	0	0	0	10
1900s	0	0	0	10
1910s	0.8	0	1	10
1920s	0.6	0	1	10
1930s	0	0	0	10
1940s	0.5	0	1	10
1950s	0.9	0	1	10
1960s	0.1	0	1	10
1970s	1.1	0	3	10
1980s	3	3	3	10
1990s	3	3	3	10
2000s	3	3	3	10
2010s	3	3	3	10
2020s	2.5	2	3	6

Countries ranked near Portugal

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Portugal

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 70,349 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 109 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.822 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.717 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.836 (2025)
Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.836 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.822 (2025)

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is liberal democracy in Portugal?: Liberal democracy in Portugal was 2 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest liberal democracy recorded in Portugal?: The highest recorded value was 3 in 1977.
What is the lowest liberal democracy recorded in Portugal?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.
How does Portugal rank for liberal democracy?: Portugal ranks 32nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is liberal democracy rising or falling in Portugal?: Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Portugal data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Liberal democracy. 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
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,594 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Identifies the political regime of a country by distinguishing between closed autocracies, electoral autocracies, electoral democracies, and liberal democracies.