Liberal democracy in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Liberal democracy was 2 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
32nd
of 176 countries
All-time high
3
in 1919
All-time low
0
in 1789
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Liberal democracy in United Kingdom, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for liberal democracy in United Kingdom is 2, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, liberal democracy in United Kingdom peaked at 3 in 1919 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1789.
United Kingdom 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.
Liberal democracy in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0 | — |
| 1790 | 1 | — |
| 1791 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 1920 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 2025 | 2 | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 2 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3, 67% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 2 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1790s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1800s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1810s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1820s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1830s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1840s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1850s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1860s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1870s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1880s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1890s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1900s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.2 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| 1920s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1930s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1940s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1950s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1960s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1970s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.67 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 32 Argentina 2 compare
- 32 Armenia 2 compare
- 32 Bhutan 2 compare
- 32 Bolivia 2 compare
- 32 Botswana 2 compare
- 32 Brazil 2 compare
- 32 Bulgaria 2 compare
- 32 Canada 2 compare
- 32 Cape Verde 2 compare
- 32 Colombia 2 compare
- 32 Croatia 2 compare
- 32 Dominican Republic 2 compare
- 32 East Timor 2 compare
- 32 Ecuador 2 compare
- 32 Fiji 2 compare
- 32 Gambia 2 compare
- 32 Ghana 2 compare
- 32 Greece 2 compare
- 32 Guatemala 2 compare
- 32 Guyana 2 compare
- 32 Honduras 2 compare
- 32 Israel 2 compare
- 32 Jamaica 2 compare
- 32 Kenya 2 compare
- 32 Lesotho 2 compare
- 32 Liberia 2 compare
- 32 Malawi 2 compare
- 32 Malaysia 2 compare
- 32 Maldives 2 compare
- 32 Malta 2 compare
- 32 Mauritius 2 compare
- 32 Moldova 2 compare
- 32 Mongolia 2 compare
- 32 Montenegro 2 compare
- 32 Namibia 2 compare
- 32 Nepal 2 compare
- 32 Nigeria 2 compare
- 32 North Macedonia 2 compare
- 32 Panama 2 compare
- 32 Paraguay 2 compare
- 32 Peru 2 compare
- 32 Poland 2 compare
- 32 Portugal 2 compare
- 32 Romania 2 compare
- 32 Sao Tome and Principe 2 compare
- 32 Senegal 2 compare
- 32 Slovakia 2 compare
- 32 Slovenia 2 compare
- 32 Solomon Islands 2 compare
- 32 South Africa 2 compare
- 32 Sri Lanka 2 compare
- 32 Suriname 2 compare
- 32 United States 2 compare
- 32 Vanuatu 2 compare
More social development data for United Kingdom
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 581,072 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 517 (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 517 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0084 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 liberal democracy in United Kingdom?
- Liberal democracy in United Kingdom was 2 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest liberal democracy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3 in 1919.
- What is the lowest liberal democracy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.
- How does United Kingdom rank for liberal democracy?
- United Kingdom ranks 32nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is liberal democracy rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Identifies the political regime of a country by distinguishing between closed autocracies, electoral autocracies, electoral democracies, and liberal democracies.