Liberal democracy in United States
United States: Liberal democracy was 2 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2
Change on year
down 33.3%
World rank
32nd
of 176 countries
All-time high
3
in 1969
All-time low
0
in 1789
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Liberal democracy in United States, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for liberal democracy in United States is 2, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.3% on the previous year and down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, liberal democracy in United States peaked at 3 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1789.
United States 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 States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0 | — |
| 1790 | 0 | — |
| 1791 | 0 | — |
| 1792 | 0 | — |
| 1793 | 0 | — |
| 1794 | 0 | — |
| 1795 | 0 | — |
| 1796 | 1 | — |
| 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 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1921 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 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 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2 | -33.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3, 67% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.4 | 0 | 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 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1920s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1930s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1940s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1950s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.1 | 2 | 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 | 2.83 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 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 Kingdom 2 compare
- 32 Vanuatu 2 compare
More social development data for United States
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 457,647 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,667 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (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 3,667 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0013 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 States?
- Liberal democracy in United States was 2 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest liberal democracy recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3 in 1969.
- What is the lowest liberal democracy recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.
- How does United States rank for liberal democracy?
- United States ranks 32nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is liberal democracy rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.