What is participatory democracy index in Benin?

Participatory democracy index in Benin was 0.28 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Benin?

The highest recorded value was 0.481 in 2016.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Benin?

The lowest recorded value was 0.033 in 1900.

How does Benin rank for participatory democracy index?

Benin ranks 92nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Benin?

Over the last ten years it is down 34.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Benin data come from?

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

Participatory Democracy Index in Benin

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

Benin: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.28 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.28

Change on year

up 0.4%

World rank

92nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.481

in 2016

All-time low

0.033

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in Benin, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for participatory democracy index in Benin is 0.28, measured in 2025.

The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 34.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in Benin peaked at 0.481 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.033, in 1900.

That places Benin 92nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Participatory Democracy Index in Benin, year by year

Annual values for Participatory Democracy Index in Benin, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.033	—
1901	0.033	+0.0%
1902	0.033	+0.0%
1903	0.033	+0.0%
1904	0.033	+0.0%
1905	0.033	+0.0%
1906	0.033	+0.0%
1907	0.033	+0.0%
1908	0.033	+0.0%
1909	0.033	+0.0%
1910	0.033	+0.0%
1911	0.033	+0.0%
1912	0.033	+0.0%
1913	0.033	+0.0%
1914	0.033	+0.0%
1915	0.033	+0.0%
1916	0.033	+0.0%
1917	0.033	+0.0%
1918	0.033	+0.0%
1919	0.033	+0.0%
1920	0.033	+0.0%
1921	0.033	+0.0%
1922	0.033	+0.0%
1923	0.033	+0.0%
1924	0.033	+0.0%
1925	0.033	+0.0%
1926	0.033	+0.0%
1927	0.033	+0.0%
1928	0.033	+0.0%
1929	0.033	+0.0%
1930	0.033	+0.0%
1931	0.033	+0.0%
1932	0.033	+0.0%
1933	0.033	+0.0%
1934	0.033	+0.0%
1935	0.033	+0.0%
1936	0.033	+0.0%
1937	0.033	+0.0%
1938	0.033	+0.0%
1939	0.033	+0.0%
1940	0.033	+0.0%
1941	0.033	+0.0%
1942	0.033	+0.0%
1943	0.033	+0.0%
1944	0.033	+0.0%
1945	0.034	+3.0%
1946	0.035	+2.9%
1947	0.035	+0.0%
1948	0.035	+0.0%
1949	0.035	+0.0%
1950	0.035	+0.0%
1951	0.035	+0.0%
1952	0.038	+8.6%
1953	0.038	+0.0%
1954	0.038	+0.0%
1955	0.038	+0.0%
1956	0.045	+18.4%
1957	0.045	+0.0%
1958	0.046	+2.2%
1959	0.048	+4.3%
1960	0.096	+100.0%
1961	0.114	+18.8%
1962	0.114	+0.0%
1963	0.114	+0.0%
1964	0.119	+4.4%
1965	0.107	-10.1%
1966	0.074	-30.8%
1967	0.074	+0.0%
1968	0.094	+27.0%
1969	0.093	-1.1%
1970	0.074	-20.4%
1971	0.073	-1.4%
1972	0.057	-21.9%
1973	0.045	-21.1%
1974	0.044	-2.2%
1975	0.044	+0.0%
1976	0.044	+0.0%
1977	0.044	+0.0%
1978	0.044	+0.0%
1979	0.044	+0.0%
1980	0.047	+6.8%
1981	0.047	+0.0%
1982	0.047	+0.0%
1983	0.047	+0.0%
1984	0.047	+0.0%
1985	0.046	-2.1%
1986	0.046	+0.0%
1987	0.046	+0.0%
1988	0.046	+0.0%
1989	0.046	+0.0%
1990	0.136	+195.7%
1991	0.228	+67.6%
1992	0.292	+28.1%
1993	0.292	+0.0%
1994	0.292	+0.0%
1995	0.304	+4.1%
1996	0.3	-1.3%
1997	0.293	-2.3%
1998	0.291	-0.7%
1999	0.334	+14.8%
2000	0.331	-0.9%
2001	0.326	-1.5%
2002	0.32	-1.8%
2003	0.401	+25.3%
2004	0.398	-0.7%
2005	0.408	+2.5%
2006	0.43	+5.4%
2007	0.414	-3.7%
2008	0.406	-1.9%
2009	0.405	-0.2%
2010	0.409	+1.0%
2011	0.386	-5.6%
2012	0.383	-0.8%
2013	0.384	+0.3%
2014	0.387	+0.8%
2015	0.43	+11.1%
2016	0.481	+11.9%
2017	0.475	-1.2%
2018	0.393	-17.3%
2019	0.277	-29.5%
2020	0.245	-11.6%
2021	0.237	-3.3%
2022	0.25	+5.5%
2023	0.277	+10.8%
2024	0.279	+0.7%
2025	0.28	+0.4%

Benin compared with similar countries

Benin's 0.28 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.2215, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Benin's 0.28 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.2095, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
1910s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
1920s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
1930s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
1940s	0.0339	0.033	0.035	10
1950s	0.0406	0.035	0.048	10
1960s	0.0999	0.074	0.119	10
1970s	0.0513	0.044	0.074	10
1980s	0.0465	0.046	0.047	10
1990s	0.2762	0.136	0.334	10
2000s	0.3839	0.32	0.43	10
2010s	0.4005	0.277	0.481	10
2020s	0.2613	0.237	0.28	6

Countries ranked near Benin

89 Albania 0.29 compare
90 Guyana 0.283 compare
91 Mongolia 0.281 compare
92 Papua New Guinea 0.28 compare
94 Hungary 0.268 compare
95 Fiji 0.265 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Benin

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 16,974 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,279 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,279 (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 Benin →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in Benin?: Participatory democracy index in Benin was 0.28 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Benin?: The highest recorded value was 0.481 in 2016.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Benin?: The lowest recorded value was 0.033 in 1900.
How does Benin rank for participatory democracy index?: Benin ranks 92nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Benin?: Over the last ten years it is down 34.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Benin data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Participatory Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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

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About this data

Indicator: Participatory Democracy Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,363 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, as well as the extent to which citizens can engage in regional and local government, civil society organizations, and direct democracy.