What is participatory democracy index in China?

Participatory democracy index in China was 0.036 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in China?

The highest recorded value was 0.054 in 2003.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in China?

The lowest recorded value was 0.013 in 1789.

How does China rank for participatory democracy index?

China ranks 170th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this China 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 China

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

China: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.036 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.036

Change on year

up 16.1%

World rank

170th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.054

in 2003

All-time low

0.013

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in China, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, participatory democracy index in China stood at 0.036.

That represents a change of up 16.1% on the previous year and down 10.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in China peaked at 0.054 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.013, in 1789.

China ranks 170th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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	0.013	0.013	0.013	1
1790s	0.013	0.013	0.013	10
1800s	0.013	0.013	0.013	10
1810s	0.013	0.013	0.013	10
1820s	0.013	0.013	0.013	10
1830s	0.013	0.013	0.013	10
1840s	0.013	0.013	0.013	10
1850s	0.013	0.013	0.013	10
1860s	0.0137	0.013	0.014	10
1870s	0.014	0.014	0.014	10
1880s	0.014	0.014	0.014	10
1890s	0.0155	0.014	0.019	10
1900s	0.0169	0.015	0.018	10
1910s	0.0378	0.018	0.048	10
1920s	0.0427	0.039	0.047	10
1930s	0.04	0.039	0.042	10
1940s	0.043	0.036	0.052	10
1950s	0.0165	0.013	0.018	10
1960s	0.014	0.013	0.015	10
1970s	0.0153	0.013	0.024	10
1980s	0.031	0.03	0.034	10
1990s	0.0369	0.033	0.039	10
2000s	0.048	0.042	0.054	10
2010s	0.0419	0.037	0.048	10
2020s	0.0352	0.031	0.037	6

Countries ranked near China

167 Iran 0.042 compare
168 Equatorial Guinea 0.041 compare
168 Myanmar 0.041 compare
171 Qatar 0.034 compare
172 Turkmenistan 0.033 compare
173 United Arab Emirates 0.031 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for China

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 230 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 153,962 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.039 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.072 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.045 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.03 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.072 (2025)
Liberal democracy 0 (2025)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in China?: Participatory democracy index in China was 0.036 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 0.054 in 2003.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 0.013 in 1789.
How does China rank for participatory democracy index?: China ranks 170th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China 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.

Download this data

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

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: 07 August 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.