Participatory Democracy Index in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.049 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.049
Change on year
down 5.8%
World rank
163rd
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.149
in 2003
All-time low
0.021
in 1942
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Participatory Democracy Index in Hong Kong, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Hong Kong recorded 0.049 for participatory democracy index in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.8% on the previous year and down 61.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in Hong Kong peaked at 0.149 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.021, in 1942.
That places Hong Kong 163rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Participatory Democracy Index in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.044 | — |
| 1901 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.045 | +2.3% |
| 1933 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.045 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.039 | -13.3% |
| 1942 | 0.021 | -46.2% |
| 1943 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.06 | +185.7% |
| 1947 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.06 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.063 | +5.0% |
| 1955 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.06 | -4.8% |
| 1957 | 0.059 | -1.7% |
| 1958 | 0.059 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.059 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.062 | +5.1% |
| 1961 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.062 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.059 | -4.8% |
| 1966 | 0.059 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.058 | -1.7% |
| 1968 | 0.063 | +8.6% |
| 1969 | 0.066 | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 0.067 | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 0.067 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.067 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.067 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.069 | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.069 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.07 | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 0.07 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.07 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.09 | +28.6% |
| 1981 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.091 | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 0.093 | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 0.093 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.093 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.094 | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 0.103 | +9.6% |
| 1991 | 0.113 | +9.7% |
| 1992 | 0.137 | +21.2% |
| 1993 | 0.138 | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.139 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 0.139 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.146 | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 0.142 | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.149 | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 0.143 | -4.0% |
| 2005 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.143 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.142 | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.138 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 0.135 | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 0.134 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 0.128 | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 0.124 | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 0.122 | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 0.116 | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 0.11 | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 0.087 | -20.9% |
| 2021 | 0.063 | -27.6% |
| 2022 | 0.051 | -19.0% |
| 2023 | 0.048 | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 0.052 | +8.3% |
| 2025 | 0.049 | -5.8% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 0.049 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.529, 9% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 0.049 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2725, 18% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.044 | 0.044 | 0.044 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.044 | 0.044 | 0.044 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.044 | 0.044 | 0.044 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0448 | 0.044 | 0.045 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0408 | 0.021 | 0.06 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.0603 | 0.059 | 0.063 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0615 | 0.058 | 0.066 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0685 | 0.067 | 0.07 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0914 | 0.09 | 0.094 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1337 | 0.103 | 0.146 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1433 | 0.142 | 0.149 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1292 | 0.11 | 0.143 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0583 | 0.048 | 0.087 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
- 160 Kuwait 0.053 compare
- 161 Afghanistan 0.051 compare
- 161 Sudan 0.051 compare
- 164 South Sudan 0.047 compare
- 165 North Korea 0.044 compare
- 166 Azerbaijan 0.043 compare
More social development data for Hong Kong
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 236 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 245 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (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 245 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -9.23 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is participatory democracy index in Hong Kong?
- Participatory democracy index in Hong Kong was 0.049 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 0.149 in 2003.
- What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.021 in 1942.
- How does Hong Kong rank for participatory democracy index?
- Hong Kong ranks 163rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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 — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.