What is participatory democracy index in Japan?

Participatory democracy index in Japan was 0.526 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Japan?

The highest recorded value was 0.566 in 2009.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Japan?

The lowest recorded value was 0.011 in 1789.

How does Japan rank for participatory democracy index?

Japan ranks 32nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Japan?

Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Japan 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 Japan

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

Japan: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.526 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.526

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

32nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.566

in 2009

All-time low

0.011

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in Japan, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for participatory democracy index in Japan is 0.526, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of down 0.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in Japan peaked at 0.566 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.011, in 1789.

That places Japan 32nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 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	0.011	0.011	0.011	1
1790s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
1800s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
1810s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
1820s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
1830s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
1840s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
1850s	0.012	0.012	0.012	10
1860s	0.0131	0.012	0.023	10
1870s	0.029	0.029	0.029	10
1880s	0.0349	0.029	0.05	10
1890s	0.0621	0.058	0.064	10
1900s	0.0669	0.065	0.069	10
1910s	0.0713	0.069	0.077	10
1920s	0.0829	0.078	0.089	10
1930s	0.073	0.068	0.076	10
1940s	0.1315	0.06	0.245	10
1950s	0.4486	0.251	0.531	10
1960s	0.5313	0.531	0.532	10
1970s	0.539	0.537	0.541	10
1980s	0.5441	0.54	0.549	10
1990s	0.5482	0.543	0.554	10
2000s	0.5554	0.547	0.566	10
2010s	0.5432	0.527	0.566	10
2020s	0.5295	0.526	0.532	6

Countries ranked near Japan

29 Portugal 0.529 compare
31 Brazil 0.528 compare
33 Jamaica 0.524 compare
34 Sri Lanka 0.52 compare
35 Poland 0.519 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Japan

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 42,450 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 56 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.734 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.819 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.847 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.924 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.819 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in Japan?: Participatory democracy index in Japan was 0.526 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Japan?: The highest recorded value was 0.566 in 2009.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Japan?: The lowest recorded value was 0.011 in 1789.
How does Japan rank for participatory democracy index?: Japan ranks 32nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Japan?: Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan 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.