What is participatory democracy index in Saudi Arabia?

Participatory democracy index in Saudi Arabia was 0.026 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Saudi Arabia?

The highest recorded value was 0.029 in 2015.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Saudi Arabia?

The lowest recorded value was 0.005 in 1789.

How does Saudi Arabia rank for participatory democracy index?

Saudi Arabia ranks 174th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?

Over the last ten years it is down 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia

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

Saudi Arabia: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.026 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.026

Change on year

up 8.3%

World rank

174th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.029

in 2015

All-time low

0.005

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in Saudi Arabia, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for participatory democracy index in Saudi Arabia is 0.026, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and down 10.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in Saudi Arabia peaked at 0.029 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.005, in 1789.

Saudi Arabia ranks 174th 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	0.005	0.005	0.005	1
1790s	0.005	0.005	0.005	10
1800s	0.005	0.005	0.005	10
1810s	0.0063	0.005	0.018	10
1820s	0.0082	0.005	0.018	10
1830s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1840s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1850s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1860s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1870s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1880s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1890s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1900s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1910s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1920s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1930s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1940s	0.008	0.008	0.008	10
1950s	0.0098	0.008	0.011	10
1960s	0.0105	0.01	0.011	10
1970s	0.0101	0.01	0.011	10
1980s	0.0143	0.014	0.015	10
1990s	0.0189	0.018	0.019	10
2000s	0.0226	0.019	0.027	10
2010s	0.0244	0.022	0.029	10
2020s	0.0245	0.022	0.028	6

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

171 Qatar 0.034 compare
172 Turkmenistan 0.033 compare
173 United Arab Emirates 0.031 compare
175 Vatican 0.01 compare
176 Eritrea 0.008 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Saudi Arabia

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 448 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 2,368 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.047 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.016 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.092 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.026 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.016 (2025)
Liberal democracy 0 (2025)

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in Saudi Arabia?: Participatory democracy index in Saudi Arabia was 0.026 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Saudi Arabia?: The highest recorded value was 0.029 in 2015.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Saudi Arabia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.005 in 1789.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for participatory democracy index?: Saudi Arabia ranks 174th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?: Over the last ten years it is down 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.