What is participatory democracy index in South Sudan?

Participatory democracy index in South Sudan was 0.047 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in South Sudan?

The highest recorded value was 0.187 in 1987.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in South Sudan?

The lowest recorded value was 0.024 in 1821.

How does South Sudan rank for participatory democracy index?

South Sudan ranks 164th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in South Sudan?

Over the last ten years it is down 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this South Sudan 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 South Sudan

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

South Sudan: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.047 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.047

Change on year

down 47.8%

World rank

164th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.187

in 1987

All-time low

0.024

in 1821

Years of data

190

1821–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in South Sudan, 1821–2025

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

Analysis

South Sudan recorded 0.047 for participatory democracy index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 47.8% on the previous year and down 46.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in South Sudan peaked at 0.187 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 0.024, in 1821.

South Sudan ranks 164th 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.

Participatory Democracy Index in South Sudan, year by year

Annual values for Participatory Democracy Index in South Sudan, 1821 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1821	0.024	—
1822	0.024	+0.0%
1823	0.024	+0.0%
1824	0.024	+0.0%
1825	0.024	+0.0%
1826	0.024	+0.0%
1827	0.024	+0.0%
1828	0.024	+0.0%
1829	0.024	+0.0%
1830	0.024	+0.0%
1831	0.024	+0.0%
1832	0.024	+0.0%
1833	0.024	+0.0%
1834	0.024	+0.0%
1835	0.024	+0.0%
1836	0.024	+0.0%
1837	0.024	+0.0%
1838	0.024	+0.0%
1839	0.024	+0.0%
1840	0.024	+0.0%
1841	0.024	+0.0%
1842	0.024	+0.0%
1843	0.024	+0.0%
1844	0.024	+0.0%
1845	0.024	+0.0%
1846	0.024	+0.0%
1847	0.024	+0.0%
1848	0.024	+0.0%
1849	0.024	+0.0%
1850	0.024	+0.0%
1851	0.024	+0.0%
1852	0.024	+0.0%
1853	0.024	+0.0%
1854	0.024	+0.0%
1855	0.024	+0.0%
1856	0.024	+0.0%
1857	0.024	+0.0%
1858	0.024	+0.0%
1859	0.024	+0.0%
1860	0.024	+0.0%
1861	0.024	+0.0%
1862	0.024	+0.0%
1863	0.024	+0.0%
1864	0.024	+0.0%
1865	0.024	+0.0%
1866	0.024	+0.0%
1867	0.024	+0.0%
1868	0.024	+0.0%
1869	0.024	+0.0%
1870	0.024	+0.0%
1871	0.029	+20.8%
1872	0.03	+3.4%
1873	0.03	+0.0%
1874	0.03	+0.0%
1875	0.03	+0.0%
1876	0.03	+0.0%
1877	0.03	+0.0%
1878	0.03	+0.0%
1879	0.034	+13.3%
1880	0.032	-5.9%
1881	0.034	+6.3%
1882	0.033	-2.9%
1883	0.045	+36.4%
1884	0.046	+2.2%
1900	0.039	-15.2%
1901	0.039	+0.0%
1902	0.039	+0.0%
1903	0.039	+0.0%
1904	0.039	+0.0%
1905	0.039	+0.0%
1906	0.039	+0.0%
1907	0.039	+0.0%
1908	0.039	+0.0%
1909	0.039	+0.0%
1910	0.039	+0.0%
1911	0.039	+0.0%
1912	0.039	+0.0%
1913	0.039	+0.0%
1914	0.039	+0.0%
1915	0.039	+0.0%
1916	0.039	+0.0%
1917	0.039	+0.0%
1918	0.039	+0.0%
1919	0.039	+0.0%
1920	0.038	-2.6%
1921	0.038	+0.0%
1922	0.038	+0.0%
1923	0.038	+0.0%
1924	0.038	+0.0%
1925	0.038	+0.0%
1926	0.038	+0.0%
1927	0.038	+0.0%
1928	0.038	+0.0%
1929	0.038	+0.0%
1930	0.039	+2.6%
1931	0.039	+0.0%
1932	0.039	+0.0%
1933	0.039	+0.0%
1934	0.039	+0.0%
1935	0.039	+0.0%
1936	0.039	+0.0%
1937	0.039	+0.0%
1938	0.039	+0.0%
1939	0.039	+0.0%
1940	0.041	+5.1%
1941	0.041	+0.0%
1942	0.041	+0.0%
1943	0.041	+0.0%
1944	0.041	+0.0%
1945	0.045	+9.8%
1946	0.045	+0.0%
1947	0.045	+0.0%
1948	0.045	+0.0%
1949	0.051	+13.3%
1950	0.051	+0.0%
1951	0.051	+0.0%
1952	0.051	+0.0%
1953	0.081	+58.8%
1954	0.102	+25.9%
1955	0.105	+2.9%
1956	0.121	+15.2%
1957	0.122	+0.8%
1958	0.114	-6.6%
1959	0.039	-65.8%
1960	0.037	-5.1%
1961	0.037	+0.0%
1962	0.037	+0.0%
1963	0.037	+0.0%
1964	0.073	+97.3%
1965	0.099	+35.6%
1966	0.098	-1.0%
1967	0.098	+0.0%
1968	0.104	+6.1%
1969	0.047	-54.8%
1970	0.05	+6.4%
1971	0.06	+20.0%
1972	0.038	-36.7%
1973	0.04	+5.3%
1974	0.046	+15.0%
1975	0.048	+4.3%
1976	0.048	+0.0%
1977	0.065	+35.4%
1978	0.071	+9.2%
1979	0.072	+1.4%
1980	0.073	+1.4%
1981	0.075	+2.7%
1982	0.066	-12.0%
1983	0.072	+9.1%
1984	0.089	+23.6%
1985	0.131	+47.2%
1986	0.173	+32.1%
1987	0.187	+8.1%
1988	0.185	-1.1%
1989	0.065	-64.9%
1990	0.044	-32.3%
1991	0.043	-2.3%
1992	0.042	-2.3%
1993	0.041	-2.4%
1994	0.039	-4.9%
1995	0.047	+20.5%
1996	0.053	+12.8%
1997	0.054	+1.9%
1998	0.066	+22.2%
1999	0.063	-4.5%
2000	0.066	+4.8%
2001	0.088	+33.3%
2002	0.088	+0.0%
2003	0.087	-1.1%
2004	0.087	+0.0%
2005	0.088	+1.1%
2006	0.088	+0.0%
2007	0.086	-2.3%
2008	0.086	+0.0%
2009	0.085	-1.2%
2010	0.095	+11.8%
2011	0.081	-14.7%
2012	0.079	-2.5%
2013	0.073	-7.6%
2014	0.071	-2.7%
2015	0.087	+22.5%
2016	0.057	-34.5%
2017	0.051	-10.5%
2018	0.052	+2.0%
2019	0.055	+5.8%
2020	0.09	+63.6%
2021	0.051	-43.3%
2022	0.049	-3.9%
2023	0.082	+67.3%
2024	0.09	+9.8%
2025	0.047	-47.8%

South Sudan compared with similar countries

South Sudan's 0.047 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.13, 36% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
South Sudan's 0.047 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.2095, 22% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1820s	0.024	0.024	0.024	9
1830s	0.024	0.024	0.024	10
1840s	0.024	0.024	0.024	10
1850s	0.024	0.024	0.024	10
1860s	0.024	0.024	0.024	10
1870s	0.0297	0.024	0.034	10
1880s	0.038	0.032	0.046	5
1900s	0.039	0.039	0.039	10
1910s	0.039	0.039	0.039	10
1920s	0.038	0.038	0.038	10
1930s	0.039	0.039	0.039	10
1940s	0.0436	0.041	0.051	10
1950s	0.0837	0.039	0.122	10
1960s	0.0667	0.037	0.104	10
1970s	0.0538	0.038	0.072	10
1980s	0.1116	0.065	0.187	10
1990s	0.0492	0.039	0.066	10
2000s	0.0849	0.066	0.088	10
2010s	0.0701	0.051	0.095	10
2020s	0.0682	0.047	0.09	6

Countries ranked near South Sudan

161 Afghanistan 0.051 compare
161 Sudan 0.051 compare
163 Hong Kong 0.049 compare
165 North Korea 0.044 compare
166 Azerbaijan 0.043 compare
167 Iran 0.042 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for South Sudan

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 601,818 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.39 million (2025)
Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.1958 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.39 million (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0494 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2015)

All data for South Sudan →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in South Sudan?: Participatory democracy index in South Sudan was 0.047 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in South Sudan?: The highest recorded value was 0.187 in 1987.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in South Sudan?: The lowest recorded value was 0.024 in 1821.
How does South Sudan rank for participatory democracy index?: South Sudan ranks 164th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in South Sudan?: Over the last ten years it is down 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Sudan 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 — 190 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Participatory Democracy Index in South Sudan. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/participatory-democracy-index/south-sudan/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/participatory-democracy-index/south-sudan/">Participatory Democracy Index in South Sudan</a> — Statizoid

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: 30 October 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.