What is participatory democracy index in Spain?

Participatory democracy index in Spain was 0.572 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Spain?

The highest recorded value was 0.673 in 1986.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Spain?

The lowest recorded value was 0.013 in 1940.

How does Spain rank for participatory democracy index?

Spain ranks 20th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Spain?

Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Spain 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 Spain

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

Spain: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.572 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.572

Change on year

down 0.3%

World rank

20th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.673

in 1986

All-time low

0.013

in 1940

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in Spain, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for participatory democracy index in Spain is 0.572, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in Spain peaked at 0.673 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.013, in 1940.

That places Spain 20th 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	0.028	0.028	0.028	1
1790s	0.028	0.028	0.028	10
1800s	0.0299	0.028	0.038	10
1810s	0.0501	0.038	0.067	10
1820s	0.0682	0.05	0.098	10
1830s	0.0668	0.05	0.086	10
1840s	0.0804	0.078	0.09	10
1850s	0.0798	0.078	0.083	10
1860s	0.0842	0.079	0.119	10
1870s	0.103	0.087	0.119	10
1880s	0.0913	0.088	0.092	10
1890s	0.0929	0.088	0.098	10
1900s	0.091	0.09	0.092	10
1910s	0.0901	0.09	0.091	10
1920s	0.0465	0.023	0.09	10
1930s	0.2223	0.024	0.315	10
1940s	0.0185	0.013	0.03	10
1950s	0.0264	0.022	0.03	10
1960s	0.0182	0.016	0.021	10
1970s	0.1278	0.019	0.596	10
1980s	0.6481	0.607	0.673	10
1990s	0.6516	0.636	0.668	10
2000s	0.6328	0.609	0.65	10
2010s	0.6217	0.586	0.651	10
2020s	0.596	0.572	0.624	6

Countries ranked near Spain

17 Austria 0.582 compare
18 New Zealand 0.581 compare
19 Chile 0.574 compare
21 Italy 0.569 compare
22 Iceland 0.565 compare
23 Czechia 0.562 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Spain

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 511,079 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 186 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.741 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.822 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.843 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.915 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.822 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in Spain?: Participatory democracy index in Spain was 0.572 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Spain?: The highest recorded value was 0.673 in 1986.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Spain?: The lowest recorded value was 0.013 in 1940.
How does Spain rank for participatory democracy index?: Spain ranks 20th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Spain?: Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Spain 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.