What is participatory democracy index in Sweden?

Participatory democracy index in Sweden was 0.635 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Sweden?

The highest recorded value was 0.692 in 1980.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Sweden?

The lowest recorded value was 0.049 in 1789.

How does Sweden rank for participatory democracy index?

Sweden ranks 7th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Sweden?

Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Sweden 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 Sweden

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

Sweden: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.635 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.635

Change on year

up 1.0%

World rank

7th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.692

in 1980

All-time low

0.049

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in Sweden, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for participatory democracy index in Sweden is 0.635, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in Sweden peaked at 0.692 in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.049, in 1789.

Sweden ranks 7th of 176 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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	0.049	0.049	0.049	1
1790s	0.0494	0.049	0.053	10
1800s	0.0505	0.049	0.064	10
1810s	0.0643	0.063	0.066	10
1820s	0.066	0.066	0.066	10
1830s	0.067	0.067	0.067	10
1840s	0.113	0.093	0.122	10
1850s	0.1217	0.121	0.122	10
1860s	0.1962	0.158	0.208	10
1870s	0.2234	0.223	0.224	10
1880s	0.2264	0.226	0.227	10
1890s	0.227	0.227	0.227	10
1900s	0.2344	0.233	0.239	10
1910s	0.2644	0.24	0.326	10
1920s	0.4636	0.329	0.5	10
1930s	0.4862	0.479	0.495	10
1940s	0.5005	0.472	0.543	10
1950s	0.5599	0.545	0.574	10
1960s	0.57	0.562	0.577	10
1970s	0.6475	0.56	0.661	10
1980s	0.6891	0.684	0.692	10
1990s	0.6827	0.668	0.689	10
2000s	0.6829	0.679	0.687	10
2010s	0.6622	0.646	0.677	10
2020s	0.6378	0.629	0.647	6

Countries ranked near Sweden

4 Taiwan 0.652 compare
5 Australia 0.648 compare
6 Norway 0.638 compare
8 Belgium 0.633 compare
9 Estonia 0.621 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Sweden

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 144,116 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 128 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.853 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.889 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.946 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.931 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.889 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in Sweden?: Participatory democracy index in Sweden was 0.635 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Sweden?: The highest recorded value was 0.692 in 1980.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Sweden?: The lowest recorded value was 0.049 in 1789.
How does Sweden rank for participatory democracy index?: Sweden ranks 7th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Sweden?: Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sweden 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.