What is participatory democracy index in Switzerland?

Participatory democracy index in Switzerland was 0.785 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Switzerland?

The highest recorded value was 0.808 in 2012.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Switzerland?

The lowest recorded value was 0.114 in 1801.

How does Switzerland rank for participatory democracy index?

Switzerland ranks 1st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Switzerland?

Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Switzerland 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 Switzerland

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

Switzerland: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.785 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.785

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.808

in 2012

All-time low

0.114

in 1801

Years of data

228

1798–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in Switzerland, 1798–2025

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

Analysis

Switzerland recorded 0.785 for participatory democracy index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in Switzerland peaked at 0.808 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.114, in 1801.

Switzerland ranks 1st of 176 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 228 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1790s	0.124	0.124	0.124	2
1800s	0.1151	0.114	0.122	10
1810s	0.114	0.114	0.114	10
1820s	0.114	0.114	0.114	10
1830s	0.1874	0.164	0.19	10
1840s	0.2139	0.19	0.366	10
1850s	0.3652	0.364	0.366	10
1860s	0.3646	0.364	0.365	10
1870s	0.379	0.364	0.389	10
1880s	0.3933	0.393	0.394	10
1890s	0.393	0.393	0.393	10
1900s	0.4986	0.472	0.51	10
1910s	0.5007	0.491	0.506	10
1920s	0.518	0.517	0.519	10
1930s	0.5151	0.513	0.518	10
1940s	0.5134	0.506	0.53	10
1950s	0.5272	0.525	0.53	10
1960s	0.5322	0.529	0.534	10
1970s	0.7083	0.535	0.758	10
1980s	0.7707	0.765	0.776	10
1990s	0.789	0.787	0.793	10
2000s	0.7896	0.784	0.797	10
2010s	0.8034	0.797	0.808	10
2020s	0.7912	0.785	0.799	6

Countries ranked near Switzerland

2 Uruguay 0.716 compare
3 Denmark 0.7 compare
4 Taiwan 0.652 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Switzerland

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 208,287 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 6 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.843 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.882 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.967 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.917 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.882 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in Switzerland?: Participatory democracy index in Switzerland was 0.785 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in Switzerland?: The highest recorded value was 0.808 in 2012.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in Switzerland?: The lowest recorded value was 0.114 in 1801.
How does Switzerland rank for participatory democracy index?: Switzerland ranks 1st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in Switzerland?: Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Switzerland 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 — 228 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.