What is participatory democracy index in United Kingdom?

Participatory democracy index in United Kingdom was 0.533 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?

The highest recorded value was 0.646 in 2018.

What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?

The lowest recorded value was 0.088 in 1789.

How does United Kingdom rank for participatory democracy index?

United Kingdom ranks 28th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in United Kingdom?

Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom

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

United Kingdom: Participatory Democracy Index was 0.533 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.533

Change on year

down 7.6%

World rank

28th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.646

in 2018

All-time low

0.088

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Participatory Democracy Index in United Kingdom, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 0.533 for participatory democracy index in 2025.

The figure is down 7.6% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participatory democracy index in United Kingdom peaked at 0.646 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.088, in 1789.

That places United Kingdom 28th 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	0.088	0.088	0.088	1
1790s	0.0961	0.094	0.098	10
1800s	0.1	0.096	0.114	10
1810s	0.1142	0.111	0.116	10
1820s	0.1148	0.112	0.119	10
1830s	0.145	0.135	0.154	10
1840s	0.1583	0.157	0.16	10
1850s	0.1595	0.158	0.161	10
1860s	0.164	0.159	0.174	10
1870s	0.1763	0.173	0.18	10
1880s	0.2081	0.183	0.278	10
1890s	0.2859	0.278	0.29	10
1900s	0.2962	0.294	0.297	10
1910s	0.3081	0.292	0.431	10
1920s	0.4432	0.437	0.45	10
1930s	0.4541	0.446	0.456	10
1940s	0.4794	0.448	0.524	10
1950s	0.5381	0.525	0.548	10
1960s	0.5395	0.533	0.55	10
1970s	0.5641	0.551	0.581	10
1980s	0.5632	0.556	0.571	10
1990s	0.5664	0.561	0.579	10
2000s	0.6083	0.599	0.614	10
2010s	0.6331	0.611	0.646	10
2020s	0.5987	0.533	0.642	6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

25 Luxembourg 0.556 compare
26 Netherlands 0.553 compare
27 South Korea 0.551 compare
29 Malta 0.529 compare
29 Portugal 0.529 compare
31 Brazil 0.528 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for United Kingdom

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 581,072 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 517 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.689 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.772 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.833 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.859 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.772 (2025)
Liberal democracy 2 (2025)

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is participatory democracy index in United Kingdom?: Participatory democracy index in United Kingdom was 0.533 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest participatory democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?: The highest recorded value was 0.646 in 2018.
What is the lowest participatory democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?: The lowest recorded value was 0.088 in 1789.
How does United Kingdom rank for participatory democracy index?: United Kingdom ranks 28th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is participatory democracy index rising or falling in United Kingdom?: Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom 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.