Political Rights Score by country
Identifies the fine-grained extent of free and fair elections, political pluralism and participation, and a functioning government. Higher scores indicate more rights.
Countries reporting
196
Highest
40
Germany
Lowest
-4
South Sudan
Median
26.5
Years covered
24
2002–2025
Data points
4,706
What the numbers show
Political Rights Score is currently reported for 196 countries. The highest value is 40 in Germany; the lowest is -4 in South Sudan.
The median across all reporting countries is 26.5, and the mean is 22.16.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 10.
Over the past decade 46 countries rose and 113 fell. The largest increase was in Gambia (up 340.0%), and the largest decrease in China (down 300.0%).
Political Rights Score: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 40 | 2025 | up 2.6% | flat |
| 1 | Denmark | 40 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Finland | 40 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Ireland | 40 | 2025 | up 2.6% | flat |
| 1 | Japan | 40 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | New Zealand | 40 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Sweden | 40 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Uruguay | 40 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 9 | Australia | 39 | 2025 | down 2.5% | flat |
| 9 | Canada | 39 | 2025 | down 2.5% | flat |
| 9 | Switzerland | 39 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Estonia | 39 | 2025 | up 2.6% | flat |
| 9 | United Kingdom | 39 | 2025 | down 2.5% | flat |
| 9 | Netherlands | 39 | 2025 | down 2.5% | flat |
| 9 | Norway | 39 | 2025 | down 2.5% | flat |
| 9 | Portugal | 39 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | San Marino | 39 | 2025 | down 2.5% | falling |
| 9 | Slovenia | 39 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 19 | Andorra | 38 | 2025 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 19 | Austria | 38 | 2025 | up 2.7% | falling |
| 19 | Belgium | 38 | 2025 | down 5.0% | flat |
| 19 | Bahamas | 38 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 19 | Chile | 38 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 19 | Cape Verde | 38 | 2025 | up 2.7% | flat |
| 19 | Costa Rica | 38 | 2025 | up 2.7% | flat |
| 19 | Cyprus | 38 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 19 | France | 38 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 19 | Iceland | 38 | 2025 | down 5.0% | falling |
| 19 | Saint Lucia | 38 | 2025 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 19 | Lithuania | 38 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 19 | Luxembourg | 38 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 19 | Marshall Islands | 38 | 2025 | up 2.7% | flat |
| 19 | Taiwan | 38 | 2025 | up 2.7% | rising |
| 34 | Barbados | 37 | 2025 | down 7.5% | falling |
| 34 | Czechia | 37 | 2025 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 34 | Dominica | 37 | 2025 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 34 | Spain | 37 | 2025 | down 5.1% | falling |
| 34 | Micronesia (country) | 37 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 34 | Grenada | 37 | 2025 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 34 | Latvia | 37 | 2025 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 34 | Palau | 37 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 34 | Puerto Rico | 37 | 2015 | unchanged | flat |
| 34 | Tuvalu | 37 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 44 | Kiribati | 36 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 44 | Mongolia | 36 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 44 | Mauritius | 36 | 2025 | down 5.3% | flat |
| 44 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 36 | 2025 | down 2.7% | rising |
| 48 | Argentina | 35 | 2025 | up 12.9% | rising |
| 48 | Ghana | 35 | 2025 | down 5.4% | flat |
| 48 | Greece | 35 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 48 | Italy | 35 | 2025 | down 2.8% | falling |
| 48 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 35 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 48 | Malta | 35 | 2025 | down 10.3% | falling |
| 48 | Panama | 35 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 48 | Romania | 35 | 2025 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 48 | Sao Tome and Principe | 35 | 2025 | up 2.9% | rising |
| 48 | Suriname | 35 | 2025 | up 2.9% | flat |
| 48 | Slovakia | 35 | 2025 | down 2.8% | flat |
| 48 | Seychelles | 35 | 2025 | up 34.6% | rising |
| 60 | Belize | 34 | 2025 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 60 | Croatia | 34 | 2025 | down 8.1% | rising |
| 60 | Israel | 34 | 2025 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 60 | Jamaica | 34 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 60 | Poland | 34 | 2025 | down 10.5% | falling |
| 60 | Trinidad and Tobago | 34 | 2025 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 60 | South Africa | 34 | 2025 | up 3.0% | falling |
| 67 | Bhutan | 33 | 2025 | up 13.8% | rising |
| 67 | South Korea | 33 | 2025 | down 2.9% | falling |
| 67 | Liechtenstein | 33 | 2025 | down 15.4% | falling |
| 67 | East Timor | 33 | 2025 | up 13.8% | rising |
| 71 | Antigua and Barbuda | 32 | 2025 | down 3.0% | rising |
| 71 | Nauru | 32 | 2025 | down 8.6% | falling |
| 71 | United States | 32 | 2025 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 71 | Vanuatu | 32 | 2025 | up 3.2% | flat |
| 71 | Samoa | 32 | 2025 | up 3.2% | flat |
| 76 | Botswana | 31 | 2025 | up 10.7% | falling |
| 76 | Colombia | 31 | 2025 | up 6.9% | rising |
| 76 | India | 31 | 2025 | down 11.4% | flat |
| 76 | Liberia | 31 | 2025 | up 10.7% | rising |
| 76 | Lesotho | 31 | 2025 | up 10.7% | falling |
| 81 | Bulgaria | 30 | 2025 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 81 | Bolivia | 30 | 2025 | up 3.4% | falling |
| 81 | Brazil | 30 | 2025 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 81 | Malawi | 30 | 2025 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 81 | Senegal | 30 | 2025 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 86 | Guyana | 29 | 2025 | down 9.4% | flat |
| 86 | Sri Lanka | 29 | 2025 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 86 | Tonga | 29 | 2025 | down 6.5% | rising |
| 89 | Albania | 28 | 2025 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 89 | Fiji | 28 | 2025 | up 3.7% | rising |
| 89 | Indonesia | 28 | 2025 | down 9.7% | flat |
| 89 | North Macedonia | 28 | 2025 | up 27.3% | rising |
| 89 | Namibia | 28 | 2025 | down 6.7% | falling |
| 94 | Dominican Republic | 27 | 2025 | down 6.9% | falling |
| 94 | Ecuador | 27 | 2025 | up 12.5% | flat |
| 94 | Nepal | 27 | 2025 | up 8.0% | rising |
| 94 | Peru | 27 | 2025 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 94 | Solomon Islands | 27 | 2025 | up 8.0% | rising |
| 99 | Mexico | 26 | 2025 | down 7.1% | falling |
| 99 | Montenegro | 26 | 2025 | down 3.7% | falling |
| 99 | Paraguay | 26 | 2025 | down 3.7% | rising |
| 102 | Monaco | 25 | 2025 | down 19.4% | falling |
| 102 | Moldova | 25 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 102 | Philippines | 25 | 2025 | down 7.4% | falling |
| 105 | Hungary | 24 | 2025 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 106 | Armenia | 23 | 2025 | up 43.8% | rising |
| 106 | Sierra Leone | 23 | 2025 | down 17.9% | rising |
| 108 | Gambia | 22 | 2025 | up 340.0% | rising |
| 108 | Malaysia | 22 | 2025 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 108 | Papua New Guinea | 22 | 2025 | down 4.3% | falling |
| 108 | Ukraine | 22 | 2025 | down 12.0% | flat |
| 108 | Zambia | 22 | 2025 | down 15.4% | falling |
| 113 | Honduras | 21 | 2025 | up 10.5% | falling |
| 113 | Kenya | 21 | 2025 | down 4.5% | falling |
| 115 | Nigeria | 20 | 2025 | down 13.0% | rising |
| 116 | Benin | 19 | 2025 | down 42.4% | falling |
| 116 | Georgia | 19 | 2025 | down 29.6% | flat |
| 116 | Guatemala | 19 | 2025 | down 17.4% | falling |
| 116 | Maldives | 19 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 116 | Singapore | 19 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 121 | Serbia | 18 | 2025 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 122 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 17 | 2025 | down 22.7% | falling |
| 122 | Cote d'Ivoire | 17 | 2025 | down 15.0% | rising |
| 124 | Comoros | 16 | 2025 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 124 | Iraq | 16 | 2025 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 124 | Madagascar | 16 | 2025 | down 33.3% | rising |
| 124 | Turkey | 16 | 2025 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 128 | Bangladesh | 15 | 2025 | down 28.6% | falling |
| 128 | Lebanon | 15 | 2025 | up 15.4% | rising |
| 128 | Mauritania | 15 | 2025 | up 66.7% | rising |
| 128 | El Salvador | 15 | 2025 | down 54.5% | falling |
| 132 | Morocco | 13 | 2025 | down 13.3% | falling |
| 132 | Mozambique | 13 | 2025 | down 40.9% | falling |
| 134 | Jordan | 12 | 2025 | up 9.1% | falling |
| 134 | Pakistan | 12 | 2025 | down 40.0% | rising |
| 136 | Togo | 11 | 2025 | down 38.9% | rising |
| 136 | Thailand | 11 | 2025 | up 57.1% | volatile |
| 136 | Tunisia | 11 | 2025 | down 70.3% | volatile |
| 139 | Angola | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 139 | Algeria | 10 | 2025 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 139 | Uganda | 10 | 2025 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 142 | Hong Kong | 9 | 2025 | down 43.8% | falling |
| 143 | Ethiopia | 8 | 2025 | up 100.0% | falling |
| 143 | Zimbabwe | 8 | 2025 | down 33.3% | rising |
| 145 | Brunei | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 145 | Guinea-Bissau | 7 | 2025 | down 56.2% | falling |
| 145 | Kuwait | 7 | 2025 | down 46.2% | falling |
| 145 | Qatar | 7 | 2025 | down 22.2% | falling |
| 145 | Rwanda | 7 | 2025 | down 12.5% | falling |
| 150 | Cameroon | 6 | 2025 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 150 | Egypt | 6 | 2025 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 150 | Guinea | 6 | 2025 | down 64.7% | rising |
| 150 | Oman | 6 | 2025 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 150 | Tanzania | 6 | 2025 | down 77.8% | falling |
| 155 | United Arab Emirates | 5 | 2025 | down 28.6% | falling |
| 155 | Djibouti | 5 | 2025 | down 44.4% | falling |
| 155 | Gabon | 5 | 2025 | down 44.4% | volatile |
| 155 | Haiti | 5 | 2025 | down 70.6% | falling |
| 155 | Kazakhstan | 5 | 2025 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 160 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 4 | 2025 | down 55.6% | falling |
| 160 | Iran | 4 | 2025 | down 42.9% | falling |
| 160 | Kyrgyzstan | 4 | 2025 | down 71.4% | falling |
| 160 | Cambodia | 4 | 2025 | down 63.6% | falling |
| 160 | Russia | 4 | 2025 | down 42.9% | falling |
| 160 | Vietnam | 4 | 2025 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 166 | Mali | 3 | 2025 | down 82.4% | volatile |
| 166 | Niger | 3 | 2025 | down 87.5% | falling |
| 168 | Burundi | 2 | 2025 | down 60.0% | volatile |
| 168 | Burkina Faso | 2 | 2025 | down 90.5% | falling |
| 168 | Bahrain | 2 | 2025 | down 50.0% | volatile |
| 168 | Congo | 2 | 2025 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 168 | Laos | 2 | 2025 | up 100.0% | volatile |
| 168 | Libya | 2 | 2025 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 168 | Nicaragua | 2 | 2025 | down 89.5% | volatile |
| 168 | Somalia | 2 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 168 | Uzbekistan | 2 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 177 | Afghanistan | 1 | 2025 | down 90.0% | volatile |
| 177 | Belarus | 1 | 2025 | down 75.0% | falling |
| 177 | Central African Republic | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 177 | Eritrea | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 177 | Saudi Arabia | 1 | 2025 | down 66.7% | volatile |
| 177 | Eswatini | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 177 | Chad | 1 | 2025 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 177 | Yemen | 1 | 2025 | down 75.0% | volatile |
| 185 | Azerbaijan | 0 | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 185 | Cuba | 0 | 2025 | down 100.0% | falling |
| 185 | Equatorial Guinea | 0 | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 185 | Tajikistan | 0 | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 185 | Turkmenistan | 0 | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 185 | Venezuela | 0 | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 192 | China | -2 | 2025 | down 300.0% | volatile |
| 192 | Myanmar | -2 | 2025 | down 118.2% | volatile |
| 192 | Syria | -2 | 2025 | up 33.3% | volatile |
| 195 | Western Sahara | -3 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 196 | Sudan | -4 | 2025 | down 300.0% | volatile |
| 196 | South Sudan | -4 | 2025 | down 300.0% | volatile |
About this data
Identifies the fine-grained extent of free and fair elections, political pluralism and participation, and a functioning government. Higher scores indicate more rights.