What is varieties of democracy in Eswatini?

Varieties of democracy in Eswatini was 0.128 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Eswatini?

The highest recorded value was 0.209 in 1970.

What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Eswatini?

The lowest recorded value was 0.047 in 1909.

How does Eswatini rank for varieties of democracy?

Eswatini ranks 164th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Eswatini?

Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Eswatini data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Varieties of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Varieties of democracy in Eswatini

Name: Varieties of democracy in Eswatini
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Eswatini: Varieties of democracy was 0.128 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.128

Change on year

down 0.8%

World rank

164th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.209

in 1970

All-time low

0.047

in 1909

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Varieties of democracy in Eswatini, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, varieties of democracy in Eswatini stood at 0.128.

That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in Eswatini peaked at 0.209 in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0.047, in 1909.

That places Eswatini 164th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Varieties of democracy in Eswatini, year by year

Annual values for Varieties of democracy in Eswatini, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.051	—
1901	0.051	+0.0%
1902	0.052	+2.0%
1903	0.052	+0.0%
1904	0.052	+0.0%
1905	0.052	+0.0%
1906	0.052	+0.0%
1907	0.052	+0.0%
1908	0.05	-3.8%
1909	0.047	-6.0%
1910	0.047	+0.0%
1911	0.047	+0.0%
1912	0.047	+0.0%
1913	0.047	+0.0%
1914	0.047	+0.0%
1915	0.047	+0.0%
1916	0.047	+0.0%
1917	0.047	+0.0%
1918	0.047	+0.0%
1919	0.047	+0.0%
1920	0.047	+0.0%
1921	0.049	+4.3%
1922	0.049	+0.0%
1923	0.049	+0.0%
1924	0.049	+0.0%
1925	0.049	+0.0%
1926	0.049	+0.0%
1927	0.049	+0.0%
1928	0.049	+0.0%
1929	0.049	+0.0%
1930	0.049	+0.0%
1931	0.049	+0.0%
1932	0.049	+0.0%
1933	0.049	+0.0%
1934	0.049	+0.0%
1935	0.049	+0.0%
1936	0.049	+0.0%
1937	0.049	+0.0%
1938	0.049	+0.0%
1939	0.049	+0.0%
1940	0.049	+0.0%
1941	0.049	+0.0%
1942	0.049	+0.0%
1943	0.049	+0.0%
1944	0.049	+0.0%
1945	0.049	+0.0%
1946	0.049	+0.0%
1947	0.049	+0.0%
1948	0.049	+0.0%
1949	0.049	+0.0%
1950	0.049	+0.0%
1951	0.049	+0.0%
1952	0.049	+0.0%
1953	0.049	+0.0%
1954	0.049	+0.0%
1955	0.049	+0.0%
1956	0.049	+0.0%
1957	0.049	+0.0%
1958	0.049	+0.0%
1959	0.049	+0.0%
1960	0.049	+0.0%
1961	0.054	+10.2%
1962	0.054	+0.0%
1963	0.061	+13.0%
1964	0.143	+134.4%
1965	0.173	+21.0%
1966	0.182	+5.2%
1967	0.184	+1.1%
1968	0.203	+10.3%
1969	0.208	+2.5%
1970	0.209	+0.5%
1971	0.206	-1.4%
1972	0.204	-1.0%
1973	0.128	-37.3%
1974	0.09	-29.7%
1975	0.09	+0.0%
1976	0.09	+0.0%
1977	0.09	+0.0%
1978	0.097	+7.8%
1979	0.131	+35.1%
1980	0.131	+0.0%
1981	0.131	+0.0%
1982	0.131	+0.0%
1983	0.131	+0.0%
1984	0.126	-3.8%
1985	0.126	+0.0%
1986	0.126	+0.0%
1987	0.126	+0.0%
1988	0.122	-3.2%
1989	0.122	+0.0%
1990	0.124	+1.6%
1991	0.124	+0.0%
1992	0.124	+0.0%
1993	0.122	-1.6%
1994	0.117	-4.1%
1995	0.117	+0.0%
1996	0.115	-1.7%
1997	0.115	+0.0%
1998	0.117	+1.7%
1999	0.123	+5.1%
2000	0.124	+0.8%
2001	0.125	+0.8%
2002	0.125	+0.0%
2003	0.125	+0.0%
2004	0.123	-1.6%
2005	0.128	+4.1%
2006	0.129	+0.8%
2007	0.129	+0.0%
2008	0.127	-1.6%
2009	0.124	-2.4%
2010	0.125	+0.8%
2011	0.125	+0.0%
2012	0.125	+0.0%
2013	0.13	+4.0%
2014	0.131	+0.8%
2015	0.131	+0.0%
2016	0.131	+0.0%
2017	0.132	+0.8%
2018	0.132	+0.0%
2019	0.133	+0.8%
2020	0.132	-0.8%
2021	0.12	-9.1%
2022	0.117	-2.5%
2023	0.121	+3.4%
2024	0.129	+6.6%
2025	0.128	-0.8%

Eswatini compared with similar countries

Eswatini's 0.128 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.3475, 37% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Eswatini's 0.128 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.317, 40% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.0511	0.047	0.052	10
1910s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1920s	0.0488	0.047	0.049	10
1930s	0.049	0.049	0.049	10
1940s	0.049	0.049	0.049	10
1950s	0.049	0.049	0.049	10
1960s	0.1311	0.049	0.208	10
1970s	0.1335	0.09	0.209	10
1980s	0.1272	0.122	0.131	10
1990s	0.1198	0.115	0.124	10
2000s	0.1259	0.123	0.129	10
2010s	0.1295	0.125	0.133	10
2020s	0.1245	0.117	0.132	6

Countries ranked near Eswatini

161 Burkina Faso 0.134 compare
162 South Sudan 0.133 compare
163 Sudan 0.13 compare
164 Syria 0.128 compare
166 Yemen 0.127 compare
167 United Arab Emirates 0.104 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Eswatini

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,414 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0011 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Eswatini →

Frequently asked questions

What is varieties of democracy in Eswatini?: Varieties of democracy in Eswatini was 0.128 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Eswatini?: The highest recorded value was 0.209 in 1970.
What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Eswatini?: The lowest recorded value was 0.047 in 1909.
How does Eswatini rank for varieties of democracy?: Eswatini ranks 164th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Eswatini?: Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Eswatini data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Varieties of democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Varieties of democracy in Eswatini. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/varieties-democracy-vdem/eswatini/

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About this data

Indicator: Varieties of democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,649 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.