Varieties of democracy in France
France: Varieties of democracy was 0.865 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.865
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
9th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.89
in 2012
All-time low
0.082
in 1941
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Varieties of democracy in France, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for varieties of democracy in France is 0.865, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in France peaked at 0.89 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.082, in 1941.
That places France 9th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Varieties of democracy in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.256 | — |
| 1790 | 0.263 | +2.7% |
| 1791 | 0.233 | -11.4% |
| 1792 | 0.246 | +5.6% |
| 1793 | 0.275 | +11.8% |
| 1794 | 0.275 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.268 | -2.5% |
| 1796 | 0.269 | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 0.269 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.269 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.269 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.118 | -56.1% |
| 1801 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.118 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.093 | -21.2% |
| 1815 | 0.183 | +96.8% |
| 1816 | 0.185 | +1.1% |
| 1817 | 0.184 | -0.5% |
| 1818 | 0.184 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.185 | +0.5% |
| 1820 | 0.13 | -29.7% |
| 1821 | 0.186 | +43.1% |
| 1822 | 0.176 | -5.4% |
| 1823 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.174 | -1.1% |
| 1825 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.173 | -0.6% |
| 1829 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.205 | +18.5% |
| 1831 | 0.206 | +0.5% |
| 1832 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.205 | -0.5% |
| 1840 | 0.205 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.205 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.206 | +0.5% |
| 1843 | 0.207 | +0.5% |
| 1844 | 0.207 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.207 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.207 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.206 | -0.5% |
| 1848 | 0.398 | +93.2% |
| 1849 | 0.479 | +20.4% |
| 1850 | 0.479 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.294 | -38.6% |
| 1852 | 0.161 | -45.2% |
| 1853 | 0.175 | +8.7% |
| 1854 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.197 | +12.6% |
| 1862 | 0.203 | +3.0% |
| 1863 | 0.202 | -0.5% |
| 1864 | 0.202 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.202 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.202 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.202 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.202 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.203 | +0.5% |
| 1870 | 0.319 | +57.1% |
| 1871 | 0.449 | +40.8% |
| 1872 | 0.48 | +6.9% |
| 1873 | 0.48 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.505 | +5.2% |
| 1875 | 0.505 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.508 | +0.6% |
| 1877 | 0.509 | +0.2% |
| 1878 | 0.522 | +2.6% |
| 1879 | 0.538 | +3.1% |
| 1880 | 0.548 | +1.9% |
| 1881 | 0.547 | -0.2% |
| 1882 | 0.545 | -0.4% |
| 1883 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.546 | +0.2% |
| 1886 | 0.547 | +0.2% |
| 1887 | 0.547 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.547 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.546 | -0.2% |
| 1890 | 0.545 | -0.2% |
| 1891 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.541 | -0.7% |
| 1894 | 0.542 | +0.2% |
| 1895 | 0.542 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.542 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.542 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.551 | +1.7% |
| 1899 | 0.55 | -0.2% |
| 1900 | 0.555 | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 0.562 | +1.3% |
| 1902 | 0.561 | -0.2% |
| 1903 | 0.561 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.561 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.561 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.56 | -0.2% |
| 1907 | 0.559 | -0.2% |
| 1908 | 0.559 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.559 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.564 | +0.9% |
| 1911 | 0.566 | +0.4% |
| 1912 | 0.566 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.566 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.512 | -9.5% |
| 1915 | 0.513 | +0.2% |
| 1916 | 0.513 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.513 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.519 | +1.2% |
| 1919 | 0.533 | +2.7% |
| 1920 | 0.566 | +6.2% |
| 1921 | 0.566 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.566 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.566 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.564 | -0.4% |
| 1925 | 0.56 | -0.7% |
| 1926 | 0.56 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.56 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.561 | +0.2% |
| 1929 | 0.561 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.561 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.561 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.56 | -0.2% |
| 1933 | 0.56 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.559 | -0.2% |
| 1935 | 0.557 | -0.4% |
| 1936 | 0.552 | -0.9% |
| 1937 | 0.552 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.552 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.534 | -3.3% |
| 1940 | 0.186 | -65.2% |
| 1941 | 0.082 | -55.9% |
| 1942 | 0.082 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.082 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.084 | +2.4% |
| 1945 | 0.208 | +147.6% |
| 1946 | 0.362 | +74.0% |
| 1947 | 0.705 | +94.8% |
| 1948 | 0.737 | +4.5% |
| 1949 | 0.737 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.747 | +1.4% |
| 1951 | 0.748 | +0.1% |
| 1952 | 0.748 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.748 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.722 | -3.5% |
| 1955 | 0.736 | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 0.743 | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 0.751 | +1.1% |
| 1958 | 0.754 | +0.4% |
| 1959 | 0.747 | -0.9% |
| 1960 | 0.748 | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 0.748 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.749 | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 0.775 | +3.5% |
| 1964 | 0.775 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.775 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.775 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.782 | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 0.78 | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 0.805 | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 0.829 | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 0.835 | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 0.828 | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 0.84 | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 0.844 | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 0.852 | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 0.852 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.852 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.854 | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 0.854 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.854 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.862 | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 0.867 | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.864 | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 0.864 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.874 | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 0.875 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 0.875 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.875 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.875 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.875 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.875 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.869 | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 0.874 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.873 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 0.873 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.873 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.873 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.874 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.874 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.877 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 0.885 | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 0.885 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.885 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.887 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 0.89 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 0.89 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.889 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 0.883 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.883 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.886 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 0.874 | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 0.866 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.868 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 0.875 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 0.871 | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 0.864 | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 0.865 | +0.1% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 0.865 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.786, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- France's 0.865 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.737, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Varieties of democracy in France changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | +147.6% | 0.084 | 0.208 |
| 1815 | +96.8% | 0.093 | 0.183 |
| 1947 | +94.8% | 0.362 | 0.705 |
| 1848 | +93.2% | 0.206 | 0.398 |
| 1946 | +74.0% | 0.208 | 0.362 |
| 1940 | -65.2% | 0.534 | 0.186 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.256 | 0.256 | 0.256 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.2636 | 0.233 | 0.275 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.118 | 0.118 | 0.118 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.1486 | 0.093 | 0.185 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.171 | 0.13 | 0.186 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.2058 | 0.205 | 0.206 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.2527 | 0.205 | 0.479 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.2159 | 0.161 | 0.479 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.199 | 0.175 | 0.203 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.4815 | 0.319 | 0.538 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.5463 | 0.545 | 0.548 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.5445 | 0.541 | 0.551 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.5598 | 0.555 | 0.562 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.5365 | 0.512 | 0.566 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.563 | 0.56 | 0.566 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.5548 | 0.534 | 0.561 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.3265 | 0.082 | 0.737 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.7444 | 0.722 | 0.754 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.7712 | 0.748 | 0.805 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.844 | 0.828 | 0.854 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8661 | 0.854 | 0.875 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8738 | 0.869 | 0.875 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8763 | 0.873 | 0.885 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8833 | 0.866 | 0.89 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8682 | 0.864 | 0.875 | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 7 Switzerland 0.882 compare
- 8 Luxembourg 0.869 compare
- 10 Costa Rica 0.862 compare
- 10 Uruguay 0.862 compare
- 12 Finland 0.852 compare
More social development data for France
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 788,419 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 166 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 166 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0115 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is varieties of democracy in France?
- Varieties of democracy in France was 0.865 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 0.89 in 2012.
- What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.082 in 1941.
- How does France rank for varieties of democracy?
- France ranks 9th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.