What is varieties of democracy in Japan?

Varieties of democracy in Japan was 0.819 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Japan?

The highest recorded value was 0.854 in 2009.

What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Japan?

The lowest recorded value was 0.025 in 1789.

How does Japan rank for varieties of democracy?

Japan ranks 24th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Japan?

Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Japan 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 Japan

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

Japan: Varieties of democracy was 0.819 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.819

Change on year

down 0.4%

World rank

24th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.854

in 2009

All-time low

0.025

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Varieties of democracy in Japan, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, varieties of democracy in Japan stood at 0.819.

That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in Japan peaked at 0.854 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.025, in 1789.

Japan ranks 24th of 176 countries on this measure, 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	0.025	0.025	0.025	1
1790s	0.027	0.027	0.027	10
1800s	0.027	0.027	0.027	10
1810s	0.027	0.027	0.027	10
1820s	0.027	0.027	0.027	10
1830s	0.027	0.027	0.027	10
1840s	0.027	0.027	0.027	10
1850s	0.029	0.029	0.029	10
1860s	0.0315	0.029	0.047	10
1870s	0.083	0.083	0.083	10
1880s	0.083	0.083	0.083	10
1890s	0.155	0.129	0.166	10
1900s	0.173	0.171	0.175	10
1910s	0.177	0.174	0.184	10
1920s	0.1964	0.185	0.211	10
1930s	0.1909	0.167	0.205	10
1940s	0.2313	0.137	0.372	10
1950s	0.7018	0.375	0.829	10
1960s	0.8305	0.829	0.831	10
1970s	0.8352	0.832	0.838	10
1980s	0.8355	0.834	0.838	10
1990s	0.8369	0.835	0.839	10
2000s	0.8429	0.838	0.854	10
2010s	0.8299	0.815	0.852	10
2020s	0.8242	0.819	0.831	6

Countries ranked near Japan

21 Germany 0.828 compare
22 Portugal 0.822 compare
22 Spain 0.822 compare
24 South Korea 0.819 compare
26 Iceland 0.807 compare
27 Jamaica 0.805 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Japan

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 42,450 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 56 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.734 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.925 (2025)
Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.925 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.819 (2025)

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is varieties of democracy in Japan?: Varieties of democracy in Japan was 0.819 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Japan?: The highest recorded value was 0.854 in 2009.
What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Japan?: The lowest recorded value was 0.025 in 1789.
How does Japan rank for varieties of democracy?: Japan ranks 24th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Japan?: Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan 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

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: 07 August 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.