Varieties of democracy in Philippines
Philippines: Varieties of democracy was 0.392 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.392
Change on year
down 4.6%
World rank
102nd
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.585
in 2000
All-time low
0.059
in 1942
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Varieties of democracy in Philippines, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for varieties of democracy in Philippines is 0.392, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 4.6% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in Philippines peaked at 0.585 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.059, in 1942.
That places Philippines 102nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Varieties of democracy in Philippines, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.065 | — |
| 1901 | 0.067 | +3.1% |
| 1902 | 0.068 | +1.5% |
| 1903 | 0.07 | +2.9% |
| 1904 | 0.07 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.07 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.071 | +1.4% |
| 1907 | 0.112 | +57.7% |
| 1908 | 0.143 | +27.7% |
| 1909 | 0.147 | +2.8% |
| 1910 | 0.158 | +7.5% |
| 1911 | 0.158 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.156 | -1.3% |
| 1913 | 0.154 | -1.3% |
| 1914 | 0.154 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.154 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.159 | +3.2% |
| 1917 | 0.164 | +3.1% |
| 1918 | 0.165 | +0.6% |
| 1919 | 0.17 | +3.0% |
| 1920 | 0.176 | +3.5% |
| 1921 | 0.176 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.168 | -4.5% |
| 1923 | 0.162 | -3.6% |
| 1924 | 0.162 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.17 | +4.9% |
| 1926 | 0.175 | +2.9% |
| 1927 | 0.175 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.168 | -4.0% |
| 1929 | 0.164 | -2.4% |
| 1930 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.162 | -1.2% |
| 1932 | 0.158 | -2.5% |
| 1933 | 0.158 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.169 | +7.0% |
| 1935 | 0.198 | +17.2% |
| 1936 | 0.228 | +15.2% |
| 1937 | 0.25 | +9.6% |
| 1938 | 0.249 | -0.4% |
| 1939 | 0.247 | -0.8% |
| 1940 | 0.257 | +4.0% |
| 1941 | 0.233 | -9.3% |
| 1942 | 0.059 | -74.7% |
| 1943 | 0.079 | +33.9% |
| 1944 | 0.134 | +69.6% |
| 1945 | 0.128 | -4.5% |
| 1946 | 0.3 | +134.4% |
| 1947 | 0.349 | +16.3% |
| 1948 | 0.349 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.347 | -0.6% |
| 1950 | 0.342 | -1.4% |
| 1951 | 0.346 | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 0.346 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.349 | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 0.368 | +5.4% |
| 1955 | 0.375 | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 0.375 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.376 | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 0.382 | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 0.382 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.402 | +5.2% |
| 1961 | 0.399 | -0.7% |
| 1962 | 0.398 | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 0.398 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.398 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.404 | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 0.392 | -3.0% |
| 1967 | 0.392 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.391 | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 0.387 | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 0.35 | -9.6% |
| 1971 | 0.331 | -5.4% |
| 1972 | 0.141 | -57.4% |
| 1973 | 0.077 | -45.4% |
| 1974 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.155 | +101.3% |
| 1979 | 0.167 | +7.7% |
| 1980 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.171 | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 0.174 | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 0.177 | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 0.179 | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 0.182 | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 0.235 | +29.1% |
| 1987 | 0.431 | +83.4% |
| 1988 | 0.552 | +28.1% |
| 1989 | 0.552 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.565 | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 0.565 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.555 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 0.542 | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 0.542 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.55 | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 0.555 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.579 | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 0.576 | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 0.585 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 0.545 | -6.8% |
| 2002 | 0.531 | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 0.529 | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 0.486 | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 0.463 | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 0.463 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.459 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 0.456 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 0.46 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 0.506 | +10.0% |
| 2011 | 0.524 | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 0.524 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.521 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 0.521 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.522 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 0.485 | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 0.469 | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 0.45 | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 0.428 | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 0.405 | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 0.411 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.416 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 0.411 | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 0.392 | -4.6% |
Philippines compared with similar countries
- Philippines's 0.392 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.491, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Philippines's 0.392 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.4645, 84% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Varieties of democracy in Philippines 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +134.4% | 0.128 | 0.3 |
| 1978 | +101.3% | 0.077 | 0.155 |
| 1987 | +83.4% | 0.235 | 0.431 |
| 1942 | -74.7% | 0.233 | 0.059 |
| 1944 | +69.6% | 0.079 | 0.134 |
| 1907 | +57.7% | 0.071 | 0.112 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.0883 | 0.065 | 0.147 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.1592 | 0.154 | 0.17 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.1696 | 0.162 | 0.176 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1983 | 0.158 | 0.25 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.2235 | 0.059 | 0.349 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.3641 | 0.342 | 0.382 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.3961 | 0.387 | 0.404 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1529 | 0.077 | 0.35 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.282 | 0.167 | 0.552 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5584 | 0.542 | 0.579 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4977 | 0.456 | 0.585 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.495 | 0.428 | 0.524 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4077 | 0.392 | 0.416 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Philippines
More social development data for Philippines
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,032 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 807 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (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 807 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is varieties of democracy in Philippines?
- Varieties of democracy in Philippines was 0.392 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Philippines?
- The highest recorded value was 0.585 in 2000.
- What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Philippines?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.059 in 1942.
- How does Philippines rank for varieties of democracy?
- Philippines ranks 102nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Philippines?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Philippines 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 — 126 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.