What is varieties of democracy in Spain?

Varieties of democracy in Spain was 0.822 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Spain?

The highest recorded value was 0.894 in 1997.

What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Spain?

The lowest recorded value was 0.019 in 1789.

How does Spain rank for varieties of democracy?

Spain ranks 22nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Spain?

Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Spain 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 Spain

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

Spain: Varieties of democracy was 0.822 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.822

Change on year

down 0.5%

World rank

22nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.894

in 1997

All-time low

0.019

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Varieties of democracy in Spain, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for varieties of democracy in Spain is 0.822, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in Spain peaked at 0.894 in 1997 and was at its lowest, 0.019, in 1789.

Spain ranks 22nd 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	0.019	0.019	0.019	1
1790s	0.019	0.019	0.019	10
1800s	0.0278	0.019	0.069	10
1810s	0.0603	0.033	0.121	10
1820s	0.0912	0.038	0.18	10
1830s	0.0898	0.038	0.16	10
1840s	0.1313	0.119	0.177	10
1850s	0.128	0.119	0.144	10
1860s	0.145	0.125	0.268	10
1870s	0.2047	0.137	0.268	10
1880s	0.1557	0.141	0.159	10
1890s	0.1823	0.159	0.186	10
1900s	0.1827	0.181	0.185	10
1910s	0.1794	0.178	0.181	10
1920s	0.0994	0.061	0.18	10
1930s	0.3925	0.063	0.559	10
1940s	0.0691	0.069	0.07	10
1950s	0.0691	0.069	0.07	10
1960s	0.0797	0.07	0.104	10
1970s	0.2838	0.104	0.859	10
1980s	0.8845	0.867	0.891	10
1990s	0.8927	0.892	0.894	10
2000s	0.8837	0.875	0.893	10
2010s	0.868	0.835	0.893	10
2020s	0.8475	0.822	0.874	6

Countries ranked near Spain

19 Latvia 0.834 compare
20 Netherlands 0.832 compare
21 Germany 0.828 compare
22 Portugal 0.822 compare
24 Japan 0.819 compare
24 South Korea 0.819 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Spain

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 511,079 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 186 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.741 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.942 (2025)
Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.942 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.822 (2025)

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is varieties of democracy in Spain?: Varieties of democracy in Spain was 0.822 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Spain?: The highest recorded value was 0.894 in 1997.
What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Spain?: The lowest recorded value was 0.019 in 1789.
How does Spain rank for varieties of democracy?: Spain ranks 22nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Spain?: Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Spain 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.