What is varieties of democracy in Taiwan?

Varieties of democracy in Taiwan was 0.801 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Taiwan?

The highest recorded value was 0.845 in 2017.

What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Taiwan?

The lowest recorded value was 0.015 in 1939.

How does Taiwan rank for varieties of democracy?

Taiwan ranks 28th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Taiwan?

Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Taiwan 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 Taiwan

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

Taiwan: Varieties of democracy was 0.801 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.801

Change on year

down 0.4%

World rank

28th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.845

in 2017

All-time low

0.015

in 1939

Years of data

232

1789–2025

Varieties of democracy in Taiwan, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

Taiwan recorded 0.801 for varieties of democracy in 2025.

The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in Taiwan peaked at 0.845 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.015, in 1939.

That places Taiwan 28th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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	0.036	0.036	0.036	1
1790s	0.036	0.036	0.036	10
1800s	0.036	0.036	0.036	10
1810s	0.036	0.036	0.036	10
1820s	0.036	0.036	0.036	10
1830s	0.036	0.036	0.036	10
1840s	0.036	0.036	0.036	10
1850s	0.0332	0.033	0.035	10
1860s	0.0401	0.033	0.044	10
1870s	0.044	0.044	0.044	10
1880s	0.044	0.044	0.044	10
1890s	0.042	0.042	0.042	5
1900s	0.0177	0.017	0.018	10
1910s	0.0173	0.017	0.018	10
1920s	0.0182	0.018	0.019	10
1930s	0.0174	0.015	0.018	10
1940s	0.0377	0.015	0.098	10
1950s	0.0768	0.074	0.078	10
1960s	0.0813	0.081	0.083	10
1970s	0.114	0.111	0.118	10
1980s	0.1619	0.126	0.24	10
1990s	0.4243	0.263	0.659	10
2000s	0.781	0.771	0.794	10
2010s	0.8169	0.798	0.845	10
2020s	0.8158	0.801	0.827	6

Countries ranked near Taiwan

26 Iceland 0.807 compare
27 Jamaica 0.805 compare
29 Barbados 0.797 compare
30 Lithuania 0.786 compare
30 Trinidad and Tobago 0.786 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Taiwan

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Liberal democracy 3 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.704 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.93 (2025)
Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.93 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.801 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.704 (2025)
Human Rights Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index 0.93 (2025)

All data for Taiwan →

Frequently asked questions

What is varieties of democracy in Taiwan?: Varieties of democracy in Taiwan was 0.801 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in Taiwan?: The highest recorded value was 0.845 in 2017.
What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in Taiwan?: The lowest recorded value was 0.015 in 1939.
How does Taiwan rank for varieties of democracy?: Taiwan ranks 28th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in Taiwan?: Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Taiwan 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 — 232 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.