What is varieties of democracy in United Kingdom?

Varieties of democracy in United Kingdom was 0.772 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in United Kingdom?

The highest recorded value was 0.875 in 2018.

What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in United Kingdom?

The lowest recorded value was 0.243 in 1789.

How does United Kingdom rank for varieties of democracy?

United Kingdom ranks 37th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in United Kingdom?

Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom

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

United Kingdom: Varieties of democracy was 0.772 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.772

Change on year

down 7.2%

World rank

37th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.875

in 2018

All-time low

0.243

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Varieties of democracy in United Kingdom, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for varieties of democracy in United Kingdom is 0.772, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, varieties of democracy in United Kingdom peaked at 0.875 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.243, in 1789.

That places United Kingdom 37th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.243	0.243	0.243	1
1790s	0.2719	0.264	0.278	10
1800s	0.2722	0.27	0.276	10
1810s	0.2697	0.258	0.276	10
1820s	0.2722	0.262	0.288	10
1830s	0.2981	0.285	0.306	10
1840s	0.3125	0.311	0.318	10
1850s	0.3163	0.314	0.322	10
1860s	0.3272	0.316	0.348	10
1870s	0.355	0.345	0.365	10
1880s	0.4083	0.373	0.442	10
1890s	0.4577	0.442	0.466	10
1900s	0.4764	0.471	0.477	10
1910s	0.4927	0.464	0.696	10
1920s	0.712	0.706	0.717	10
1930s	0.7212	0.697	0.725	10
1940s	0.7366	0.7	0.791	10
1950s	0.8058	0.802	0.811	10
1960s	0.8158	0.808	0.829	10
1970s	0.8234	0.821	0.825	10
1980s	0.8035	0.802	0.805	10
1990s	0.8163	0.811	0.835	10
2000s	0.8618	0.848	0.87	10
2010s	0.8627	0.854	0.875	10
2020s	0.838	0.772	0.871	6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

35 Suriname 0.781 compare
36 Cyprus 0.773 compare
38 Poland 0.768 compare
39 Seychelles 0.76 compare
40 Cape Verde 0.745 compare
40 Italy 0.745 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for United Kingdom

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 581,072 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 517 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Liberal democracy 2 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.689 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.844 (2025)
Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.844 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.772 (2025)

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is varieties of democracy in United Kingdom?: Varieties of democracy in United Kingdom was 0.772 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest varieties of democracy recorded in United Kingdom?: The highest recorded value was 0.875 in 2018.
What is the lowest varieties of democracy recorded in United Kingdom?: The lowest recorded value was 0.243 in 1789.
How does United Kingdom rank for varieties of democracy?: United Kingdom ranks 37th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is varieties of democracy rising or falling in United Kingdom?: Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom 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.