Which has higher democracy, Malaysia or United States?

Malaysia, at 2 against 2 in United States as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and United States?

126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Malaysia vs United States: Democracy

Malaysia

in 2025

United States

in 2025

Malaysia rank

32nd

United States rank

32nd

Democracy over time

Malaysia
United States

How they compare

Malaysia currently reports 2 against 2 in United States, a difference of 0.

Across all 126 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

Malaysia ranks 32nd and United States ranks 32nd of 176 countries.

United States has averaged higher in every one of the 13 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Malaysia	United States	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0	1	1	United States
1910s	0	1	1	United States
1920s	0	2	2	United States
1930s	0	2	2	United States
1940s	0	2	2	United States
1950s	0.5	2	1.5	United States
1960s	1	2.1	1.1	United States
1970s	0.6	3	2.4	United States
1980s	1	3	2	United States
1990s	1	3	2	United States
2000s	1	3	2	United States
2010s	1	3	2	United States
2020s	1.5	2.83	1.33	United States

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher democracy, Malaysia or United States?: Malaysia, at 2 against 2 in United States as of 2025.
What is the difference in democracy between Malaysia and United States?: 0, with Malaysia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and United States?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Malaysia and United States rank globally for democracy?: Malaysia ranks 32nd and United States ranks 32nd of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Democracy. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Democracy
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 29,594 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Identifies the political regime of a country by distinguishing between closed autocracies, electoral autocracies, electoral democracies, and liberal democracies.