Democratic Electoral Institutions Score in South Africa
South Africa: Democratic Electoral Institutions Score was 12 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
12
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 197 countries
All-time high
12
in 2005
All-time low
12
in 2005
Years of data
21
2005–2025
Democratic Electoral Institutions Score in South Africa, 2005–2025
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for democratic electoral institutions score in South Africa is 12, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democratic electoral institutions score in South Africa peaked at 12 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 12, in 2005.
South Africa ranks 1st of 197 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Democratic Electoral Institutions Score in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 12 | — |
| 2006 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 12 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3, 4.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 5 |
| 2010s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| 2020s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Andorra 12 compare
- 1 Australia 12 compare
- 1 Austria 12 compare
- 1 Bahamas 12 compare
- 1 Barbados 12 compare
- 1 Belgium 12 compare
- 1 Bhutan 12 compare
- 1 Canada 12 compare
- 1 Cape Verde 12 compare
- 1 Chile 12 compare
- 1 Costa Rica 12 compare
- 1 Croatia 12 compare
- 1 Cyprus 12 compare
- 1 Czechia 12 compare
- 1 Denmark 12 compare
- 1 Estonia 12 compare
- 1 Finland 12 compare
- 1 France 12 compare
- 1 Germany 12 compare
- 1 Ghana 12 compare
- 1 Greece 12 compare
- 1 Iceland 12 compare
- 1 Ireland 12 compare
- 1 Israel 12 compare
- 1 Italy 12 compare
- 1 Japan 12 compare
- 1 Latvia 12 compare
- 1 Lithuania 12 compare
- 1 Luxembourg 12 compare
- 1 Malta 12 compare
- 1 Marshall Islands 12 compare
- 1 Micronesia (country) 12 compare
- 1 Netherlands 12 compare
- 1 New Zealand 12 compare
- 1 Norway 12 compare
- 1 Palau 12 compare
- 1 Panama 12 compare
- 1 Portugal 12 compare
- 1 Puerto Rico 12 compare
- 1 Romania 12 compare
- 1 San Marino 12 compare
- 1 Seychelles 12 compare
- 1 Slovakia 12 compare
- 1 Slovenia 12 compare
- 1 Spain 12 compare
- 1 Suriname 12 compare
- 1 Sweden 12 compare
- 1 Switzerland 12 compare
- 1 Taiwan 12 compare
- 1 Tuvalu 12 compare
- 1 United Kingdom 12 compare
- 1 Uruguay 12 compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democratic electoral institutions score in South Africa?
- Democratic electoral institutions score in South Africa was 12 in 2025, according to Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democratic electoral institutions score recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12 in 2005.
- What is the lowest democratic electoral institutions score recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12 in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for democratic electoral institutions score?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is democratic electoral institutions score rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democratic Electoral Institutions Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The variable identifies the extent to which the chief executive and legislature are chosen in free and fair elections under universal suffrage. Higher scores indicate a freer electoral process.