What is the highest meaningful democratic electoral institutions recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 1 in 1995.

What is the lowest meaningful democratic electoral institutions recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.

How does South Africa rank for meaningful democratic electoral institutions?

South Africa ranks 1st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is meaningful democratic electoral institutions rising or falling in South Africa?

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

Where does this South Africa data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Meaningful democratic electoral institutions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Africa

Name: Meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Africa
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Africa: Meaningful democratic electoral institutions was 1 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 176 countries

All-time high

in 1995

All-time low

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Africa, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Africa stood at 1. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Africa peaked at 1 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.

South Africa ranks 1st of 176 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0	0	0	10
1910s	0	0	0	10
1920s	0	0	0	10
1930s	0	0	0	10
1940s	0	0	0	10
1950s	0	0	0	10
1960s	0	0	0	10
1970s	0	0	0	10
1980s	0	0	0	10
1990s	0.5	0	1	10
2000s	1	1	1	10
2010s	1	1	1	10
2020s	1	1	1	6

Countries ranked near South Africa

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Africa?: Meaningful democratic electoral institutions in South Africa was 1 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest meaningful democratic electoral institutions recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 1 in 1995.
What is the lowest meaningful democratic electoral institutions recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
How does South Africa rank for meaningful democratic electoral institutions?: South Africa ranks 1st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is meaningful democratic electoral institutions rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Meaningful democratic electoral institutions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Meaningful democratic electoral institutions
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 whether the country is meaningfully an electoral democracy. This includes the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.