Free and Fair Elections Index in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Free and Fair Elections Index was 0.18 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Free and Fair Elections Index in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for free and fair elections index in Democratic Republic of Congo is 0.18, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, free and fair elections index in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 0.487 in 1961 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 135th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Free and Fair Elections Index in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0 | — |
| 1901 | 0 | — |
| 1902 | 0 | — |
| 1903 | 0 | — |
| 1904 | 0 | — |
| 1905 | 0 | — |
| 1906 | 0 | — |
| 1907 | 0 | — |
| 1908 | 0 | — |
| 1909 | 0 | — |
| 1910 | 0 | — |
| 1911 | 0 | — |
| 1912 | 0 | — |
| 1913 | 0 | — |
| 1914 | 0 | — |
| 1915 | 0 | — |
| 1916 | 0 | — |
| 1917 | 0 | — |
| 1918 | 0 | — |
| 1919 | 0 | — |
| 1920 | 0 | — |
| 1921 | 0 | — |
| 1922 | 0 | — |
| 1923 | 0 | — |
| 1924 | 0 | — |
| 1925 | 0 | — |
| 1926 | 0 | — |
| 1927 | 0 | — |
| 1928 | 0 | — |
| 1929 | 0 | — |
| 1930 | 0 | — |
| 1931 | 0 | — |
| 1932 | 0 | — |
| 1933 | 0 | — |
| 1934 | 0 | — |
| 1935 | 0 | — |
| 1936 | 0 | — |
| 1937 | 0 | — |
| 1938 | 0 | — |
| 1939 | 0 | — |
| 1940 | 0 | — |
| 1941 | 0 | — |
| 1942 | 0 | — |
| 1943 | 0 | — |
| 1944 | 0 | — |
| 1945 | 0 | — |
| 1946 | 0 | — |
| 1947 | 0 | — |
| 1948 | 0 | — |
| 1949 | 0 | — |
| 1950 | 0 | — |
| 1951 | 0 | — |
| 1952 | 0 | — |
| 1953 | 0 | — |
| 1954 | 0 | — |
| 1955 | 0 | — |
| 1956 | 0 | — |
| 1957 | 0 | — |
| 1958 | 0 | — |
| 1959 | 0 | — |
| 1960 | 0.325 | — |
| 1961 | 0.487 | +49.8% |
| 1962 | 0.487 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.487 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.487 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.294 | -39.6% |
| 1966 | 0.16 | -45.6% |
| 1967 | 0.162 | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 0.162 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.162 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.148 | -8.6% |
| 1971 | 0.039 | -73.6% |
| 1972 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.039 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.029 | -25.6% |
| 1977 | 0.03 | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 0.036 | +20.0% |
| 1979 | 0.036 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.038 | +5.6% |
| 1981 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.038 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.04 | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 0.039 | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 0.037 | -5.1% |
| 1986 | 0.037 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.041 | +10.8% |
| 1988 | 0.049 | +19.5% |
| 1989 | 0.049 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.046 | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 0.042 | -8.7% |
| 1992 | 0.038 | -9.5% |
| 1993 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 0.116 | — |
| 2007 | 0.265 | +128.4% |
| 2008 | 0.265 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.265 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.243 | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 0.236 | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 0.172 | -27.1% |
| 2013 | 0.157 | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 0.158 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 0.152 | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 0.152 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.15 | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 0.153 | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 0.196 | +28.1% |
| 2020 | 0.199 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 0.199 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.191 | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 0.191 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.18 | -5.8% |
| 2025 | 0.18 | +0.0% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 0.18 is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.089, 2.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 0.18 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.2905, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Free and Fair Elections Index in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +128.4% | 0.116 | 0.265 |
| 1993 | -100.0% | 0.038 | 0 |
| 1971 | -73.6% | 0.148 | 0.039 |
| 1961 | +49.8% | 0.325 | 0.487 |
| 1966 | -45.6% | 0.294 | 0.16 |
| 1965 | -39.6% | 0.487 | 0.294 |
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 | 0.3213 | 0.16 | 0.487 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0474 | 0.029 | 0.148 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0406 | 0.037 | 0.049 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0126 | 0 | 0.046 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0911 | 0 | 0.265 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1769 | 0.15 | 0.243 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.19 | 0.18 | 0.199 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More reference data data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 220.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 3,924 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 3,062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 9.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 1,764 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 313.43 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0.2179 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 313.43 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 3,057 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is free and fair elections index in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Free and fair elections index in Democratic Republic of Congo was 0.18 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 0.487 in 1961.
- What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for free and fair elections index?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 135th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Free and Fair Elections Index. 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
Central estimate of the extent to which registration fraud, systematic irregularities, government intimidation of the opposition, vote buying, and election violence are absent, and the election management body is autonomous and has enough staff and resources.