Free and Fair Elections Index in Rwanda
Rwanda: Free and Fair Elections Index was 0.227 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Free and Fair Elections Index in Rwanda, 1916–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for free and fair elections index in Rwanda is 0.227, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.3% on the previous year and down 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, free and fair elections index in Rwanda peaked at 0.408 in 1969 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1916.
That places Rwanda 128th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Free and Fair Elections Index in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
| 1961 | 0.108 | — |
| 1962 | 0.402 | +272.2% |
| 1963 | 0.402 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.402 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.397 | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 0.407 | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 0.407 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.407 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.408 | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 0.402 | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 0.402 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.402 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.204 | -49.3% |
| 1974 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1975 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0.007 | — |
| 1979 | 0.307 | +4285.7% |
| 1980 | 0.307 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.308 | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 0.399 | +29.5% |
| 1983 | 0.398 | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 0.363 | -8.8% |
| 1985 | 0.363 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.363 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.363 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.364 | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 0.392 | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 0.392 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.391 | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 0.391 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1994 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 0.054 | — |
| 2004 | 0.157 | +190.7% |
| 2005 | 0.157 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.162 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 0.162 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.202 | +24.7% |
| 2009 | 0.302 | +49.5% |
| 2010 | 0.301 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 0.295 | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 0.295 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.299 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 0.31 | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 0.32 | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 0.32 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.328 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 0.329 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 0.332 | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 0.334 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 0.32 | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 0.329 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 0.317 | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 0.278 | -12.3% |
| 2025 | 0.227 | -18.3% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 0.227 is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.089, 2.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 0.227 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.2905, 78% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Free and Fair Elections Index in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +4285.7% | 0.007 | 0.307 |
| 1962 | +272.2% | 0.108 | 0.402 |
| 2004 | +190.7% | 0.054 | 0.157 |
| 1974 | -100.0% | 0.204 | 0 |
| 1993 | -100.0% | 0.391 | 0 |
| 2009 | +49.5% | 0.202 | 0.302 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1920s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.334 | 0 | 0.408 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1724 | 0 | 0.402 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.362 | 0.307 | 0.399 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1174 | 0 | 0.392 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1196 | 0 | 0.302 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3129 | 0.295 | 0.332 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3008 | 0.227 | 0.334 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More reference data data for Rwanda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1223 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7651 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.666 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is free and fair elections index in Rwanda?
- Free and fair elections index in Rwanda was 0.227 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 0.408 in 1969.
- What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1916.
- How does Rwanda rank for free and fair elections index?
- Rwanda ranks 128th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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 — 110 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.