Free and Fair Elections Index in South Africa
South Africa: Free and Fair Elections Index was 0.849 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Free and Fair Elections Index in South Africa, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for free and fair elections index in South Africa is 0.849, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.6% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, free and fair elections index in South Africa peaked at 0.849 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1900.
That places South Africa 51st 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.332 | 0.106 | 0.359 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.3693 | 0.365 | 0.372 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.3613 | 0.36 | 0.362 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.3516 | 0.284 | 0.368 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.2666 | 0.258 | 0.284 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2577 | 0.256 | 0.259 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2628 | 0.259 | 0.267 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.259 | 0.246 | 0.285 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4862 | 0.292 | 0.697 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7889 | 0.75 | 0.818 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8052 | 0.766 | 0.816 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.78 | 0.753 | 0.849 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is free and fair elections index in South Africa?
- Free and fair elections index in South Africa was 0.849 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.849 in 2025.
- What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1900.
- How does South Africa rank for free and fair elections index?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. 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 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.