Free and Fair Elections Index in United States
United States: Free and Fair Elections Index was 0.902 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
0.902
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
36th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.945
in 2013
All-time low
0.127
in 1877
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Free and Fair Elections Index in United States, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
United States recorded 0.902 for free and fair elections index in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, free and fair elections index in United States peaked at 0.945 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.127, in 1877.
That places United States 36th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.
Free and Fair Elections Index in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.371 | — |
| 1790 | 0.37 | -0.3% |
| 1791 | 0.369 | -0.3% |
| 1792 | 0.377 | +2.2% |
| 1793 | 0.38 | +0.8% |
| 1794 | 0.381 | +0.3% |
| 1795 | 0.381 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.379 | -0.5% |
| 1797 | 0.376 | -0.8% |
| 1798 | 0.373 | -0.8% |
| 1799 | 0.371 | -0.5% |
| 1800 | 0.372 | +0.3% |
| 1801 | 0.373 | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 0.372 | -0.3% |
| 1803 | 0.372 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.371 | -0.3% |
| 1805 | 0.371 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.371 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.371 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.374 | +0.8% |
| 1809 | 0.376 | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 0.377 | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 0.378 | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 0.376 | -0.5% |
| 1813 | 0.373 | -0.8% |
| 1814 | 0.374 | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 0.374 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.369 | -1.3% |
| 1817 | 0.366 | -0.8% |
| 1818 | 0.376 | +2.7% |
| 1819 | 0.381 | +1.3% |
| 1820 | 0.355 | -6.8% |
| 1821 | 0.329 | -7.3% |
| 1822 | 0.329 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.329 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.328 | -0.3% |
| 1825 | 0.326 | -0.6% |
| 1826 | 0.331 | +1.5% |
| 1827 | 0.336 | +1.5% |
| 1828 | 0.335 | -0.3% |
| 1829 | 0.335 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.354 | +5.7% |
| 1831 | 0.374 | +5.6% |
| 1832 | 0.376 | +0.5% |
| 1833 | 0.378 | +0.5% |
| 1834 | 0.377 | -0.3% |
| 1835 | 0.377 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.377 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.378 | +0.3% |
| 1838 | 0.377 | -0.3% |
| 1839 | 0.377 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.32 | -15.1% |
| 1841 | 0.26 | -18.8% |
| 1842 | 0.262 | +0.8% |
| 1843 | 0.264 | +0.8% |
| 1844 | 0.261 | -1.1% |
| 1845 | 0.257 | -1.5% |
| 1846 | 0.239 | -7.0% |
| 1847 | 0.213 | -10.9% |
| 1848 | 0.212 | -0.5% |
| 1849 | 0.21 | -0.9% |
| 1850 | 0.21 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.21 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.212 | +1.0% |
| 1853 | 0.215 | +1.4% |
| 1854 | 0.21 | -2.3% |
| 1855 | 0.203 | -3.3% |
| 1856 | 0.2 | -1.5% |
| 1857 | 0.196 | -2.0% |
| 1858 | 0.198 | +1.0% |
| 1859 | 0.201 | +1.5% |
| 1860 | 0.2 | -0.5% |
| 1861 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.209 | +4.5% |
| 1863 | 0.215 | +2.9% |
| 1864 | 0.213 | -0.9% |
| 1865 | 0.211 | -0.9% |
| 1866 | 0.21 | -0.5% |
| 1867 | 0.209 | -0.5% |
| 1868 | 0.217 | +3.8% |
| 1869 | 0.222 | +2.3% |
| 1870 | 0.186 | -16.2% |
| 1871 | 0.16 | -14.0% |
| 1872 | 0.159 | -0.6% |
| 1873 | 0.158 | -0.6% |
| 1874 | 0.158 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.156 | -1.3% |
| 1876 | 0.152 | -2.6% |
| 1877 | 0.127 | -16.4% |
| 1878 | 0.132 | +3.9% |
| 1879 | 0.157 | +18.9% |
| 1880 | 0.157 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.155 | -1.3% |
| 1882 | 0.155 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.153 | -1.3% |
| 1884 | 0.149 | -2.6% |
| 1885 | 0.132 | -11.4% |
| 1886 | 0.136 | +3.0% |
| 1887 | 0.158 | +16.2% |
| 1888 | 0.153 | -3.2% |
| 1889 | 0.128 | -16.3% |
| 1890 | 0.133 | +3.9% |
| 1891 | 0.161 | +21.1% |
| 1892 | 0.16 | -0.6% |
| 1893 | 0.156 | -2.5% |
| 1894 | 0.173 | +10.9% |
| 1895 | 0.321 | +85.5% |
| 1896 | 0.427 | +33.0% |
| 1897 | 0.485 | +13.6% |
| 1898 | 0.488 | +0.6% |
| 1899 | 0.507 | +3.9% |
| 1900 | 0.509 | +0.4% |
| 1901 | 0.521 | +2.4% |
| 1902 | 0.521 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.522 | +0.2% |
| 1904 | 0.522 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.522 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.524 | +0.4% |
| 1907 | 0.53 | +1.1% |
| 1908 | 0.529 | -0.2% |
| 1909 | 0.527 | -0.4% |
| 1910 | 0.53 | +0.6% |
| 1911 | 0.547 | +3.2% |
| 1912 | 0.547 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.544 | -0.5% |
| 1914 | 0.545 | +0.2% |
| 1915 | 0.547 | +0.4% |
| 1916 | 0.544 | -0.5% |
| 1917 | 0.522 | -4.0% |
| 1918 | 0.526 | +0.8% |
| 1919 | 0.545 | +3.6% |
| 1920 | 0.52 | -4.6% |
| 1921 | 0.515 | -1.0% |
| 1922 | 0.519 | +0.8% |
| 1923 | 0.54 | +4.0% |
| 1924 | 0.541 | +0.2% |
| 1925 | 0.547 | +1.1% |
| 1926 | 0.547 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.548 | +0.2% |
| 1928 | 0.547 | -0.2% |
| 1929 | 0.541 | -1.1% |
| 1930 | 0.543 | +0.4% |
| 1931 | 0.554 | +2.0% |
| 1932 | 0.553 | -0.2% |
| 1933 | 0.546 | -1.3% |
| 1934 | 0.549 | +0.5% |
| 1935 | 0.563 | +2.6% |
| 1936 | 0.565 | +0.4% |
| 1937 | 0.57 | +0.9% |
| 1938 | 0.57 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.568 | -0.4% |
| 1940 | 0.598 | +5.3% |
| 1941 | 0.603 | +0.8% |
| 1942 | 0.603 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.601 | -0.3% |
| 1944 | 0.602 | +0.2% |
| 1945 | 0.643 | +6.8% |
| 1946 | 0.643 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.652 | +1.4% |
| 1948 | 0.645 | -1.1% |
| 1949 | 0.61 | -5.4% |
| 1950 | 0.622 | +2.0% |
| 1951 | 0.688 | +10.6% |
| 1952 | 0.687 | -0.1% |
| 1953 | 0.68 | -1.0% |
| 1954 | 0.68 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.68 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.681 | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 0.684 | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 0.684 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.685 | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 0.689 | +0.6% |
| 1961 | 0.715 | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 0.719 | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 0.746 | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 0.745 | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 0.739 | -0.8% |
| 1966 | 0.741 | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 0.758 | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 0.752 | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 0.716 | -4.8% |
| 1970 | 0.747 | +4.3% |
| 1971 | 0.783 | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 0.783 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.781 | -0.3% |
| 1974 | 0.782 | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 0.818 | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 0.825 | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 0.856 | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 0.856 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.853 | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 0.869 | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 0.878 | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 0.879 | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 0.881 | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 0.88 | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 0.876 | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 0.878 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 0.883 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 0.883 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.881 | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 0.882 | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 0.89 | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 0.89 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.89 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.891 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 0.893 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 0.894 | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 0.896 | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 0.895 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 0.889 | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 0.886 | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 0.822 | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 0.832 | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 0.882 | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 0.88 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 0.871 | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 0.881 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 0.937 | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 0.941 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 0.943 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 0.942 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 0.939 | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.94 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 0.945 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 0.94 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 0.943 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.932 | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 0.869 | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 0.863 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 0.864 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.855 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 0.827 | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 0.837 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 0.905 | +8.1% |
| 2024 | 0.9 | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 0.902 | +0.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0.902 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.929, 97% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Free and Fair Elections Index in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1895 | +85.5% | 0.173 | 0.321 |
| 1896 | +33.0% | 0.321 | 0.427 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.371 | 0.371 | 0.371 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.3757 | 0.369 | 0.381 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.3723 | 0.371 | 0.376 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.3744 | 0.366 | 0.381 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.3333 | 0.326 | 0.355 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.3745 | 0.354 | 0.378 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.2498 | 0.21 | 0.32 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.2055 | 0.196 | 0.215 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.2106 | 0.2 | 0.222 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.1545 | 0.127 | 0.186 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.1476 | 0.128 | 0.158 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.3011 | 0.133 | 0.507 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.5227 | 0.509 | 0.53 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.5397 | 0.522 | 0.547 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.5365 | 0.515 | 0.548 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.5581 | 0.543 | 0.57 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.62 | 0.598 | 0.652 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.6771 | 0.622 | 0.688 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.732 | 0.689 | 0.758 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.8084 | 0.747 | 0.856 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8788 | 0.869 | 0.883 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.891 | 0.882 | 0.896 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8875 | 0.822 | 0.943 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9177 | 0.863 | 0.945 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.871 | 0.827 | 0.905 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is free and fair elections index in United States?
- Free and fair elections index in United States was 0.902 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest free and fair elections index recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 0.945 in 2013.
- What is the lowest free and fair elections index recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.127 in 1877.
- How does United States rank for free and fair elections index?
- United States ranks 36th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is free and fair elections index rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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 — 237 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.