What is free and fair elections in Germany?

Free and fair elections in Germany was 1 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest free and fair elections recorded in Germany?

The highest recorded value was 1 in 1867.

What is the lowest free and fair elections recorded in Germany?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1848.

How does Germany rank for free and fair elections?

Germany ranks 1st out of 172 countries with data for 2025.

Is free and fair elections rising or falling in Germany?

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

Where does this Germany data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Free and fair elections. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Free and fair elections in Germany

Name: Free and fair elections in Germany
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Germany: Free and fair elections was 1 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 172 countries

All-time high

in 1867

All-time low

in 1848

Years of data

123

1848–2025

Free and fair elections in Germany, 1848–2025

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

Analysis

Germany recorded 1 for free and fair elections in 2025. That is the highest value across all 123 years on record.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, free and fair elections in Germany peaked at 1 in 1867 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1848.

That places Germany 1st out of 172 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 123 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1840s	0	0	0	2
1850s	0	0	0	10
1860s	0.3	0	1	10
1870s	1	1	1	10
1880s	1	1	1	10
1890s	1	1	1	10
1900s	1	1	1	10
1910s	1	1	1	10
1920s	1	1	1	10
1930s	0.5	0	1	6
1990s	1	1	1	9
2000s	1	1	1	10
2010s	1	1	1	10
2020s	1	1	1	6

Countries ranked near Germany

See the full ranking of 172 places →

More reference data data for Germany

Spring temperature anomalies 1.53 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 3.04 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month -1.82 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.6168 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 1.25 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 137.8 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is free and fair elections in Germany?: Free and fair elections in Germany was 1 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest free and fair elections recorded in Germany?: The highest recorded value was 1 in 1867.
What is the lowest free and fair elections recorded in Germany?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1848.
How does Germany rank for free and fair elections?: Germany ranks 1st out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
Is free and fair elections rising or falling in Germany?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Germany data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Free and fair elections. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 123 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Free and fair elections
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 172 places, 17,000 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of whether national elections were free and fair or not.