What is free and fair elections in Japan?

Free and fair elections in Japan 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 Japan?

The highest recorded value was 1 in 1890.

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

The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1890.

How does Japan rank for free and fair elections?

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

Is free and fair elections rising or falling in Japan?

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

Where does this Japan 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 Japan

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

Japan: Free and fair elections was 1 in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 172 countries

All-time high

in 1890

All-time low

in 1890

Years of data

136

1890–2025

Free and fair elections in Japan, 1890–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for free and fair elections in Japan is 1, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 136 years on record.

The figure is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, free and fair elections in Japan peaked at 1 in 1890 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1890.

Japan ranks 1st of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1890s	1	1	1	10
1900s	1	1	1	10
1910s	1	1	1	10
1920s	1	1	1	10
1930s	1	1	1	10
1940s	1	1	1	10
1950s	1	1	1	10
1960s	1	1	1	10
1970s	1	1	1	10
1980s	1	1	1	10
1990s	1	1	1	10
2000s	1	1	1	10
2010s	1	1	1	10
2020s	1	1	1	6

Countries ranked near Japan

See the full ranking of 172 places →

More reference data data for Japan

Spring temperature anomalies 1.24 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.1053 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month -0.7172 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.9 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.5865 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 118.04 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is free and fair elections in Japan?: Free and fair elections in Japan 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 Japan?: The highest recorded value was 1 in 1890.
What is the lowest free and fair elections recorded in Japan?: The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1890.
How does Japan rank for free and fair elections?: Japan ranks 1st out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
Is free and fair elections rising or falling in Japan?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Japan 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 — 136 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.