Free and Fair Elections Score in South Africa
South Africa: Free and Fair Elections Score was 9 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Free and Fair Elections Score in South Africa, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 9 for free and fair elections score in 2025.
The figure is up 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, free and fair elections score in South Africa peaked at 10 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 8, in 2011.
South Africa ranks 12th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.67 | 9 | 10 | 3 |
| 2010s | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| 2020s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 |
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 score in South Africa?
- Free and fair elections score in South Africa was 9 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest free and fair elections score recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10 in 2005.
- What is the lowest free and fair elections score recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8 in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for free and fair elections score?
- South Africa ranks 12th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is free and fair elections score rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Free and Fair Elections Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Indicates the extent to which elections are free from irregularities, the rights to vote, run for office, and campaign are unrestricted, registration is easy, and campaigning and media access are fair.