Legislative Checks on Government Index in Canada
Canada: Legislative Checks on Government Index was 0.845 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
0.845
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
41st
of 174 countries
All-time high
0.911
in 2010
All-time low
0.555
in 1841
Years of data
185
1841–2025
Legislative Checks on Government Index in Canada, 1841–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Canada recorded 0.845 for legislative checks on government index in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, legislative checks on government index in Canada peaked at 0.911 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.555, in 1841.
Canada ranks 41st of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 185 years of available data.
Legislative Checks on Government Index in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 0.555 | — |
| 1842 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.791 | +42.5% |
| 1875 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.804 | +1.6% |
| 1923 | 0.804 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.804 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.804 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.804 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.804 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.804 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.804 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.804 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.788 | -2.0% |
| 1932 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.788 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.848 | +7.6% |
| 1946 | 0.881 | +3.9% |
| 1947 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.881 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.867 | -1.6% |
| 1951 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.867 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.881 | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 0.864 | -1.9% |
| 1960 | 0.87 | +0.7% |
| 1961 | 0.87 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.87 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.884 | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 0.884 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.884 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.884 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.884 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.871 | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 0.871 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.871 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.871 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.871 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.878 | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 0.878 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.868 | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 0.868 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.868 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.868 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.868 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.874 | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 0.869 | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.869 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.892 | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 0.892 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.897 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 0.897 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.897 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.897 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.911 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 0.909 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 0.909 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.903 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.903 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.897 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.896 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.904 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 0.886 | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 0.834 | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 0.817 | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 0.841 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 0.855 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 0.845 | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 0.845 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.845 | +0.0% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 0.845 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.871, 97% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 0.555 | 0.555 | 0.555 | 9 |
| 1850s | 0.555 | 0.555 | 0.555 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.555 | 0.555 | 0.555 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.6966 | 0.555 | 0.791 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.791 | 0.791 | 0.791 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.791 | 0.791 | 0.791 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.791 | 0.791 | 0.791 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.791 | 0.791 | 0.791 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.8014 | 0.791 | 0.804 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.7896 | 0.788 | 0.804 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.8312 | 0.788 | 0.881 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.8681 | 0.864 | 0.881 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.8772 | 0.87 | 0.884 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.8709 | 0.868 | 0.878 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8695 | 0.869 | 0.874 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.869 | 0.869 | 0.869 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8848 | 0.869 | 0.897 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8952 | 0.834 | 0.911 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8413 | 0.817 | 0.855 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 38 Luxembourg 0.86 compare
- 39 Kenya 0.85 compare
- 40 Trinidad and Tobago 0.849 compare
- 42 South Africa 0.843 compare
- 43 Spain 0.839 compare
- 44 Mongolia 0.838 compare
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is legislative checks on government index in Canada?
- Legislative checks on government index in Canada was 0.845 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest legislative checks on government index recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 0.911 in 2010.
- What is the lowest legislative checks on government index recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.555 in 1841.
- How does Canada rank for legislative checks on government index?
- Canada ranks 41st out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is legislative checks on government index rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Legislative Checks on Government Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 185 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which the legislature, including opposition parties, questions executive officials and oversees and investigates the executive.