Political Polarization Score in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Political Polarization Score was -0.281 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
-0.281
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
107th
of 174 countries
All-time high
0.031
in 2021
All-time low
-0.828
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025

Political Polarization Score in United Kingdom, 1900–2025

-0.8-0.6-0.4-0.2-0190019622025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for political polarization score in United Kingdom is -0.281, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 66.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, political polarization score in United Kingdom peaked at 0.031 in 2021 and was at its lowest, -0.828, in 1900.

United Kingdom ranks 107th of 174 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1900s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
1910s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
1920s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
1930s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
1940s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
1950s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
1960s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
1970s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
1980s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
1990s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
2000s -0.828 -0.828 -0.828 10
2010s -0.6168 -0.828 -0.124 10
2020s -0.173 -0.281 0.031 6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 104 Congo -0.25 compare
  2. 105 Costa Rica -0.266 compare
  3. 106 Benin -0.273 compare
  4. 108 Angola -0.301 compare
  5. 109 Gabon -0.347 compare
  6. 110 Canada -0.399 compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is political polarization score in United Kingdom?
Political polarization score in United Kingdom was -0.281 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest political polarization score recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 0.031 in 2021.
What is the lowest political polarization score recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was -0.828 in 1900.
How does United Kingdom rank for political polarization score?
United Kingdom ranks 107th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is political polarization score rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 66.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Political Polarization Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Political Polarization Score
Source
V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
174 places, 20,575 data points, 1900–2025
Last refreshed

Central estimate of the extent to which society is divided into hostile political camps, where political differences undermine social relationships and discourage interaction across ideological lines.