Democracy in France
France: Democracy was 8 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
8
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
23rd
of 176 countries
All-time high
9
in 1992
All-time low
0
in 1789
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Democracy in France, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, democracy in France stood at 8.
The figure is down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy in France peaked at 9 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1789.
France ranks 23rd of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0 | — |
| 1790 | 0 | — |
| 1791 | 0 | — |
| 1792 | 3 | — |
| 1793 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1800 | 0 | — |
| 1801 | 0 | — |
| 1802 | 0 | — |
| 1803 | 0 | — |
| 1804 | 0 | — |
| 1805 | 0 | — |
| 1806 | 0 | — |
| 1807 | 0 | — |
| 1808 | 0 | — |
| 1809 | 0 | — |
| 1810 | 0 | — |
| 1811 | 0 | — |
| 1812 | 0 | — |
| 1813 | 0 | — |
| 1814 | 0 | — |
| 1815 | 0 | — |
| 1816 | 0 | — |
| 1817 | 0 | — |
| 1818 | 0 | — |
| 1819 | 0 | — |
| 1820 | 0 | — |
| 1821 | 0 | — |
| 1822 | 0 | — |
| 1823 | 0 | — |
| 1824 | 0 | — |
| 1825 | 0 | — |
| 1826 | 0 | — |
| 1827 | 0 | — |
| 1828 | 0 | — |
| 1829 | 0 | — |
| 1830 | 0 | — |
| 1831 | 0 | — |
| 1832 | 0 | — |
| 1833 | 0 | — |
| 1834 | 0 | — |
| 1835 | 0 | — |
| 1836 | 0 | — |
| 1837 | 0 | — |
| 1838 | 0 | — |
| 1839 | 0 | — |
| 1840 | 0 | — |
| 1841 | 0 | — |
| 1842 | 0 | — |
| 1843 | 0 | — |
| 1844 | 0 | — |
| 1845 | 0 | — |
| 1846 | 0 | — |
| 1847 | 0 | — |
| 1848 | 3 | — |
| 1849 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 1850 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1852 | 0 | — |
| 1853 | 0 | — |
| 1854 | 0 | — |
| 1855 | 0 | — |
| 1856 | 0 | — |
| 1857 | 0 | — |
| 1858 | 0 | — |
| 1859 | 0 | — |
| 1860 | 0 | — |
| 1861 | 0 | — |
| 1862 | 0 | — |
| 1863 | 0 | — |
| 1864 | 0 | — |
| 1865 | 0 | — |
| 1866 | 0 | — |
| 1867 | 0 | — |
| 1868 | 0 | — |
| 1869 | 0 | — |
| 1870 | 3 | — |
| 1871 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 1873 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 5 | +25.0% |
| 1875 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 1881 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 1894 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 1895 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 1915 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 1921 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 1939 | 5 | -28.6% |
| 1940 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1941 | 0 | — |
| 1942 | 0 | — |
| 1943 | 0 | — |
| 1944 | 0 | — |
| 1945 | 0 | — |
| 1946 | 0 | — |
| 1947 | 8 | — |
| 1948 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 9 | +12.5% |
| 1993 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 8 | -11.1% |
| 2022 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 8 | +0.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 8 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- France's 8 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1790s | 2.1 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.7 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.4 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1870s | 4.4 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| 1880s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| 1890s | 5.9 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| 1900s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| 1910s | 5.4 | 5 | 6 | 10 |
| 1920s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| 1930s | 6 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.4 | 0 | 8 | 10 |
| 1950s | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| 1960s | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| 1970s | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| 1980s | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.8 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 2000s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.17 | 8 | 9 | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy in France?
- Democracy in France was 8 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democracy recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 1992.
- What is the lowest democracy recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.
- How does France rank for democracy?
- France ranks 23rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is democracy rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Political regime of a country using the Regimes of the World classification by political scientists Anna Lührmann, Marcus Tannenberg and Staffan Lindberg, including ambiguous categories.