Democracy (Lexical Index) in Portugal
Portugal: Democracy (Lexical Index) was 7 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
7
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 198 countries
All-time high
7
in 1976
All-time low
0
in 1789
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Democracy in Portugal, 1789–2025
Source: Lexical Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 7 for democracy in 2025. That is the highest value across all 237 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy in Portugal peaked at 7 in 1976 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1789.
That places Portugal 1st out of 198 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy (Lexical Index) in Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0 | — |
| 1790 | 0 | — |
| 1791 | 0 | — |
| 1792 | 0 | — |
| 1793 | 0 | — |
| 1794 | 0 | — |
| 1795 | 0 | — |
| 1796 | 0 | — |
| 1797 | 0 | — |
| 1798 | 0 | — |
| 1799 | 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 | 2 | — |
| 1821 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1824 | 0 | — |
| 1825 | 0 | — |
| 1826 | 2 | — |
| 1827 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1829 | 0 | — |
| 1830 | 0 | — |
| 1831 | 0 | — |
| 1832 | 0 | — |
| 1833 | 0 | — |
| 1834 | 2 | — |
| 1835 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1895 | 1 | — |
| 1896 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1897 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1908 | 2 | — |
| 1909 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1911 | 3 | — |
| 1912 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1918 | 3 | — |
| 1919 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1927 | 0 | — |
| 1928 | 0 | — |
| 1929 | 0 | — |
| 1930 | 0 | — |
| 1931 | 0 | — |
| 1932 | 0 | — |
| 1933 | 0 | — |
| 1934 | 1 | — |
| 1935 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 1936 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1975 | 2 | — |
| 1976 | 7 | +250.0% |
| 1977 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 7 | +0.0% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 7 is above the median for high income countries, which is 7, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 7 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1820s | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.2 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1840s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1850s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1860s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1870s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1880s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.7 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.8 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.4 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.8 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.6 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 1940s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1950s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1960s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.2 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| 1980s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 1 Andorra 7 compare
- 1 Antigua and Barbuda 7 compare
- 1 Argentina 7 compare
- 1 Australia 7 compare
- 1 Austria 7 compare
- 1 Bahamas 7 compare
- 1 Barbados 7 compare
- 1 Belgium 7 compare
- 1 Belize 7 compare
- 1 Brazil 7 compare
- 1 Bulgaria 7 compare
- 1 Canada 7 compare
- 1 Cape Verde 7 compare
- 1 Chile 7 compare
- 1 Costa Rica 7 compare
- 1 Croatia 7 compare
- 1 Cyprus 7 compare
- 1 Czechia 7 compare
- 1 Denmark 7 compare
- 1 Dominica 7 compare
- 1 Dominican Republic 7 compare
- 1 Estonia 7 compare
- 1 Fiji 7 compare
- 1 Finland 7 compare
- 1 France 7 compare
- 1 Germany 7 compare
- 1 Ghana 7 compare
- 1 Greece 7 compare
- 1 Grenada 7 compare
- 1 Guyana 7 compare
- 1 Iceland 7 compare
- 1 Ireland 7 compare
- 1 Italy 7 compare
- 1 Jamaica 7 compare
- 1 Japan 7 compare
- 1 Kiribati 7 compare
- 1 Latvia 7 compare
- 1 Lithuania 7 compare
- 1 Luxembourg 7 compare
- 1 Malta 7 compare
- 1 Marshall Islands 7 compare
- 1 Mauritius 7 compare
- 1 Micronesia (country) 7 compare
- 1 Mongolia 7 compare
- 1 Namibia 7 compare
- 1 Nauru 7 compare
- 1 Netherlands 7 compare
- 1 New Zealand 7 compare
- 1 Norway 7 compare
- 1 Palau 7 compare
- 1 Panama 7 compare
- 1 Papua New Guinea 7 compare
- 1 Poland 7 compare
- 1 Romania 7 compare
- 1 Saint Kitts and Nevis 7 compare
- 1 Saint Lucia 7 compare
- 1 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7 compare
- 1 Samoa 7 compare
- 1 San Marino 7 compare
- 1 Sao Tome and Principe 7 compare
- 1 Seychelles 7 compare
- 1 Slovenia 7 compare
- 1 South Africa 7 compare
- 1 South Korea 7 compare
- 1 Spain 7 compare
- 1 Suriname 7 compare
- 1 Sweden 7 compare
- 1 Switzerland 7 compare
- 1 Taiwan 7 compare
- 1 Tonga 7 compare
- 1 Trinidad and Tobago 7 compare
- 1 Tuvalu 7 compare
- 1 United Kingdom 7 compare
- 1 United States 7 compare
- 1 Uruguay 7 compare
- 1 Vanuatu 7 compare
More reference data data for Portugal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5144 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4372 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2572 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy in Portugal?
- Democracy in Portugal was 7 in 2025, according to Lexical Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democracy recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 1976.
- What is the lowest democracy recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1789.
- How does Portugal rank for democracy?
- Portugal ranks 1st out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is democracy rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Lexical Index (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
Identifies the political regime of a country. It distinguishes between non-electoral autocracies (score 0), one-party autocracies (score 1), multi-party autocracies without elected executive (score 2), multi-party autocracies (score 3), exclusive democracies (score 4), male democracies (score 5), electoral democracies (score 6), and full democracies (score 7).