What is democracy in Canada?

Democracy in Canada was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest democracy recorded in Canada?

The highest recorded value was 2 in 1888.

What is the lowest democracy recorded in Canada?

The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1867.

How does Canada rank for democracy?

Canada ranks 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2018.

Is democracy rising or falling in Canada?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Canada data come from?

The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Democracy in Canada

Name: Democracy in Canada
Creator: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Canada: Democracy was 2 in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 167 countries

All-time high

in 1888

All-time low

in 1867

Years of data

152

1867–2018

Democracy in Canada, 1867–2018

Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2018, democracy in Canada stood at 2. That is the highest value across all 152 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, democracy in Canada peaked at 2 in 1888 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1867.

That places Canada 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 152 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1860s	1	1	1	3
1870s	1	1	1	10
1880s	1.2	1	2	10
1890s	2	2	2	10
1900s	2	2	2	10
1910s	2	2	2	10
1920s	2	2	2	10
1930s	2	2	2	10
1940s	2	2	2	10
1950s	2	2	2	10
1960s	2	2	2	10
1970s	2	2	2	10
1980s	2	2	2	10
1990s	2	2	2	10
2000s	2	2	2	10
2010s	2	2	2	9

Countries ranked near Canada

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More reference data data for Canada

Spring temperature anomalies -4.58 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 1.7 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 2.12 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 2.47 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies -2.57 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 140.97 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is democracy in Canada?: Democracy in Canada was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest democracy recorded in Canada?: The highest recorded value was 2 in 1888.
What is the lowest democracy recorded in Canada?: The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1867.
How does Canada rank for democracy?: Canada ranks 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
Is democracy rising or falling in Canada?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Canada data come from?: The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 152 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Democracy
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 168 places, 18,392 data points, 1776–2020
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Identifies the political regime of a country using the Polity 5 data by the Center for Systemic Peace. It distinguishes between autocracies (score 0), anocracies (score 1), and democracies (score 2).