What is democracy in Switzerland?

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

What is the highest democracy recorded in Switzerland?

The highest recorded value was 2 in 1848.

What is the lowest democracy recorded in Switzerland?

The lowest recorded value was 2 in 1848.

How does Switzerland rank for democracy?

Switzerland ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.

Is democracy rising or falling in Switzerland?

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

Where does this Switzerland 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 Switzerland

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

Switzerland: Democracy was 2 in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 168 countries

All-time high

in 1848

All-time low

in 1848

Years of data

171

1848–2018

Democracy in Switzerland, 1848–2018

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for democracy in Switzerland is 2, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 171 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, democracy in Switzerland peaked at 2 in 1848 and was at its lowest, 2, in 1848.

Switzerland ranks 1st of 168 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Democracy in Switzerland, year by year

Annual values for Democracy in Switzerland, 1848 to 2018.
Year	Value	Change
1848	2	—
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	2	+0.0%
1895	2	+0.0%
1896	2	+0.0%
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	2	+0.0%
1908	2	+0.0%
1909	2	+0.0%
1910	2	+0.0%
1911	2	+0.0%
1912	2	+0.0%
1913	2	+0.0%
1914	2	+0.0%
1915	2	+0.0%
1916	2	+0.0%
1917	2	+0.0%
1918	2	+0.0%
1919	2	+0.0%
1920	2	+0.0%
1921	2	+0.0%
1922	2	+0.0%
1923	2	+0.0%
1924	2	+0.0%
1925	2	+0.0%
1926	2	+0.0%
1927	2	+0.0%
1928	2	+0.0%
1929	2	+0.0%
1930	2	+0.0%
1931	2	+0.0%
1932	2	+0.0%
1933	2	+0.0%
1934	2	+0.0%
1935	2	+0.0%
1936	2	+0.0%
1937	2	+0.0%
1938	2	+0.0%
1939	2	+0.0%
1940	2	+0.0%
1941	2	+0.0%
1942	2	+0.0%
1943	2	+0.0%
1944	2	+0.0%
1945	2	+0.0%
1946	2	+0.0%
1947	2	+0.0%
1948	2	+0.0%
1949	2	+0.0%
1950	2	+0.0%
1951	2	+0.0%
1952	2	+0.0%
1953	2	+0.0%
1954	2	+0.0%
1955	2	+0.0%
1956	2	+0.0%
1957	2	+0.0%
1958	2	+0.0%
1959	2	+0.0%
1960	2	+0.0%
1961	2	+0.0%
1962	2	+0.0%
1963	2	+0.0%
1964	2	+0.0%
1965	2	+0.0%
1966	2	+0.0%
1967	2	+0.0%
1968	2	+0.0%
1969	2	+0.0%
1970	2	+0.0%
1971	2	+0.0%
1972	2	+0.0%
1973	2	+0.0%
1974	2	+0.0%
1975	2	+0.0%
1976	2	+0.0%
1977	2	+0.0%
1978	2	+0.0%
1979	2	+0.0%
1980	2	+0.0%
1981	2	+0.0%
1982	2	+0.0%
1983	2	+0.0%
1984	2	+0.0%
1985	2	+0.0%
1986	2	+0.0%
1987	2	+0.0%
1988	2	+0.0%
1989	2	+0.0%
1990	2	+0.0%
1991	2	+0.0%
1992	2	+0.0%
1993	2	+0.0%
1994	2	+0.0%
1995	2	+0.0%
1996	2	+0.0%
1997	2	+0.0%
1998	2	+0.0%
1999	2	+0.0%
2000	2	+0.0%
2001	2	+0.0%
2002	2	+0.0%
2003	2	+0.0%
2004	2	+0.0%
2005	2	+0.0%
2006	2	+0.0%
2007	2	+0.0%
2008	2	+0.0%
2009	2	+0.0%
2010	2	+0.0%
2011	2	+0.0%
2012	2	+0.0%
2013	2	+0.0%
2014	2	+0.0%
2015	2	+0.0%
2016	2	+0.0%
2017	2	+0.0%
2018	2	+0.0%

Switzerland compared with similar countries

Switzerland's 2 is above the median for high income countries, which is 2, 1.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Switzerland's 2 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1840s	2	2	2	2
1850s	2	2	2	10
1860s	2	2	2	10
1870s	2	2	2	10
1880s	2	2	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 Switzerland

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More reference data data for Switzerland

Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is democracy in Switzerland?: Democracy in Switzerland was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest democracy recorded in Switzerland?: The highest recorded value was 2 in 1848.
What is the lowest democracy recorded in Switzerland?: The lowest recorded value was 2 in 1848.
How does Switzerland rank for democracy?: Switzerland ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
Is democracy rising or falling in Switzerland?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Switzerland 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.

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Democracy in Switzerland. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/political-regime-polity/switzerland/

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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: 18 September 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).