Separation of Powers Score in South Africa
South Africa: Separation of Powers Score was 7 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Separation of Powers Score in South Africa, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, separation of powers score in South Africa stood at 7. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, separation of powers score in South Africa peaked at 9 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 7, in 2009.
South Africa ranks 16th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Separation of Powers Score in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 9 | — |
| 2007 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7 | -22.2% |
| 2011 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 7 | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3, 2.3× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.33 | 7 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| 2020s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 16 Albania 7 compare
- 16 Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 compare
- 16 Botswana 7 compare
- 16 Colombia 7 compare
- 16 Croatia 7 compare
- 16 Ecuador 7 compare
- 16 Indonesia 7 compare
- 16 Mauritius 7 compare
- 16 Mongolia 7 compare
- 16 Nepal 7 compare
- 16 North Macedonia 7 compare
- 16 Papua New Guinea 7 compare
- 16 Paraguay 7 compare
- 16 Poland 7 compare
- 16 Slovakia 7 compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is separation of powers score in South Africa?
- Separation of powers score in South Africa was 7 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest separation of powers score recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 2005.
- What is the lowest separation of powers score recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7 in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for separation of powers score?
- South Africa ranks 16th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is separation of powers score rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Separation of Powers Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Indicates the extent of mutual checks and balances on political powers.