2025 country profile

How democratic is
Albania?

Albania scores 55.0 out of 100 and ranks 93 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is public reasoning. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

55.0out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank93 of 179

10-year change−4.7

25-year change−6.0

Source-bound range46.8–62.8

Weakest areaReasoning

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Albania, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2024 context · Freedom House assessment

Judicial vetting reached a milestone

A seven-year vetting process concluded after removing numerous judges suspected of corruption. The democratic issue is whether courts become more independent and accountable in practice. Completing a review process is a concrete institutional development, but does not by itself establish that corruption or political influence has disappeared.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2025

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for Albania fell 4.7 points, from 59.7 to 55.0 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. Public reasoning contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Public reasoning

The evidence rates public justification, consultation, and engagement with opposing arguments less favorably.

Area score: 47.8 → 37.9
Approx. contribution to overall change: −2.3 points

Another important influence

Rights and checks

The evidence points toward weaker civil liberties, equality before the law, or constraints on executive power.

Area score: 81.5 → 74.2
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.3 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2020–2021+3.4 points
The overall score rose from 59.7 to 63.1. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022−2.9 points
The overall score fell from 63.1 to 60.2. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023−2.1 points
The overall score fell from 60.2 to 58.1. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 63.1 in 2021. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Public reasoning	47.8	37.9	−9.9	−2.3
Rights and checks	81.5	74.2	−7.3	−1.3
Elections	51.8	48.4	−3.4	−0.7
Participation	53.0	51.7	−1.3	−0.3
Political equality	67.4	66.6	−0.8	−0.1

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

48.4

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

74.2

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

51.7

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

37.9

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

66.6

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

Albania score table

Download Albania CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	55.0	46.8–62.8	48.4	74.2	51.7	37.9	66.6
2024	56.6	48.0–64.0	51.0	74.2	52.4	41.3	67.3
2023	58.1	50.2–65.8	50.5	74.4	55.3	43.1	70.3
2022	60.2	52.7–68.1	51.7	80.4	54.2	47.5	70.2
2021	63.1	55.8–70.4	52.6	81.0	54.8	57.9	71.5
2020	59.7	52.2–67.8	52.8	81.5	54.7	42.6	70.7
2019	57.7	50.1–65.9	51.1	80.8	53.3	40.0	67.3
2018	58.0	49.8–65.4	52.4	79.6	53.1	41.4	66.9
2017	58.2	50.1–65.8	53.6	79.2	53.5	42.4	65.5
2016	60.0	52.9–68.2	52.0	81.5	53.5	48.4	67.3
2015	59.7	52.2–67.8	51.8	81.5	53.0	47.8	67.4
2014	59.5	51.8–67.5	52.2	81.5	53.2	46.1	67.6
2013	58.8	50.9–66.5	52.3	80.6	52.8	44.2	67.7
2012	65.4	58.8–72.8	54.0	80.0	56.2	72.3	66.5
2011	65.4	58.7–72.7	53.9	79.7	56.5	72.3	66.5
2010	64.9	57.7–72.3	53.9	79.5	56.7	69.6	66.5
2009	65.3	58.5–72.6	54.4	80.0	57.0	71.3	65.7
2008	65.5	58.2–72.6	55.1	79.6	57.3	71.6	65.5
2007	65.8	59.3–73.1	55.1	79.5	58.7	71.6	65.5
2006	66.5	60.1–74.0	54.6	79.5	59.0	75.7	65.5
2005	66.2	60.1–73.6	51.8	79.5	59.2	77.1	65.5
2004	64.8	58.3–72.4	49.1	79.5	58.3	73.2	66.2
2003	63.7	57.1–71.6	48.6	77.8	56.2	72.1	66.2
2002	63.6	57.4–71.8	48.0	78.3	55.4	72.6	66.2
2001	62.9	56.2–70.3	43.8	77.4	56.4	74.0	66.2
2000	61.0	53.9–68.1	40.2	76.8	56.4	69.7	65.3
1999	60.0	53.3–67.6	39.2	74.2	56.5	69.5	64.0
1998	59.0	51.6–65.8	39.0	73.7	53.8	68.1	64.0
1997	56.2	49.3–63.4	37.1	72.9	47.2	61.7	66.0
1996	55.0	47.8–62.5	38.7	73.2	43.8	59.5	63.8
1995	57.0	49.6–64.6	42.7	73.2	43.8	62.4	66.3
1994	58.3	50.9–65.7	42.1	73.4	47.2	65.6	66.3
1993	57.5	50.4–65.1	42.1	68.5	43.8	71.3	65.7
1992	57.8	50.2–64.9	42.0	71.8	43.4	69.9	65.7
1991	48.0	40.5–55.6	36.7	59.0	25.5	59.7	66.3
1990	27.4	20.6–32.7	18.7	18.4	14.3	25.8	73.3
1989	22.8	16.9–27.2	17.3	14.9	12.2	11.9	74.7
1988	22.8	16.9–27.2	17.3	14.9	12.2	11.9	74.7
1987	22.6	17.0–27.0	17.3	14.9	11.2	11.9	74.7
1986	22.6	17.1–27.0	17.3	15.0	11.2	11.9	74.7
1985	22.5	17.1–27.0	17.3	14.5	11.2	11.9	74.7
1984	22.5	17.1–27.0	17.3	14.5	11.2	11.9	74.7
1983	22.5	17.1–27.0	17.3	14.5	11.2	11.9	74.7
1982	22.5	17.1–27.0	17.4	14.5	11.2	11.9	74.7
1981	22.1	16.9–26.6	17.4	14.5	11.2	10.5	74.7
1980	22.6	17.3–27.1	17.4	14.5	11.2	12.3	74.7
1979	22.6	17.3–27.1	17.4	14.5	11.2	12.3	74.7
1978	22.6	17.3–27.0	17.3	14.5	11.2	12.3	74.7
1977	22.6	17.3–27.0	17.3	14.5	11.2	12.3	74.7
1976	22.6	17.3–27.0	17.3	14.5	11.2	12.3	74.7
1975	22.3	16.6–26.4	17.3	13.6	11.2	12.3	74.0
1974	22.3	16.6–26.4	17.3	13.6	11.2	12.3	74.0
1973	22.3	16.6–26.4	17.3	13.6	11.2	12.3	74.0
1972	22.3	16.6–26.4	17.3	13.6	11.2	12.3	74.0
1971	22.3	16.6–26.4	17.3	13.6	11.2	12.3	74.0
1970	22.3	16.6–26.4	17.3	13.6	11.2	12.3	74.0
1969	22.4	16.8–26.7	17.3	13.6	11.2	13.1	73.5
1968	22.0	16.4–26.3	17.3	13.6	11.2	11.4	73.5
1967	22.0	16.4–26.3	17.3	13.6	11.2	11.4	73.5
1966	22.0	16.6–26.4	17.3	13.6	11.2	11.4	73.5
1965	22.0	16.5–26.2	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.4	73.5
1964	22.0	16.5–26.2	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.4	73.5
1963	22.0	16.5–26.2	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.4	73.5
1962	22.0	16.5–26.2	17.4	13.7	11.0	11.4	73.5
1961	22.0	16.5–26.2	17.4	13.7	11.0	11.4	73.5
1960	21.9	16.4–26.1	17.4	13.7	11.0	11.2	73.5
1959	21.7	16.1–25.9	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.2	72.2
1958	21.7	16.1–25.9	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.2	72.2
1957	21.7	16.1–25.9	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.2	72.2
1956	21.7	16.1–25.9	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.2	72.2
1955	21.7	16.1–25.9	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.2	72.2
1954	21.5	16.0–25.9	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.2	70.0
1953	21.5	16.0–25.9	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.2	70.0
1952	21.5	16.0–25.9	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.2	70.0
1951	21.5	16.0–25.9	17.3	13.7	11.0	11.2	70.0
1950	21.4	16.0–25.8	17.0	13.7	11.0	11.2	70.0
1949	21.1	15.6–25.3	16.5	13.7	10.9	11.2	68.4
1948	21.0	15.6–25.2	16.1	13.7	10.9	11.2	68.4
1947	21.0	15.5–25.2	16.1	13.7	10.9	11.2	68.4
1946	18.7	13.7–22.8	7.0	13.1	11.4	11.2	68.3
1945	16.0	11.4–19.3	4.5	10.7	10.9	7.9	65.2
1944	14.8	10.2–18.4	4.9	22.0	10.5	8.1	38.6
1943	12.7	8.0–15.7	5.1	20.1	10.7	5.9	28.6
1942	13.1	8.4–16.2	4.9	22.7	10.6	6.2	28.6
1941	13.1	8.4–16.2	4.9	22.7	10.6	6.2	28.6
1940	13.1	8.2–16.1	4.9	22.6	10.6	6.2	28.6
1939	15.4	10.6–19.1	7.0	29.8	12.2	6.9	29.1
1938	21.3	15.3–26.2	10.7	31.7	14.7	23.0	30.8
1937	21.7	15.6–26.8	12.2	33.8	14.7	21.1	30.8
1936	24.4	17.1–29.3	17.1	41.5	14.7	22.6	30.4
1935	24.5	17.2–29.4	17.1	41.5	14.7	22.6	31.0
1934	24.7	17.6–29.8	17.2	41.5	14.7	23.4	31.0
1933	24.4	17.5–29.6	17.2	41.0	14.7	22.6	31.0
1932	23.2	16.7–28.2	15.0	41.5	14.7	19.0	31.0
1931	23.0	16.6–27.9	14.1	41.5	14.7	19.0	31.0
1930	23.7	17.2–28.7	14.1	41.5	14.7	22.6	31.0
1929	23.2	17.0–28.5	14.1	41.5	14.7	23.2	27.4
1928	23.1	16.8–28.7	17.3	39.8	14.7	19.9	27.4
1927	22.1	15.8–27.3	17.3	40.5	14.7	17.7	24.3
1926	21.8	15.4–27.0	17.2	40.3	14.7	17.7	23.1
1925	21.3	14.9–26.2	16.6	41.9	14.7	15.4	22.4
1924	22.6	16.1–27.8	14.7	30.3	18.1	29.9	22.0
1923	28.3	21.4–34.5	20.9	48.4	18.1	37.8	21.5
1922	27.9	20.8–33.9	22.5	51.3	17.7	33.1	20.5
1921	26.3	19.2–32.2	21.4	44.9	17.7	31.2	20.5
1920	24.2	17.5–29.9	14.2	46.8	17.7	28.7	19.3
1919	19.3	13.4–24.3	13.4	40.9	17.9	12.0	17.5
1918	18.0	12.2–23.0	9.7	32.7	17.9	15.8	17.5
1917	16.3	10.4–20.7	9.5	32.0	17.9	9.4	17.3
1916	16.2	10.2–20.4	9.5	32.0	17.3	9.4	17.3
1915	14.5	8.9–18.5	8.2	32.3	17.3	4.8	17.3
1914	21.1	14.7–26.2	9.9	47.1	17.9	18.5	19.0

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Albania Democracy Score, 1914–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

NEARBY IN THE 2025 RANKING

#91Honduras55.6 #92Indonesia55.2 #94Ecuador54.6 #95Singapore53.2

All rankings

How democratic isAlbania?

Albania, 1975–2025

Judicial vetting reached a milestone

Public reasoning

Rights and checks

When did the biggest shifts appear?

Five dimensions of democracy

Free and fair elections

Rights and checks on power

Public participation

Public reasoning

Political equality

Two kinds of evidence.One clearer picture.

Albania score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Albania?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.