2025 country profile

How democratic is
Austria?

Austria scores 81.9 out of 100 and ranks 20 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is public participation. 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

81.9out of 100Closer to the standard

2025 rank20 of 179

10-year change−4.1

25-year change−2.7

Source-bound range78.4–87.2

Weakest areaParticipation

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

SCORE HISTORY

Austria, 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.

2025 context · Freedom House assessment

Access to government information became a legal right

Implementation of a freedom-of-information law replaced the official-secrecy framework. That changes the tools available to journalists and citizens seeking government records. The relevant democratic mechanism is scrutiny of public decisions; the existence of the law still needs to be distinguished from how promptly and fully authorities answer requests.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2026

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 Austria fell 4.1 points, from 86.0 to 81.9 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. Participation contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation. The latest year moved in the opposite direction (+0.5), so the longer trend is not the whole story.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Participation

The evidence rates opportunities to participate through civic organizations, direct democracy, and local or regional institutions less favorably.

Area score: 70.8 → 63.4
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.7 points

Another important influence

Public reasoning

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

Area score: 91.7 → 87.1
Approx. contribution to overall change: −0.9 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.

2017–2018−1.4 points
The overall score fell from 84.8 to 83.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022−0.7 points
The overall score fell from 83.5 to 82.8. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−1.3 points
The overall score fell from 82.7 to 81.4. Political equality supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 86.0 in 2015. 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
Participation	70.8	63.4	−7.4	−1.7
Public reasoning	91.7	87.1	−4.6	−0.9
Elections	87.3	83.9	−3.4	−0.7
Political equality	88.1	85.9	−2.2	−0.4
Rights and checks	93.0	90.9	−2.1	−0.4

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?

83.9

Rights and checks on power

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

90.9

Public participation

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

63.4

Public reasoning

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

87.1

Political equality

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

85.9

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

Austria score table

Download Austria CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	81.9	78.4–87.2	83.9	90.9	63.4	87.1	85.9
2024	81.4	77.6–87.0	84.0	91.5	63.1	84.5	85.7
2023	82.7	79.4–88.1	84.8	92.4	65.0	84.5	88.5
2022	82.8	79.2–88.0	84.1	91.4	66.2	85.1	88.4
2021	83.5	79.8–88.4	85.4	92.9	66.9	85.2	88.6
2020	84.1	80.4–88.5	85.8	92.3	68.4	85.9	89.3
2019	83.8	80.5–89.0	86.2	92.9	68.0	84.2	89.0
2018	83.4	79.6–88.2	85.1	91.9	70.2	82.1	88.4
2017	84.8	81.4–89.1	85.1	92.8	71.0	88.1	87.8
2016	85.5	82.5–89.7	84.8	93.1	71.0	91.9	87.9
2015	86.0	83.1–90.2	87.3	93.0	70.8	91.7	88.1
2014	86.0	83.1–90.4	87.3	93.0	70.8	92.0	87.9
2013	86.0	83.1–90.2	87.5	92.9	70.8	91.9	88.0
2012	85.2	82.4–89.3	87.2	92.9	65.7	93.0	89.0
2011	85.1	82.4–89.3	87.1	92.9	65.9	92.5	89.0
2010	85.2	82.3–89.3	87.2	92.9	66.2	92.5	89.0
2009	85.2	82.3–89.3	87.4	92.9	66.5	91.6	89.0
2008	85.3	82.5–89.5	87.2	92.9	66.3	92.7	89.0
2007	85.2	82.0–89.2	87.2	92.9	66.6	91.6	89.0
2006	84.5	81.4–89.1	86.1	92.3	66.8	89.6	89.0
2005	84.3	81.1–89.1	85.8	92.3	66.0	89.9	88.8
2004	84.3	81.1–89.2	85.8	92.3	66.3	89.9	88.8
2003	84.4	81.1–89.2	85.8	92.3	66.5	89.9	88.8
2002	84.4	81.2–89.2	85.8	92.3	66.8	89.9	88.8
2001	84.5	81.3–89.3	85.8	92.3	67.1	89.9	88.8
2000	84.6	81.4–89.4	85.8	92.3	67.3	90.1	88.8
1999	85.1	81.9–89.5	85.7	91.8	69.0	91.3	88.8
1998	85.1	81.9–89.5	85.6	91.8	69.2	91.3	88.8
1997	85.1	81.8–89.3	85.6	91.8	69.2	91.3	88.8
1996	85.1	81.6–89.2	85.6	91.8	69.2	91.3	88.6
1995	85.2	81.8–89.2	85.7	91.6	69.8	91.3	88.6
1994	84.8	81.6–89.3	85.8	91.8	69.8	89.3	88.2
1993	83.9	80.8–88.4	85.9	91.8	65.9	89.3	88.2
1992	83.9	80.7–88.4	85.8	91.8	65.9	89.3	88.2
1991	84.2	81.1–88.5	85.6	91.8	65.9	89.3	89.8
1990	84.2	81.1–88.5	85.7	91.8	65.9	89.3	89.8
1989	84.4	81.6–89.1	85.5	92.4	66.6	89.2	89.5
1988	84.5	81.7–89.2	85.3	92.4	67.2	89.2	89.5
1987	84.5	81.6–89.3	85.4	91.6	67.9	89.2	89.5
1986	84.3	81.2–89.1	85.4	89.9	68.6	89.2	89.5
1985	84.7	81.4–89.3	85.3	89.8	69.0	89.2	91.2
1984	84.8	81.7–89.5	85.3	89.8	69.7	89.2	91.2
1983	84.9	81.7–89.5	85.4	89.8	70.4	88.8	91.2
1982	85.1	82.0–89.8	85.6	89.8	71.0	88.8	91.2
1981	85.1	82.0–89.8	85.6	89.8	71.0	88.8	91.2
1980	84.6	81.3–89.4	85.3	87.5	71.0	88.8	91.2
1979	83.2	79.4–88.5	85.1	87.7	70.8	81.1	91.9
1978	83.2	79.5–88.5	85.4	87.7	70.8	81.1	91.9
1977	81.9	78.0–87.0	85.4	87.7	65.5	80.6	91.9
1976	81.9	77.9–87.0	85.4	87.7	65.5	80.6	91.5
1975	80.9	76.9–86.4	85.2	87.0	65.5	77.6	90.7
1974	80.6	76.4–86.1	85.3	86.9	65.5	75.8	91.1
1973	80.4	76.3–86.2	84.4	86.9	65.5	75.8	90.8
1972	80.1	75.8–85.7	83.9	85.7	65.5	75.8	90.8
1971	78.8	74.2–84.7	83.2	85.7	65.5	70.3	90.8
1970	77.9	72.8–83.9	83.3	85.3	65.5	70.3	86.4
1969	77.3	72.7–83.6	83.6	82.9	65.5	70.3	85.5
1968	77.3	72.7–83.6	83.6	82.9	65.5	70.3	85.5
1967	77.3	72.7–83.6	83.6	82.9	65.5	70.3	85.5
1966	77.2	72.4–83.4	82.9	83.1	65.5	70.3	85.5
1965	77.0	72.2–83.3	82.8	81.7	65.5	70.3	85.5
1964	77.0	72.2–83.4	82.6	82.1	65.5	70.3	85.5
1963	76.9	72.1–83.3	82.6	82.1	65.5	70.3	85.2
1962	77.0	71.9–83.1	82.7	82.1	65.5	70.3	85.2
1961	76.5	71.0–82.5	82.7	82.1	65.5	68.0	85.2
1960	76.5	71.0–82.5	82.7	82.1	65.4	68.0	85.2
1959	76.2	70.8–82.4	82.0	82.1	65.4	67.3	85.2
1958	76.2	70.7–82.3	82.2	82.1	65.4	67.3	85.2
1957	76.2	70.7–82.3	82.2	82.1	65.4	67.3	85.2
1956	76.3	70.9–82.4	82.7	82.1	65.4	67.3	85.2
1955	73.5	67.6–80.0	77.1	80.0	65.4	61.4	84.8
1954	73.4	67.6–80.1	77.1	79.4	65.4	61.4	84.8
1953	73.0	67.3–79.9	77.1	79.4	65.4	61.4	83.0
1952	73.0	67.3–80.0	77.0	79.4	65.4	61.4	83.0
1951	73.0	67.3–79.9	76.9	79.4	65.4	61.4	83.1
1950	73.0	67.3–79.9	76.8	79.4	65.4	61.4	83.1
1949	72.8	66.8–79.5	76.6	78.6	65.4	61.4	83.1
1948	72.7	66.8–79.7	76.2	78.6	65.4	61.4	83.1
1947	72.6	66.6–79.5	76.2	78.3	65.4	61.4	83.1
1946	72.9	67.0–79.8	76.0	79.6	65.4	61.4	83.1
1945	65.3	59.3–72.7	71.6	57.8	57.0	58.3	83.6
1937	27.1	21.0–32.1	9.5	31.4	39.8	18.4	46.0
1936	26.9	21.0–31.9	9.5	31.5	38.4	18.4	46.0
1935	27.1	21.0–32.2	9.5	31.5	40.0	18.4	46.0
1934	28.4	21.9–33.1	9.8	33.3	38.9	22.0	47.3
1933	39.2	32.2–45.8	19.7	42.6	49.8	36.0	53.2
1932	61.8	54.4–70.0	65.5	76.5	60.4	48.4	59.8
1931	61.8	54.4–70.1	65.5	76.6	60.4	48.4	59.8
1930	62.4	55.2–70.9	68.6	76.6	60.4	48.4	59.8
1929	63.0	55.6–71.1	69.9	78.4	60.4	48.4	60.1
1928	63.0	55.6–71.1	69.9	78.4	60.4	48.4	60.1
1927	63.0	55.6–71.0	69.6	78.4	60.4	48.4	60.1
1926	62.9	55.5–71.0	68.7	78.7	60.4	48.4	60.1
1925	62.9	55.5–71.0	68.7	78.7	60.4	48.4	60.1
1924	62.8	55.5–71.0	68.4	78.7	60.4	48.4	60.1
1923	63.2	55.8–71.4	69.3	78.7	59.1	50.6	60.1
1922	63.2	55.8–71.4	69.5	78.7	59.1	50.6	60.1
1921	63.8	56.4–71.7	69.5	78.7	59.1	53.0	60.1
1920	55.8	50.1–62.2	35.3	61.0	59.1	63.7	62.9
1919	53.6	48.1–60.1	30.1	58.7	58.0	63.7	62.1
1918	54.0	47.3–61.3	30.4	67.2	55.8	62.5	59.0

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Austria Democracy Score, 1918–2025,” 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

#18South Korea82.5 #19Japan82.0 #21Czechia81.7 #22Lithuania81.7

All rankings

How democratic isAustria?

Austria, 1975–2025

Access to government information became a legal right

Participation

Public reasoning

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.

Austria score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Austria?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.