2025 country profile

How democratic is
Benin?

Benin scores 56.5 out of 100 and ranks 89 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

56.5out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank89 of 179

10-year change−16.5

25-year change−12.8

Source-bound range48.4–64.0

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

Benin, 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

Electoral rule changes raised entry barriers

Higher endorsement requirements for presidential candidates and a higher legislative vote threshold made competition harder for new and opposition parties. Such rules can narrow practical electoral choice even without cancelling elections. Their effect on access to office should be considered separately from improvements in other areas of governance.

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 Benin fell 16.5 points, from 73.0 to 56.5 between 2015 and 2025. 1 of the five areas improved while 4 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. 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: 87.6 → 53.3
Approx. contribution to overall change: −6.6 points

Moving in the other direction

Political equality

The evidence rates the distribution of political influence, rights, and access across social groups more favorably.

Area score: 73.9 → 74.3
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.1 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.

2017–2018−7.0 points
The overall score fell from 73.9 to 66.9. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2018–2019−7.4 points
The overall score fell from 66.9 to 59.5. Elections supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2019–2020−3.6 points
The overall score fell from 59.5 to 55.9. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 76.0 in 2016. 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	87.6	53.3	−34.3	−6.6
Rights and checks	79.2	58.6	−20.6	−4.0
Elections	65.2	49.3	−15.9	−3.4
Participation	60.5	48.6	−11.9	−2.6
Political equality	73.9	74.3	+0.4	+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?

49.3

Rights and checks on power

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

58.6

Public participation

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

48.6

Public reasoning

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

53.3

Political equality

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

74.3

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

Benin score table

Download Benin CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	56.5	48.4–64.0	49.3	58.6	48.6	53.3	74.3
2024	56.4	48.6–64.2	49.1	58.6	48.6	53.3	74.3
2023	55.4	47.4–63.1	48.7	56.7	48.6	51.0	74.0
2022	54.3	46.4–61.6	42.3	58.5	49.5	51.0	72.3
2021	55.1	47.9–63.0	39.0	58.9	49.8	57.7	73.0
2020	55.9	48.7–63.7	40.8	60.0	50.0	58.7	72.7
2019	59.5	52.2–66.9	45.2	66.6	52.7	61.5	73.9
2018	66.9	60.0–74.3	60.6	76.1	59.5	66.0	73.0
2017	73.9	68.3–80.2	71.3	83.3	61.5	81.3	73.3
2016	76.0	71.2–81.7	71.2	80.3	62.5	91.0	76.4
2015	73.0	67.9–79.2	65.2	79.2	60.5	87.6	73.9
2014	71.5	66.0–78.0	60.6	78.4	58.1	86.6	75.8
2013	71.5	66.2–77.7	60.3	78.1	58.1	87.5	75.8
2012	72.8	67.4–78.1	59.6	80.0	58.8	91.6	76.6
2011	72.8	67.5–78.2	59.9	80.0	58.8	91.6	76.6
2010	73.5	68.6–79.3	63.5	80.0	58.8	91.1	76.6
2009	73.5	68.6–79.2	63.3	80.0	58.3	92.1	76.5
2008	73.7	68.6–79.3	63.5	80.0	58.7	92.1	76.5
2007	73.9	69.6–80.3	64.5	80.0	58.4	93.0	76.2
2006	74.5	70.0–80.7	65.9	79.9	60.0	92.4	76.2
2005	73.7	69.0–79.7	62.2	80.7	60.4	91.4	76.1
2004	72.5	67.9–78.5	60.1	81.0	61.2	92.6	70.0
2003	72.6	67.9–78.6	60.3	81.0	61.6	92.6	70.0
2002	68.6	63.6–74.3	61.0	81.0	43.7	92.6	70.0
2001	69.1	64.0–74.7	60.9	81.0	45.3	92.6	70.5
2000	69.3	64.5–75.3	61.1	81.0	45.7	92.6	70.8
1999	69.0	64.1–75.1	61.3	80.0	46.1	91.9	70.5
1998	66.7	61.8–72.5	61.8	80.0	36.8	91.9	70.5
1997	66.8	61.9–72.6	61.8	80.0	37.2	91.9	70.5
1996	67.3	62.4–72.8	61.7	81.2	38.4	91.9	70.5
1995	67.6	62.8–73.2	62.4	81.2	38.8	91.9	70.5
1994	67.2	62.3–72.6	59.8	81.2	39.2	91.9	70.5
1993	67.2	62.3–72.6	59.8	81.2	39.2	91.9	70.5
1992	67.2	62.3–72.6	59.8	81.2	39.2	91.9	70.5
1991	62.1	57.0–67.4	46.2	70.5	38.7	91.9	70.5
1990	51.1	47.5–55.8	22.1	46.9	38.5	91.9	70.9
1989	26.4	19.7–32.5	10.2	29.3	14.9	38.9	49.0
1988	26.4	19.6–32.4	10.2	29.3	14.9	38.9	49.0
1987	26.4	19.7–32.6	10.2	29.3	14.9	38.9	49.0
1986	26.4	19.6–32.4	10.1	29.3	14.9	38.9	49.0
1985	26.4	19.6–32.4	10.1	29.3	14.9	38.9	49.0
1984	26.5	19.7–32.6	10.4	29.3	14.9	38.9	49.0
1983	26.5	19.8–32.7	10.6	29.3	14.9	38.9	49.0
1982	26.5	19.8–32.7	10.6	29.3	14.9	38.9	49.0
1981	26.5	19.7–32.7	10.6	29.2	14.9	38.9	49.0
1980	26.5	19.7–32.7	10.6	29.2	14.9	38.9	49.0
1979	25.8	19.2–31.8	8.7	29.2	14.9	38.9	49.0
1978	25.8	19.2–31.7	8.5	29.2	14.9	38.9	49.0
1977	25.8	19.2–31.7	8.5	29.2	14.9	38.9	49.0
1976	25.8	19.2–31.7	8.5	29.2	14.9	38.9	49.0
1975	26.4	20.0–32.6	8.5	29.2	14.9	42.8	49.0
1974	26.5	20.1–32.8	8.8	29.2	14.9	42.8	49.0
1973	26.7	20.2–33.0	9.3	29.2	14.9	42.8	49.0
1972	31.6	25.3–37.8	12.3	29.3	17.8	57.7	54.5
1971	34.9	28.6–41.7	17.0	32.4	20.7	60.6	54.7
1970	35.3	28.9–42.0	17.6	33.6	20.7	60.6	54.7
1969	37.3	30.4–43.9	25.7	33.0	20.7	60.5	54.8
1968	37.3	30.5–43.7	22.1	33.0	24.1	60.5	54.8
1967	35.2	28.6–41.4	17.4	33.0	20.7	60.5	54.8
1966	35.2	28.6–41.4	17.4	33.0	20.7	60.5	54.8
1965	42.7	35.1–50.1	31.0	55.0	20.7	60.5	54.8
1964	43.3	35.7–50.5	31.4	52.3	24.1	60.5	54.8
1963	42.8	35.5–50.4	33.1	52.8	20.7	60.5	54.8
1962	42.8	35.5–50.4	33.1	52.8	20.7	60.5	54.8
1961	42.8	35.5–50.4	33.1	52.8	20.7	60.5	54.8
1960	41.3	34.6–48.8	26.9	51.9	20.7	60.5	55.1
1959	27.1	19.8–33.2	15.1	27.2	12.7	48.2	41.1
1958	25.3	17.7–31.0	13.5	26.7	12.7	40.3	41.1
1957	25.3	17.6–30.9	13.3	26.7	12.7	40.3	41.1
1956	25.2	17.7–30.9	13.4	26.0	12.7	40.3	41.1
1955	23.6	16.3–29.3	8.4	26.0	12.7	40.3	41.1
1954	23.6	16.3–29.3	8.4	26.0	12.7	40.3	41.1
1953	23.6	16.3–29.3	8.4	26.0	12.7	40.3	41.1
1952	23.7	16.4–29.5	7.7	28.0	12.7	40.3	41.1
1951	20.3	13.7–25.6	4.9	16.3	12.7	40.3	41.1
1950	20.3	13.7–25.6	4.9	16.3	12.7	40.3	41.1
1949	20.3	13.7–25.6	4.9	16.3	12.7	40.3	41.1
1948	20.3	13.7–25.6	4.9	16.3	12.7	40.3	41.1
1947	20.3	13.7–25.6	4.9	16.0	12.7	40.3	41.1
1946	20.3	13.7–25.6	4.9	16.0	12.7	40.3	41.1
1945	19.2	12.7–24.4	3.8	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1944	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1943	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1942	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1941	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1940	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1939	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1938	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1937	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1936	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1935	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1934	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1933	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1932	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1931	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1930	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1929	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1928	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1927	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1926	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1925	18.9	12.5–23.9	3.3	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1924	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1923	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1922	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1921	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1920	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1919	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1918	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1917	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1916	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1915	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1914	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1913	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1912	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1911	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1910	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1909	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1908	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1907	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1906	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1905	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1904	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1903	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1902	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1901	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4
1900	18.9	12.4–23.9	3.2	16.0	12.7	40.3	37.4

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Benin Democracy Score, 1900–2025,” 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

#87Georgia57.0 #88Ukraine56.8 #90Nigeria56.1 #91Honduras55.6

All rankings

How democratic isBenin?

Benin, 1975–2025

Electoral rule changes raised entry barriers

Public reasoning

Political equality

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.

Benin score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Benin?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.