2025 country profile

How democratic is
China?

China scores 16.1 out of 100 and ranks 167 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is free and fair elections. 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

16.1out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank167 of 179

10-year change−7.2

25-year change−9.1

Source-bound range10.7–20.6

Weakest areaElections

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

SCORE HISTORY

China, 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

Security and religious rules expanded state control

New regulations in Xinjiang tightened requirements on religious activity, while amendments to the state-secrets law broadened the framework restricting information. These changes affect independent expression and scrutiny of government. They occurred within an already closed political system, so small movements in the headline should not be mistaken for competitive democratization.

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 China fell 7.2 points, from 23.3 to 16.1 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: 54.3 → 23.1
Approx. contribution to overall change: −4.6 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: 18.3 → 13.7
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.0 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 23.0 to 21.6. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022−1.8 points
The overall score fell from 20.4 to 18.6. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−2.3 points
The overall score fell from 18.0 to 15.7. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 23.3 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
Public reasoning	54.3	23.1	−31.2	−4.6
Rights and checks	18.3	13.7	−4.6	−1.0
Political equality	34.8	28.7	−6.1	−1.0
Elections	8.2	7.2	−1.0	−0.3
Participation	13.6	12.5	−1.1	−0.3

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?

7.2

Rights and checks on power

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

13.7

Public participation

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

12.5

Public reasoning

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

23.1

Political equality

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

28.7

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

China score table

Download China CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	16.1	10.7–20.6	7.2	13.7	12.5	23.1	28.7
2024	15.7	10.1–19.7	7.3	12.7	10.5	23.7	29.3
2023	18.0	11.9–22.3	7.4	12.6	11.1	37.3	30.2
2022	18.6	12.4–23.2	7.5	14.7	12.7	34.9	30.3
2021	20.4	14.4–25.7	7.7	15.2	12.4	43.3	33.6
2020	20.2	14.3–25.4	7.5	14.7	12.6	43.3	33.0
2019	21.0	15.0–25.8	7.5	16.7	12.7	43.9	34.6
2018	21.6	16.0–26.9	7.6	17.1	12.7	47.5	34.5
2017	23.0	17.1–28.1	7.8	18.4	13.7	51.7	36.1
2016	23.1	16.9–28.0	8.0	18.3	12.9	54.3	34.8
2015	23.3	17.1–28.3	8.2	18.3	13.6	54.3	34.8
2014	23.8	17.8–29.2	8.4	18.2	14.2	56.6	34.4
2013	23.9	18.0–29.3	8.6	18.3	14.2	56.3	35.3
2012	25.7	19.6–30.9	9.4	19.1	16.1	59.6	37.9
2011	25.9	20.0–31.3	9.4	19.0	16.0	60.3	38.8
2010	25.6	19.9–31.2	9.4	19.3	15.8	58.8	38.1
2009	26.2	20.8–31.8	9.4	19.6	17.0	59.5	38.9
2008	25.9	20.2–31.4	9.5	19.5	16.8	58.8	38.0
2007	25.8	19.9–31.2	9.5	19.3	15.9	60.3	37.6
2006	25.7	19.9–31.2	9.4	19.6	16.1	58.8	37.5
2005	25.6	19.7–31.0	9.4	19.5	16.1	57.9	37.9
2004	27.8	22.0–34.0	10.2	25.1	17.7	60.4	38.2
2003	28.1	22.1–34.3	10.3	25.4	17.7	59.5	39.8
2002	26.3	19.7–31.9	10.2	25.2	14.0	56.1	38.0
2001	25.5	19.1–31.3	10.2	24.1	13.5	53.6	37.6
2000	25.2	18.8–30.9	10.0	23.9	13.5	51.7	37.9
1999	24.2	17.8–29.9	10.2	23.9	11.9	46.5	38.9
1998	24.0	17.5–29.7	10.2	23.6	11.7	46.5	38.8
1997	24.2	17.8–29.9	10.2	23.4	11.7	46.5	40.0
1996	24.3	17.7–29.9	10.2	23.3	12.3	46.5	39.9
1995	24.1	17.4–29.8	10.2	23.6	11.4	46.5	40.0
1994	23.8	17.2–29.5	10.2	23.0	11.5	44.8	40.1
1993	23.8	17.1–29.4	10.1	22.9	11.5	44.8	40.3
1992	23.5	16.7–29.0	9.6	22.7	12.3	40.6	42.2
1991	22.5	16.2–28.1	9.4	22.6	10.5	38.1	42.1
1990	22.3	15.9–27.7	9.3	22.6	10.3	38.0	41.2
1989	23.2	16.6–28.6	10.0	22.5	9.2	42.3	44.1
1988	24.1	17.5–29.8	10.4	22.8	10.4	44.9	43.7
1987	24.3	16.9–29.1	10.4	22.8	10.4	45.9	44.0
1986	23.8	16.8–29.0	10.2	22.8	9.0	45.9	44.0
1985	23.9	17.2–29.6	9.8	23.1	9.0	45.7	45.3
1984	23.8	17.1–29.4	9.8	23.1	9.0	45.7	45.2
1983	23.6	16.4–28.8	9.8	23.1	9.0	43.8	45.7
1982	23.6	16.6–28.8	9.8	23.1	8.9	43.8	45.5
1981	23.6	16.3–28.6	9.8	23.1	8.9	43.8	45.4
1980	23.5	16.8–29.0	9.8	22.7	9.1	44.0	45.0
1979	20.0	14.0–25.6	9.2	20.8	6.8	30.5	43.8
1978	16.0	10.9–20.6	7.6	14.8	4.5	17.0	49.6
1977	14.4	9.3–17.5	6.9	13.0	4.1	7.9	56.6
1976	13.0	8.4–16.0	7.0	12.5	4.3	3.4	55.8
1975	13.0	8.4–16.0	7.0	12.5	4.3	3.4	55.8
1974	13.0	8.3–15.9	7.0	12.5	4.3	3.4	55.8
1973	13.0	8.3–15.9	7.0	12.5	4.3	3.4	55.8
1972	12.7	8.2–15.6	6.8	12.5	3.6	3.4	55.8
1971	12.7	8.3–15.7	6.8	12.5	3.6	3.4	55.8
1970	12.7	8.3–15.7	6.8	12.5	3.6	3.4	55.8
1969	12.7	8.3–15.7	6.9	12.4	3.6	3.4	55.8
1968	13.0	8.6–16.2	7.1	12.4	4.4	3.4	55.5
1967	12.9	8.1–15.8	7.1	12.4	4.4	3.4	54.8
1966	13.8	8.9–17.2	7.1	12.5	4.4	6.3	54.9
1965	14.0	9.0–17.5	7.0	12.9	3.8	8.5	53.6
1964	14.1	9.2–17.7	7.0	13.0	3.8	8.5	54.0
1963	14.1	9.2–17.7	7.0	13.0	3.8	8.5	54.0
1962	14.1	9.2–17.7	7.0	13.0	3.8	8.5	54.0
1961	13.7	9.0–17.4	7.0	13.0	3.8	7.3	52.8
1960	13.5	8.7–16.9	6.9	13.0	3.8	7.3	51.6
1959	13.4	8.5–16.7	6.9	12.8	3.8	6.9	51.6
1958	13.5	8.5–16.9	6.9	12.9	3.8	7.1	51.8
1957	14.7	9.5–18.3	6.9	13.1	3.8	11.9	52.9
1956	16.8	10.6–20.6	7.4	13.9	5.3	18.3	53.5
1955	17.6	11.8–21.9	7.4	13.9	5.3	23.0	53.4
1954	17.7	11.5–21.9	7.4	13.9	5.3	23.6	53.4
1953	16.8	10.5–20.6	7.5	9.6	5.3	23.6	53.2
1952	16.8	10.5–20.6	7.5	9.6	5.3	23.6	53.2
1951	16.8	10.5–20.6	7.5	9.6	5.3	23.6	53.2
1950	16.8	10.6–20.6	7.5	9.6	5.3	23.6	53.2
1949	18.2	12.0–22.9	12.1	18.5	10.2	23.8	30.1
1948	22.2	15.3–27.4	15.9	27.3	13.7	33.0	24.0
1947	19.8	13.7–25.1	14.3	17.1	13.7	33.0	23.9
1946	18.3	12.4–23.6	8.7	17.0	13.7	32.5	23.9
1945	18.5	12.1–23.4	9.1	17.2	13.7	33.4	23.8
1944	18.8	12.5–23.8	9.1	17.1	13.7	35.3	23.8
1943	18.8	12.6–23.8	9.1	17.1	13.7	35.3	23.9
1942	18.8	12.8–24.0	9.1	17.1	13.7	35.3	23.7
1941	18.6	12.3–23.5	9.1	17.1	13.7	33.9	23.7
1940	18.8	12.9–23.9	9.1	17.1	13.7	35.1	23.7
1939	18.8	12.9–23.9	9.1	17.1	13.7	35.1	23.7
1938	18.9	12.8–23.9	9.3	17.1	13.7	35.1	23.9
1937	19.2	13.3–24.5	8.7	17.5	13.6	37.6	24.3
1936	19.0	13.1–24.3	8.7	17.3	13.8	37.6	23.1
1935	18.8	12.8–23.9	8.7	17.3	13.0	37.6	23.1
1934	18.9	12.9–24.0	8.7	17.3	13.0	37.6	23.5
1933	18.9	12.9–24.0	8.9	17.3	13.0	37.6	23.5
1932	18.9	12.9–24.1	8.9	17.3	13.0	37.6	23.3
1931	18.9	13.1–24.3	8.9	17.3	13.0	37.6	23.3
1930	18.9	12.9–24.1	8.9	17.3	13.0	37.6	23.3
1929	19.0	13.0–24.1	9.0	17.3	13.8	37.6	23.0
1928	18.1	12.3–23.1	9.2	17.2	12.7	37.6	19.3
1927	18.5	12.5–23.7	9.8	15.9	15.6	36.5	18.9
1926	18.2	12.3–23.5	10.9	16.7	13.2	35.7	18.3
1925	18.0	12.1–23.2	10.9	16.5	13.2	35.7	17.8
1924	17.9	12.2–23.3	10.9	16.5	13.1	35.7	17.4
1923	18.9	12.7–24.3	10.9	21.5	13.1	35.7	17.4
1922	18.5	12.5–24.0	10.9	19.5	13.1	35.7	17.4
1921	18.2	12.4–23.7	12.1	16.5	13.1	35.4	17.4
1920	19.6	13.5–25.4	12.0	25.0	13.1	35.4	16.9
1919	20.3	14.2–26.2	12.5	26.5	14.1	35.4	17.0
1918	19.1	13.1–24.7	12.0	21.4	12.9	35.4	17.5
1917	18.6	12.5–23.8	11.1	20.0	12.9	35.3	17.5
1916	18.4	12.7–23.9	11.0	19.4	13.0	35.3	17.5
1915	17.9	12.3–23.2	10.8	16.7	13.0	35.3	17.5
1914	17.9	12.1–22.9	10.9	16.7	13.0	35.3	17.3
1913	19.4	13.2–24.8	12.6	22.3	13.0	35.3	17.3
1912	16.4	10.5–21.2	10.2	20.8	11.2	30.9	12.6
1911	7.8	3.4–10.3	5.8	9.1	6.6	13.4	5.1
1910	6.4	2.9–8.9	5.8	8.9	6.0	6.7	5.0
1909	6.2	2.6–8.5	5.7	8.9	6.0	5.8	5.0
1908	6.2	2.5–8.4	5.7	8.9	5.7	5.8	5.0
1907	6.0	2.3–8.2	5.7	8.9	5.7	5.8	4.5
1906	5.9	2.3–8.0	5.7	8.3	5.7	5.8	4.5
1905	5.9	2.3–8.1	5.7	8.1	5.7	5.8	4.5
1904	5.7	2.3–7.9	5.5	8.1	5.7	5.8	4.0
1903	5.7	2.2–7.8	5.5	7.9	5.7	5.8	4.0
1902	5.7	2.2–7.8	5.5	7.9	5.7	5.8	4.0
1901	5.7	2.2–7.8	5.5	8.0	5.7	5.8	4.0
1900	5.5	2.1–7.5	5.5	8.0	4.9	5.6	4.0

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “China 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

#165Saudi Arabia16.9 #166Venezuela16.2 #168Azerbaijan15.6 #169Equatorial Guinea15.4

All rankings

How democratic isChina?

China, 1975–2025

Security and religious rules expanded state control

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.

China score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
China?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.