2025 country profile

How democratic is
Dominican Republic?

Dominican Republic scores 65.3 out of 100 and ranks 61 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is political equality. 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

65.3out of 100Substantial but incomplete

2025 rank61 of 179

10-year change+8.9

25-year change+6.9

Source-bound range59.4–72.4

Weakest areaEquality

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

SCORE HISTORY

Dominican Republic, 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

Pressure on rights organizations increased

Freedom House reports growing violence and pressure against human-rights and immigrant-rights groups from state and nonstate actors. Such pressure affects who can advocate publicly and hold authorities accountable. It can weaken civic participation even when national elections continue to be competitive.

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 Dominican Republic rose 8.9 points, from 56.4 to 65.3 between 2015 and 2025. 4 of the five areas improved while 1 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Public reasoning contributed the largest upward push in the score calculation. The latest year moved in the opposite direction (−0.9), so the longer trend is not the whole story.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Public reasoning

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

Area score: 72.6 → 90.0
Approx. contribution to overall change: +3.0 points

Another important influence

Elections

The evidence rates electoral choice, voting rights, political organization, and the space for open debate more favorably.

Area score: 59.0 → 73.5
Approx. contribution to overall change: +2.8 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.

2019–2020+7.6 points
The overall score rose from 55.8 to 63.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2020–2021+3.5 points
The overall score rose from 63.4 to 66.9. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022−1.1 points
The overall score fell from 66.9 to 65.8. Political equality supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 66.9 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	72.6	90.0	+17.4	+3.0
Elections	59.0	73.5	+14.5	+2.8
Rights and checks	50.6	63.3	+12.7	+2.6
Participation	55.8	58.4	+2.6	+0.5
Political equality	45.7	45.6	−0.1	0.0

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?

73.5

Rights and checks on power

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

63.3

Public participation

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

58.4

Public reasoning

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

90.0

Political equality

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

45.6

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

Dominican Republic score table

Download Dominican Republic CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	65.3	59.4–72.4	73.5	63.3	58.4	90.0	45.6
2024	66.2	59.9–72.8	71.0	65.0	60.0	91.6	47.1
2023	65.3	58.8–71.6	69.2	63.3	60.0	91.8	46.2
2022	65.8	59.2–71.4	69.2	64.6	61.8	92.5	45.0
2021	66.9	61.5–73.4	69.4	65.3	62.4	92.5	48.6
2020	63.4	57.5–70.6	65.6	63.4	61.3	85.8	44.4
2019	55.8	48.2–62.8	56.9	52.1	59.3	69.4	42.8
2018	55.2	48.4–63.3	57.3	51.5	56.5	68.7	43.7
2017	54.6	47.5–62.4	55.9	50.7	55.8	68.6	43.6
2016	55.3	48.4–63.1	57.1	50.8	55.8	71.1	43.6
2015	56.4	49.4–63.7	59.0	50.6	55.8	72.6	45.7
2014	56.8	49.6–64.0	60.0	50.6	57.7	72.0	45.5
2013	57.0	50.0–64.4	60.0	51.3	57.7	72.0	45.5
2012	58.5	52.0–66.1	61.2	52.2	59.5	77.7	44.3
2011	57.9	51.2–65.0	62.3	50.5	59.5	77.4	42.9
2010	58.3	51.7–65.5	62.5	52.0	59.5	77.4	42.9
2009	58.2	51.5–65.7	63.9	51.5	59.1	76.0	43.2
2008	58.2	51.5–65.7	63.8	51.5	59.1	76.0	43.2
2007	58.2	51.4–65.6	63.6	51.5	59.1	76.0	43.2
2006	58.2	51.6–65.6	64.4	51.0	59.1	76.0	43.2
2005	58.3	52.0–66.2	65.1	51.0	59.1	76.0	43.2
2004	58.1	51.9–66.0	65.9	49.4	59.1	76.0	43.2
2003	58.3	51.8–66.0	67.1	49.5	59.1	76.0	42.8
2002	58.4	51.8–65.9	67.2	49.7	59.1	76.0	42.8
2001	58.5	51.7–65.8	67.3	50.2	59.1	76.0	42.8
2000	58.4	51.5–65.7	66.5	50.9	59.1	76.0	42.3
1999	57.7	51.0–65.5	64.7	50.3	59.1	75.1	42.3
1998	57.3	50.3–64.8	63.9	50.3	59.1	73.4	42.3
1997	56.7	49.9–64.5	61.9	50.1	58.5	73.4	42.3
1996	49.8	42.2–58.0	54.4	42.1	57.0	55.6	41.1
1995	43.7	36.7–51.6	44.4	34.6	55.8	45.0	40.1
1994	43.3	36.4–51.2	43.2	33.7	55.8	45.0	40.1
1993	43.5	36.5–51.1	43.0	35.1	55.8	45.0	40.1
1992	43.7	36.7–51.4	43.0	35.7	55.8	45.0	40.1
1991	44.1	36.8–51.7	43.0	35.7	55.8	45.0	42.1
1990	44.7	37.3–52.5	46.0	35.7	55.8	45.0	42.1
1989	44.4	36.2–52.1	51.7	35.4	55.8	38.6	42.1
1988	43.3	35.0–50.9	51.7	34.8	55.8	38.6	37.4
1987	43.5	35.1–50.9	51.6	35.8	55.8	38.6	37.4
1986	45.1	37.4–53.1	52.8	37.8	55.8	42.2	38.3
1985	45.5	37.5–53.3	53.1	39.4	55.8	42.2	38.3
1984	45.5	37.5–53.3	53.1	39.4	55.8	42.2	38.3
1983	45.7	37.6–53.4	53.2	40.2	55.8	42.2	38.3
1982	45.9	38.0–53.9	51.0	43.5	55.8	42.2	38.3
1981	45.2	37.3–52.9	47.3	43.5	55.8	42.2	38.3
1980	45.2	37.3–52.9	47.3	43.5	55.8	42.2	38.3
1979	39.0	30.2–45.9	47.5	45.5	55.8	16.4	37.4
1978	28.3	20.0–34.7	35.6	25.8	46.0	13.7	25.6
1977	23.9	16.6–29.5	26.8	16.6	46.0	11.3	25.6
1976	23.9	16.6–29.4	26.8	16.4	46.0	11.3	25.6
1975	23.9	16.6–29.4	26.8	16.4	46.0	11.3	25.6
1974	23.8	16.5–29.3	26.4	16.4	46.0	11.3	25.6
1973	23.8	16.5–29.2	26.4	16.4	46.0	11.3	25.6
1972	23.8	16.5–29.2	26.4	16.4	46.0	11.3	25.6
1971	24.6	17.3–30.3	26.4	16.4	46.0	12.5	28.0
1970	24.6	17.3–30.2	26.1	16.4	46.0	12.5	28.0
1969	23.4	16.2–28.9	26.2	16.3	46.0	8.7	28.0
1968	23.4	16.2–28.9	26.2	16.3	46.0	8.7	28.0
1967	23.2	16.1–28.7	26.2	15.5	46.0	8.7	28.0
1966	19.8	13.0–24.9	19.4	14.4	43.4	8.7	19.9
1965	19.8	12.8–25.1	14.6	22.7	39.2	8.7	19.9
1964	19.1	12.1–24.0	15.4	17.7	39.2	8.7	19.9
1963	37.3	28.5–45.1	36.9	41.7	46.2	30.2	32.5
1962	18.5	12.1–23.6	16.9	17.1	35.8	9.9	16.9
1961	10.2	5.9–13.2	16.1	9.0	16.7	1.6	14.2
1960	9.5	5.6–12.3	14.7	6.5	15.6	1.6	15.9
1959	9.5	5.3–12.1	15.2	6.3	15.6	1.6	15.4
1958	9.5	5.3–12.0	15.0	6.3	15.6	1.6	15.4
1957	9.5	5.3–12.0	15.0	6.3	15.6	1.6	15.4
1956	9.5	5.3–12.0	15.0	6.3	15.6	1.6	15.4
1955	9.5	5.3–12.0	15.0	6.3	15.6	1.6	15.4
1954	11.4	6.8–14.4	15.0	6.3	29.3	1.6	15.4
1953	11.4	6.8–14.4	15.0	6.3	29.3	1.6	15.4
1952	11.4	6.8–14.4	15.0	6.3	29.3	1.6	15.4
1951	11.4	6.8–14.4	15.0	6.3	29.3	1.6	15.4
1950	11.4	6.8–14.4	15.1	6.3	29.3	1.6	15.4
1949	11.4	6.8–14.4	15.1	6.3	29.3	1.6	15.4
1948	11.4	6.8–14.4	15.1	6.3	29.3	1.6	15.4
1947	11.4	6.8–14.4	15.1	6.3	29.3	1.6	15.4
1946	11.4	6.8–14.4	15.0	6.3	29.3	1.6	15.4
1945	11.3	6.7–14.3	15.0	6.0	29.3	1.6	15.4
1944	11.3	6.7–14.3	15.0	6.0	29.3	1.6	15.4
1943	11.7	6.9–14.8	15.0	7.7	29.3	1.6	15.4
1942	10.8	6.2–13.6	11.9	6.2	29.3	1.6	15.4
1941	10.8	6.2–13.7	11.9	6.1	29.3	1.6	15.4
1940	10.8	6.3–13.6	11.9	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1939	10.8	6.3–13.6	11.9	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1938	10.8	6.3–13.6	11.9	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1937	10.8	6.3–13.7	11.9	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1936	10.8	6.3–13.7	11.9	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1935	10.8	6.3–13.7	11.9	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1934	10.8	6.3–13.7	12.1	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1933	10.8	6.3–13.8	12.3	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1932	10.8	6.3–13.8	12.3	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1931	10.8	6.3–13.8	12.3	5.9	29.3	1.6	15.4
1930	11.8	6.9–15.1	14.5	6.3	32.7	1.6	15.4
1929	19.5	13.0–24.6	26.0	16.6	40.4	3.5	23.5
1928	19.6	13.2–24.8	26.7	16.6	40.4	3.5	23.5
1927	19.8	13.1–24.8	27.3	17.0	40.4	3.5	23.5
1926	19.6	13.0–24.7	26.1	17.0	40.4	3.5	23.5
1925	19.6	13.0–24.7	26.1	17.0	40.4	3.5	23.5
1924	16.7	10.7–21.3	17.7	13.3	35.7	3.5	23.5
1923	15.3	9.7–19.7	11.9	11.8	35.7	3.5	23.5
1922	15.3	9.7–19.7	11.9	11.8	35.7	3.5	23.5
1921	15.3	9.7–19.7	11.9	11.8	35.7	3.5	23.5
1920	15.2	9.7–19.8	11.9	11.8	35.7	3.5	23.3
1919	15.2	9.7–19.8	11.9	11.8	35.7	3.5	23.3
1918	15.2	9.7–19.8	11.9	11.8	35.7	3.5	23.3
1917	15.2	9.7–19.8	11.9	11.8	35.7	3.5	23.3
1916	16.0	10.3–20.6	15.5	11.8	35.7	3.5	23.3
1915	20.0	13.0–25.1	23.4	20.9	38.0	5.2	21.1
1914	20.8	14.0–26.4	21.2	20.9	38.0	8.4	21.1
1913	20.3	13.7–25.8	18.8	20.9	38.0	8.4	21.1
1912	20.7	14.1–26.3	20.5	20.9	38.0	8.4	21.1
1911	20.4	13.7–25.9	18.5	21.7	38.0	8.4	21.1
1910	20.4	13.7–25.9	18.5	21.7	38.0	8.4	21.1
1909	20.4	13.7–25.9	18.5	21.7	38.0	8.4	21.1
1908	20.7	13.9–26.1	19.7	21.7	38.0	8.4	21.1
1907	21.1	14.3–26.7	21.8	21.7	38.0	8.4	21.1
1906	21.1	14.3–26.7	21.8	21.7	38.0	8.4	21.1
1904	20.8	14.0–26.2	21.9	20.2	38.0	8.4	21.1
1903	19.8	13.2–25.1	16.9	20.2	38.0	8.4	21.1
1902	21.5	14.6–27.2	22.6	23.3	38.0	8.4	21.1
1901	21.8	14.8–27.6	24.1	23.3	38.0	8.4	21.1
1900	21.8	14.8–27.6	24.1	23.3	38.0	8.4	21.1

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Dominican Republic 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

#59Malawi65.4 #60Colombia65.3 #62Sao Tome and Principe65.2 #63Sierra Leone64.7

All rankings

How democratic isDominican Republic?

Dominican Republic, 1975–2025

Pressure on rights organizations increased

Public reasoning

Elections

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.

Dominican Republic score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Dominican Republic?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.