2025 country profile

How democratic is
Ghana?

Ghana scores 67.4 out of 100 and ranks 55 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

67.4out of 100Substantial but incomplete

2025 rank55 of 179

10-year change−1.0

25-year change−1.7

Source-bound range61.5–74.7

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

Ghana, 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

A peaceful election renewed the transfer-of-power record

Opposition victories in the presidential and parliamentary elections produced another rotation between the main parties. The important democratic test is that incumbents can lose and successors can take office. This does not erase continuing concerns about corruption, minority rights, or the independence of particular institutions.

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 Ghana fell 1.0 points, from 68.4 to 67.4 between 2015 and 2025. 3 of the five areas improved while 2 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Political equality contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation. The latest year moved in the opposite direction (+1.7), so the longer trend is not the whole story.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Political equality

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

Area score: 68.9 → 64.4
Approx. contribution to overall change: −0.9 points

Moving in the other direction

Participation

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

Area score: 38.6 → 39.8
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.3 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.

2018–2019−1.7 points
The overall score fell from 69.7 to 68.0. Participation supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2020–2021−1.7 points
The overall score fell from 67.7 to 66.0. Elections supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2024–2025+1.7 points
The overall score rose from 65.7 to 67.4. Elections supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 69.7 in 2018. 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
Political equality	68.9	64.4	−4.5	−0.9
Elections	73.9	71.1	−2.8	−0.5
Participation	38.6	39.8	+1.2	+0.3
Public reasoning	81.2	82.2	+1.0	+0.2
Rights and checks	85.4	85.5	+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?

71.1

Rights and checks on power

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

85.5

Public participation

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

39.8

Public reasoning

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

82.2

Political equality

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

64.4

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

Ghana score table

Download Ghana CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	67.4	61.5–74.7	71.1	85.5	39.8	82.2	64.4
2024	65.7	59.6–73.0	66.5	84.7	37.1	82.0	64.7
2023	66.9	60.7–73.6	65.7	84.6	37.7	85.1	68.0
2022	66.8	61.2–73.7	66.3	84.8	37.7	84.5	67.4
2021	66.0	60.5–73.5	65.9	84.2	38.5	80.3	67.0
2020	67.7	61.9–74.6	71.8	84.0	37.2	84.0	68.2
2019	68.0	62.3–74.9	71.8	84.9	37.9	84.0	68.0
2018	69.7	64.2–75.9	73.5	84.7	40.6	87.5	68.4
2017	68.8	63.4–75.5	73.9	85.3	40.6	83.1	66.8
2016	68.2	62.5–75.3	72.5	84.1	39.1	81.9	69.1
2015	68.4	62.8–75.2	73.9	85.4	38.6	81.2	68.9
2014	69.3	63.8–75.8	74.6	84.9	38.8	84.8	69.9
2013	69.3	64.1–76.1	75.0	84.6	38.8	84.8	69.6
2012	71.8	67.2–77.6	77.1	86.0	40.2	92.7	69.9
2011	72.0	67.4–77.7	76.1	87.9	40.3	93.6	69.2
2010	72.2	67.3–77.6	76.1	87.9	41.0	93.6	69.2
2009	71.9	67.0–77.3	75.5	87.0	41.3	93.6	69.0
2008	71.4	66.4–77.0	73.2	86.9	41.6	93.6	68.1
2007	71.5	66.6–77.2	73.6	86.9	41.9	93.6	68.1
2006	71.3	66.5–77.2	73.0	87.7	42.2	91.5	68.1
2005	71.3	66.6–77.3	73.0	87.7	42.5	91.5	68.1
2004	71.4	66.3–77.3	73.4	87.0	42.8	91.5	68.1
2003	71.4	66.4–77.1	73.1	87.0	43.1	91.5	68.1
2002	71.1	66.1–77.1	73.1	86.6	42.4	91.5	68.1
2001	70.2	65.1–76.3	72.1	86.6	42.8	91.5	63.8
2000	69.1	63.7–75.2	66.4	86.5	43.1	91.5	63.9
1999	65.8	60.2–73.1	59.7	84.3	43.7	82.3	63.8
1998	65.9	60.1–73.0	59.7	84.3	44.0	82.3	63.8
1997	66.0	60.2–73.1	59.7	84.3	44.3	82.3	63.8
1996	63.4	57.5–70.5	51.3	80.4	44.1	82.3	63.8
1995	62.0	56.0–69.3	49.1	77.1	43.8	80.5	63.8
1994	61.4	55.0–68.4	47.9	77.1	43.8	78.9	63.8
1993	57.9	51.2–64.7	44.5	68.1	43.8	71.7	64.7
1992	35.8	29.0–42.3	17.3	34.9	38.4	40.6	53.2
1991	29.8	23.5–35.9	10.5	34.0	33.6	27.0	53.2
1990	29.2	23.3–35.2	10.4	33.9	33.4	23.5	54.2
1989	26.5	20.1–31.5	10.0	30.7	31.8	16.0	55.1
1988	27.0	20.5–32.3	10.0	30.7	33.8	16.0	56.1
1987	25.6	19.6–31.1	10.0	28.5	26.4	17.2	56.1
1986	24.8	18.4–29.8	9.9	27.3	26.8	14.6	56.1
1985	24.7	18.7–30.0	9.9	27.2	27.2	14.0	56.1
1984	24.9	19.5–30.6	9.8	26.8	27.6	15.0	56.1
1983	25.1	19.3–30.4	10.0	26.6	28.0	15.0	56.7
1982	25.4	19.4–30.7	10.9	25.8	29.2	15.0	56.4
1981	40.0	31.8–47.2	25.2	62.8	34.8	36.3	45.7
1980	50.1	41.4–59.0	53.9	71.6	34.8	47.8	45.7
1979	40.4	32.8–47.9	30.4	54.0	32.5	42.2	45.3
1978	26.4	19.8–32.2	11.4	30.1	30.0	19.4	48.3
1977	23.9	17.4–29.1	11.1	30.1	21.9	15.7	48.3
1976	24.0	17.5–29.2	11.1	30.1	22.3	15.7	48.3
1975	23.6	17.2–28.8	11.1	30.1	22.7	13.9	48.3
1974	23.7	17.2–28.9	11.3	30.1	23.1	13.9	48.3
1973	26.9	20.1–32.6	11.2	30.1	23.5	26.2	50.8
1972	31.9	25.3–39.0	14.7	36.0	27.4	37.4	50.1
1971	48.4	40.4–56.1	43.1	74.8	28.8	51.6	49.1
1970	47.3	39.5–54.8	38.2	74.3	29.2	51.6	49.1
1969	37.2	30.2–44.1	24.9	51.6	29.4	35.1	48.7
1968	31.0	24.2–36.8	14.2	32.8	28.6	35.1	50.3
1967	31.2	24.8–37.3	14.1	32.8	29.0	35.8	50.3
1966	29.1	22.5–35.2	14.9	35.0	22.1	25.7	55.0
1965	38.7	30.5–45.9	26.1	56.9	26.5	36.6	52.6
1964	39.7	31.3–46.8	28.8	57.0	27.7	36.6	52.6
1963	40.6	32.5–48.2	29.4	59.1	27.7	38.9	52.6
1962	40.7	32.6–48.4	29.6	59.2	27.7	38.9	52.6
1961	41.5	33.4–49.3	31.4	63.4	27.7	38.9	50.9
1960	45.5	37.8–53.8	34.9	64.4	28.3	55.7	49.3
1959	45.7	37.8–53.9	38.8	64.0	24.9	59.7	47.0
1958	45.8	37.9–54.3	39.7	63.9	24.9	59.7	47.0
1957	45.6	37.1–53.9	43.8	63.2	25.8	54.3	45.9
1956	36.6	29.3–44.3	28.8	55.9	24.3	43.8	34.3
1955	36.7	29.5–44.7	28.7	55.8	24.3	44.5	34.3
1954	36.0	28.6–43.4	29.1	55.7	24.3	40.1	34.3
1953	35.5	28.0–42.7	29.1	53.6	24.3	40.1	33.6
1952	35.0	27.4–42.3	28.9	53.6	24.3	38.0	33.6
1951	34.8	27.2–42.0	28.0	53.5	24.3	38.0	33.6
1950	25.3	18.7–31.1	10.6	40.2	18.4	33.4	30.2
1949	22.9	16.7–28.4	10.7	37.8	18.4	24.7	27.9
1948	22.1	16.0–27.6	10.4	37.8	18.4	22.6	25.9
1947	22.1	16.0–27.6	10.4	37.8	18.4	22.6	25.9
1946	20.8	14.7–26.2	9.5	37.8	15.7	22.6	23.6
1945	20.3	14.2–25.6	8.3	37.7	15.7	22.3	23.6
1944	19.3	13.1–24.3	7.8	37.7	13.8	22.3	21.2
1943	18.9	12.8–23.8	7.8	37.7	11.9	22.3	21.2
1942	18.9	12.8–23.8	7.8	37.7	11.9	22.3	21.2
1941	18.9	12.8–23.8	7.8	37.7	11.9	22.3	21.2
1940	17.7	11.9–22.3	7.8	37.7	11.9	16.2	21.2
1939	17.7	11.8–22.2	7.8	37.5	11.9	16.2	21.2
1938	17.7	11.8–22.2	7.8	38.0	11.9	16.2	21.2
1937	17.7	11.7–22.0	7.6	38.0	11.9	16.2	21.2
1936	17.6	11.7–22.0	7.6	37.7	11.9	16.2	21.2
1935	17.6	11.7–22.0	7.6	37.7	11.9	16.2	21.2
1934	17.6	11.7–22.0	7.6	37.7	11.9	16.2	21.2
1933	17.6	11.7–22.0	7.6	37.7	11.9	16.2	21.2
1932	17.6	11.7–22.0	7.6	37.7	11.9	16.2	21.2
1931	17.2	11.3–21.6	7.6	37.7	11.9	14.1	21.2
1930	17.2	11.3–21.6	7.6	37.6	11.9	14.1	21.2
1929	17.2	11.4–21.7	7.6	38.0	11.9	14.1	21.1
1928	17.2	11.4–21.7	7.6	38.0	11.9	14.1	21.1
1927	17.2	11.4–21.7	7.6	38.0	11.9	14.1	21.1
1926	17.2	11.4–21.7	7.6	38.0	11.9	14.1	21.1
1925	17.2	11.3–21.7	7.4	38.0	11.9	14.1	21.1
1924	17.0	11.4–21.7	7.4	38.0	11.2	14.1	21.1
1923	17.0	11.4–21.7	7.4	38.0	11.2	14.1	21.1
1922	17.0	11.4–21.7	7.4	38.0	11.2	14.1	21.1
1921	16.9	11.3–21.6	7.4	37.5	11.2	14.1	21.1
1920	16.9	11.3–21.6	7.4	37.5	11.2	14.1	21.1
1919	16.8	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	11.2	14.0	20.7
1918	16.8	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	11.2	14.0	20.7
1917	16.8	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	11.2	14.0	20.7
1916	16.8	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	11.2	14.0	20.7
1915	16.8	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	11.2	14.0	20.7
1914	17.0	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	12.0	14.0	20.7
1913	17.0	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	12.0	14.0	20.7
1912	17.0	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	12.0	14.0	20.7
1911	17.0	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	12.0	14.0	20.7
1910	17.0	11.6–21.6	7.4	37.4	12.0	14.0	20.7
1909	17.0	11.6–21.5	7.4	37.6	12.0	14.0	20.7
1908	17.0	11.6–21.5	7.4	37.6	12.0	14.0	20.7
1907	17.0	11.6–21.5	7.4	37.6	12.0	14.0	20.7
1906	17.0	11.6–21.5	7.4	37.6	12.0	14.0	20.7
1905	17.0	11.6–21.5	7.4	37.6	12.0	14.0	20.7
1904	17.0	11.6–21.5	7.4	37.6	12.0	14.0	20.7
1903	17.0	11.6–21.5	7.4	37.6	12.0	14.0	20.7
1902	17.0	11.6–21.5	7.4	37.6	12.0	14.0	20.7

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Ghana Democracy Score, 1902–2025,” 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

#53The Gambia68.4 #54Lesotho67.6 #56Panama66.4 #57United States66.1

All rankings

How democratic isGhana?

Ghana, 1975–2025

A peaceful election renewed the transfer-of-power record

Political equality

Participation

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.

Ghana score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Ghana?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.