2025 country profile

How democratic is
Guinea-Bissau?

Guinea-Bissau scores 31.2 out of 100 and ranks 139 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is rights and checks on power. 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

31.2out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank139 of 179

10-year change−14.3

25-year change−6.8

Source-bound range24.3–37.2

Weakest areaRights & checks

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

SCORE HISTORY

Guinea-Bissau, 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

A coup interrupted elections and the publication of results

The military took power during the general-election process. Soldiers seized or destroyed electoral records, and the previous parliament remained dissolved, according to Freedom House. This directly disrupted voters’ ability to choose a government and prevented the normal verification and completion of the electoral process.

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 Guinea-Bissau fell 14.3 points, from 45.5 to 31.2 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. Rights and checks contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Rights and checks

The evidence points toward weaker civil liberties, equality before the law, or constraints on executive power.

Area score: 49.7 → 21.8
Approx. contribution to overall change: −5.9 points

Another important influence

Elections

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

Area score: 50.1 → 25.2
Approx. contribution to overall change: −5.1 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.

2021–2022−7.3 points
The overall score fell from 45.2 to 37.9. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−6.1 points
The overall score fell from 40.6 to 34.5. Elections supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2024–2025−3.3 points
The overall score fell from 34.5 to 31.2. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 45.5 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
Rights and checks	49.7	21.8	−27.9	−5.9
Elections	50.1	25.2	−24.9	−5.1
Public reasoning	48.2	32.2	−16.0	−3.1
Political equality	48.0	46.8	−1.2	−0.2
Participation	32.9	32.6	−0.3	−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?

25.2

Rights and checks on power

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

21.8

Public participation

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

32.6

Public reasoning

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

32.2

Political equality

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

46.8

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

Guinea-Bissau score table

Download Guinea-Bissau CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	31.2	24.3–37.2	25.2	21.8	32.6	32.2	46.8
2024	34.5	27.6–40.9	27.9	33.7	32.6	32.2	47.6
2023	40.6	33.2–48.4	42.8	41.5	34.2	38.6	46.3
2022	37.9	30.3–44.3	37.7	34.6	34.2	37.0	46.5
2021	45.2	36.7–52.9	53.5	52.4	35.1	37.0	49.8
2020	44.5	35.8–51.8	53.3	54.1	35.1	37.0	44.7
2019	44.1	36.5–52.3	52.9	54.3	35.1	36.7	43.5
2018	42.9	35.3–50.9	51.0	52.7	35.2	33.2	44.1
2017	42.3	33.9–49.2	49.0	50.1	32.9	33.8	47.7
2016	42.2	34.2–49.6	50.0	49.8	32.9	32.3	48.2
2015	45.5	37.9–53.6	50.1	49.7	32.9	48.2	48.0
2014	42.7	34.6–49.8	43.9	51.8	32.9	38.1	48.0
2013	36.9	29.3–42.7	28.8	50.2	32.9	27.6	47.9
2012	38.0	30.2–44.4	32.8	37.8	33.3	43.1	43.5
2011	43.6	35.8–51.2	44.9	48.3	33.3	49.0	43.6
2010	43.6	35.8–51.3	44.8	48.9	33.3	49.0	43.2
2009	42.5	34.6–50.3	45.2	48.6	33.3	43.0	43.2
2008	40.6	32.9–47.9	40.2	44.9	32.0	43.0	43.4
2007	42.2	33.9–49.7	44.6	48.6	32.0	43.2	43.4
2006	42.2	33.7–49.4	44.6	48.7	32.0	43.2	43.4
2005	42.3	34.1–49.9	45.1	48.9	32.0	43.2	43.4
2004	39.5	31.9–46.8	37.7	44.4	30.6	42.1	43.4
2003	36.5	29.1–44.3	37.6	40.4	27.9	35.1	42.4
2002	38.2	30.4–46.2	43.4	44.8	27.9	35.1	41.0
2001	38.1	30.8–46.4	42.8	43.3	28.2	35.1	42.2
2000	38.0	30.6–46.3	42.4	43.2	28.2	35.1	42.2
1999	35.6	27.5–42.8	36.4	42.4	27.3	34.5	38.1
1998	35.4	27.7–42.8	35.8	43.3	27.3	33.5	38.1
1997	36.4	28.5–43.9	35.8	43.1	27.3	38.6	38.4
1996	36.5	28.6–44.0	35.8	43.5	27.3	38.6	38.4
1995	36.5	28.6–44.0	35.8	43.5	27.3	38.6	38.4
1994	31.1	24.2–38.2	24.9	34.6	25.0	34.3	38.1
1993	23.1	16.6–28.8	15.7	23.3	24.1	16.7	38.7
1992	19.8	13.7–24.8	13.0	16.4	23.4	14.6	35.1
1991	18.7	12.7–23.5	10.1	15.5	23.4	14.3	34.8
1990	18.7	12.7–23.5	10.1	15.5	23.4	14.3	34.8
1989	17.7	11.8–22.5	9.2	15.2	19.8	14.9	33.3
1988	17.7	11.8–22.5	9.2	15.2	19.8	14.9	33.3
1987	17.7	11.8–22.5	9.2	15.2	19.8	14.9	33.3
1986	17.7	11.8–22.5	9.2	15.2	19.8	14.9	33.3
1985	17.6	11.7–22.4	9.2	14.8	19.8	14.9	33.3
1984	17.5	11.9–22.4	9.2	14.8	19.8	14.4	33.3
1983	17.4	11.7–22.3	9.2	14.8	19.1	14.4	33.3
1982	17.4	11.7–22.3	9.2	14.8	19.1	14.4	33.3
1981	19.6	13.4–24.8	9.2	14.8	19.1	25.4	34.0
1980	21.1	14.4–26.2	12.1	16.5	19.1	26.3	35.0
1979	21.7	15.0–26.9	12.5	17.3	19.1	28.2	34.9
1978	21.7	15.0–26.9	12.5	17.3	19.1	28.2	34.9
1977	21.7	15.0–26.9	12.5	17.3	19.1	28.2	34.9
1976	21.4	14.7–26.6	11.5	17.3	19.1	28.2	34.9
1975	21.4	14.7–26.6	11.5	17.3	19.1	28.2	34.9
1974	20.9	14.6–26.2	11.3	15.4	19.1	28.2	34.9
1973	8.0	3.6–10.6	8.0	7.6	8.5	4.4	12.5
1972	4.6	1.8–6.3	1.2	9.0	8.1	1.6	6.5
1971	3.6	1.0–5.2	1.2	4.9	4.8	2.0	6.5
1970	3.5	1.0–5.1	1.2	4.9	4.8	1.6	6.5
1969	3.5	1.0–5.0	1.2	4.9	4.8	1.6	6.5
1968	3.5	1.0–5.0	1.2	4.9	4.8	1.6	6.5
1967	3.5	1.1–5.1	1.2	4.9	4.8	1.6	6.7
1966	3.5	1.1–5.1	1.2	4.9	4.8	1.6	6.7
1965	3.5	1.1–5.1	1.2	4.9	4.8	1.6	6.7
1964	3.5	1.1–5.1	1.2	4.9	4.8	1.6	6.7
1963	3.5	1.1–5.1	1.2	4.9	4.8	1.6	6.7
1962	3.5	1.1–5.1	1.2	4.9	4.8	1.6	6.7
1961	3.5	1.1–5.2	1.2	4.8	4.8	1.6	6.7
1960	3.5	1.0–5.1	1.2	4.8	4.8	1.6	6.7
1959	3.1	0.8–4.7	0.9	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1958	3.1	0.8–4.7	0.9	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1957	3.1	0.8–4.7	0.9	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1956	3.1	0.8–4.7	0.9	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1955	3.1	0.8–4.5	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1954	3.1	0.8–4.5	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1953	3.1	0.8–4.5	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1952	3.1	0.8–4.5	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1951	3.1	0.8–4.5	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1950	3.1	0.8–4.5	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	5.7
1949	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1948	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1947	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1946	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1945	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1944	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1943	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1942	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1941	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1940	2.9	0.7–4.3	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1939	2.9	0.7–4.2	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1938	2.9	0.7–4.2	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1937	2.9	0.7–4.2	0.7	4.9	4.3	1.6	4.8
1936	2.9	0.7–4.2	0.7	4.8	4.3	1.6	4.5
1935	3.1	0.9–4.6	0.7	4.8	6.0	1.6	4.5
1934	3.1	0.9–4.6	0.7	4.8	6.0	1.6	4.5
1933	3.1	0.9–4.6	0.7	4.8	6.0	1.6	4.5
1932	2.9	0.8–4.4	0.7	4.8	6.0	1.6	3.4
1931	2.9	0.8–4.4	0.7	4.8	6.0	1.6	3.4
1930	2.9	0.8–4.4	0.7	4.8	6.0	1.6	3.4
1929	3.0	0.8–4.4	0.8	4.8	6.0	1.6	3.4
1928	3.1	0.7–4.5	0.9	4.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1927	3.1	0.8–4.6	1.0	4.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1926	3.2	0.8–4.7	1.2	4.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1925	3.5	0.9–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1924	3.5	0.9–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1923	3.5	0.9–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1922	3.5	0.9–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1921	3.5	0.9–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1920	3.5	0.9–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1919	3.5	1.0–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1918	3.5	1.0–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1917	3.5	1.0–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1916	3.5	1.0–5.1	1.9	5.7	6.0	1.9	3.3
1915	3.3	0.9–4.7	1.9	5.7	5.1	1.5	3.3
1914	3.3	0.9–4.8	2.0	5.7	5.1	1.5	3.3
1913	3.3	0.9–4.8	2.0	5.7	5.1	1.5	3.3
1912	3.3	0.9–4.8	2.0	5.7	5.1	1.5	3.3
1911	3.4	0.9–4.9	2.0	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1910	3.4	0.9–4.9	2.0	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1909	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1908	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1907	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1906	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1905	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1904	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1903	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1902	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1901	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3
1900	3.3	0.8–4.7	1.4	5.7	5.1	1.9	3.3

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Guinea-Bissau 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

#137Palestine/West Bank32.5 #138Bangladesh32.0 #140Guinea30.3 #141Türkiye30.2

All rankings

How democratic isGuinea-Bissau?