2025 country profile

How democratic is
Guyana?

Guyana scores 51.7 out of 100 and ranks 99 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is public reasoning. 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

51.7out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank99 of 179

10-year change−8.6

25-year change−1.5

Source-bound range43.4–60.0

Weakest areaReasoning

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

SCORE HISTORY

Guyana, 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

Electoral competition and justice administration moved differently

A major opposition party faced administrative and logistical barriers to campaigning. At the same time, Freedom House records reduced pretrial detention and efforts to clear court backlogs. These developments belong to different parts of democracy and help explain why an overall score can obscure a mixed institutional picture.

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 Guyana fell 8.6 points, from 60.3 to 51.7 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: 50.6 → 37.1
Approx. contribution to overall change: −3.1 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: 67.4 → 69.7
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.4 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.

2016–2017+1.2 points
The overall score rose from 61.4 to 62.6. Political equality supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2019–2020−3.2 points
The overall score fell from 63.6 to 60.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2020–2021−7.3 points
The overall score fell from 60.4 to 53.1. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 63.6 in 2019. 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	50.6	37.1	−13.5	−3.1
Elections	65.0	51.5	−13.5	−2.6
Participation	55.6	46.2	−9.4	−2.0
Rights and checks	63.6	57.0	−6.6	−1.3
Political equality	67.4	69.7	+2.3	+0.4

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?

51.5

Rights and checks on power

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

57.0

Public participation

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

46.2

Public reasoning

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

37.1

Political equality

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

69.7

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

Guyana score table

Download Guyana CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	51.7	43.4–60.0	51.5	57.0	46.2	37.1	69.7
2024	51.9	43.7–59.9	49.1	57.0	49.5	37.1	69.4
2023	52.1	43.7–60.0	48.4	57.3	49.5	38.2	69.7
2022	52.4	44.4–60.7	49.1	59.7	50.4	38.2	66.9
2021	53.1	44.8–61.0	49.8	60.4	50.9	38.2	68.5
2020	60.4	53.0–68.7	55.5	64.2	53.7	58.9	70.2
2019	63.6	57.2–72.1	64.0	61.7	53.7	67.9	71.4
2018	63.6	56.8–72.0	66.4	62.5	54.5	63.9	71.5
2017	62.6	55.0–70.4	66.0	64.7	55.8	56.0	71.4
2016	61.4	53.7–69.5	65.7	65.0	56.2	53.4	67.3
2015	60.3	52.5–67.7	65.0	63.6	55.6	50.6	67.4
2014	57.7	50.5–66.2	60.7	57.4	55.1	50.7	65.3
2013	57.6	50.0–65.6	60.8	57.4	55.1	50.1	65.3
2012	57.1	49.6–65.2	57.9	57.6	55.3	51.0	64.1
2011	56.1	48.3–64.2	58.2	57.0	55.3	46.9	63.9
2010	56.2	48.2–64.2	58.3	57.2	55.3	46.9	64.0
2009	56.6	48.5–64.3	58.3	56.9	55.3	48.9	64.3
2008	56.3	48.5–64.2	57.6	57.0	54.7	48.9	63.8
2007	56.5	48.6–64.4	57.9	57.1	54.7	48.9	64.6
2006	56.3	48.4–64.1	58.3	57.0	54.7	47.6	64.6
2005	56.5	48.6–64.4	58.8	56.9	54.7	47.6	65.0
2004	56.6	48.5–64.2	58.8	57.4	54.7	47.6	65.0
2003	56.1	47.5–63.6	58.8	57.2	54.7	47.6	62.9
2002	55.7	47.7–63.6	57.2	57.2	54.7	47.6	62.3
2001	55.9	48.2–64.1	55.3	57.3	54.7	47.6	65.3
2000	53.2	45.0–61.1	51.9	57.4	54.7	38.9	64.8
1999	51.6	43.3–59.5	52.2	57.7	54.7	33.4	63.1
1998	51.2	42.9–59.0	52.3	57.7	54.7	31.7	63.1
1997	47.5	39.3–55.5	45.2	59.5	41.5	34.0	60.3
1996	48.0	39.5–55.6	44.4	59.1	41.7	34.0	64.0
1995	47.9	39.3–55.4	44.4	59.1	41.4	34.0	64.0
1994	48.1	39.6–55.7	44.4	59.1	42.2	34.0	64.0
1993	47.3	38.8–55.3	44.4	58.7	43.7	29.7	64.0
1992	46.9	38.8–54.9	35.8	59.1	52.6	28.7	63.7
1991	45.4	37.3–52.4	30.9	54.0	56.5	28.7	62.6
1990	45.5	37.4–52.4	31.4	54.0	56.2	28.7	62.6
1989	43.9	35.6–50.9	30.0	53.0	50.0	28.7	63.0
1988	44.2	36.3–51.6	29.7	53.0	50.3	30.6	62.3
1987	43.7	35.7–50.9	29.2	52.4	50.6	30.6	60.6
1986	43.8	35.9–51.1	28.4	52.4	50.8	30.6	61.8
1985	40.6	32.9–47.2	24.5	49.1	40.6	31.2	63.3
1984	41.2	33.3–47.9	24.9	48.4	41.6	32.9	63.3
1983	41.1	33.2–47.7	24.8	48.0	41.8	32.9	63.3
1982	41.2	33.3–47.8	24.8	48.0	42.1	32.9	63.3
1981	40.9	33.2–47.3	24.8	48.0	42.1	31.5	63.3
1980	42.2	34.5–49.4	26.9	47.7	49.3	31.5	60.3
1979	43.1	35.0–49.9	28.2	51.1	48.4	31.5	60.7
1978	43.1	35.0–49.9	28.2	51.1	48.4	31.5	60.7
1977	42.7	34.6–49.3	28.6	51.1	45.7	31.5	60.7
1976	42.8	34.8–49.5	29.2	50.9	45.7	31.5	60.7
1975	42.8	34.9–49.6	29.4	50.9	45.7	31.5	60.7
1974	43.0	34.6–49.6	29.4	50.9	45.7	32.4	60.7
1973	43.4	34.7–50.0	30.5	51.4	45.7	32.4	60.7
1972	43.6	34.9–50.3	31.5	51.4	45.7	32.4	60.7
1971	43.8	34.9–50.4	32.1	51.4	45.7	32.4	60.7
1970	43.8	35.1–50.6	32.1	51.4	45.7	32.4	60.7
1969	42.7	34.2–50.4	33.8	51.6	40.2	32.4	58.2
1968	44.0	35.2–52.5	40.7	51.6	39.5	32.4	58.2
1967	44.4	34.9–52.1	42.1	51.6	40.8	32.4	57.4
1966	39.5	31.5–46.8	28.6	50.7	40.8	35.6	43.7
1965	38.0	29.8–45.4	27.4	55.2	36.7	37.1	36.0
1964	40.8	32.6–48.4	28.8	55.2	37.9	49.1	35.7
1963	40.8	32.6–48.4	28.9	54.9	37.9	49.1	35.7
1962	40.8	32.6–48.4	28.9	54.9	37.9	49.1	35.7
1961	41.0	32.9–48.7	29.6	55.4	37.9	49.1	35.7
1960	41.1	33.0–48.8	29.9	55.4	37.9	49.1	35.7
1959	40.6	32.7–48.4	30.1	56.0	37.9	49.1	32.9
1958	41.9	34.1–49.6	30.1	56.0	44.2	49.1	32.9
1957	37.8	30.3–44.9	23.3	50.9	39.5	49.1	30.0
1956	35.5	28.2–42.3	20.0	47.7	39.5	44.4	30.0
1955	38.8	32.0–45.7	20.0	47.7	39.5	63.9	30.1
1954	38.8	31.9–45.6	20.0	47.7	39.5	63.9	30.1
1953	38.2	31.4–45.0	26.6	51.5	40.6	69.2	15.3
1952	36.9	29.5–43.4	27.6	54.0	41.1	67.8	10.4
1951	35.9	28.8–42.4	23.9	54.0	41.1	67.8	9.9
1950	34.3	26.9–41.2	23.9	54.0	40.5	60.9	8.9
1949	34.2	26.3–40.8	23.8	53.1	41.4	60.9	8.7
1948	34.2	26.3–40.8	23.8	53.1	41.4	60.9	8.7
1947	34.2	26.4–40.9	23.9	53.1	41.4	60.9	8.7
1946	34.2	26.4–40.8	23.7	53.1	41.4	60.9	8.7
1945	34.1	26.6–41.0	23.7	53.1	40.8	60.9	8.7
1944	33.8	26.3–40.7	22.5	53.1	40.8	60.9	8.7
1943	33.8	26.3–40.7	22.5	53.1	40.8	60.9	8.7
1942	33.8	26.3–40.7	22.5	53.1	40.8	60.9	8.7
1941	33.8	26.3–40.7	22.5	53.1	40.8	60.9	8.7
1940	33.8	26.3–40.7	22.5	53.1	40.8	60.9	8.7
1939	33.3	26.1–40.2	22.5	53.1	40.8	60.9	7.6
1938	33.3	26.1–40.2	22.5	53.1	40.8	60.9	7.6
1937	33.2	26.1–40.1	22.4	53.1	40.8	60.9	7.6
1936	33.2	26.1–40.1	22.4	53.1	40.8	60.9	7.6
1935	33.2	26.1–40.2	22.2	53.1	40.8	60.9	7.6
1934	33.2	26.1–40.2	22.2	53.1	40.8	60.9	7.6
1933	33.2	26.1–40.2	22.2	53.1	40.8	60.9	7.6
1932	32.8	25.5–39.6	22.2	53.1	38.7	60.9	7.6
1931	32.8	25.5–39.6	22.2	53.1	38.7	60.9	7.6
1930	32.8	25.5–39.6	22.2	53.1	38.7	60.9	7.6
1929	26.4	18.4–31.8	22.1	53.1	38.7	23.7	7.1
1928	26.2	18.3–31.7	21.5	53.1	38.7	23.7	7.1
1927	26.5	18.2–31.8	21.6	53.1	40.1	23.7	7.1
1926	26.6	18.3–31.8	21.9	53.1	40.1	23.7	7.1
1925	26.6	18.4–31.8	22.0	53.1	40.1	23.7	7.1
1924	26.6	18.4–31.8	22.0	53.1	40.1	23.7	7.1
1923	26.6	18.4–31.8	22.0	53.1	40.1	23.7	7.1
1922	26.5	18.3–31.8	22.0	52.9	40.1	23.7	7.1
1921	26.6	18.2–31.7	22.1	52.9	40.1	23.7	7.1
1920	26.6	18.2–31.7	22.2	52.9	40.1	23.7	7.1
1919	26.6	18.2–31.7	22.2	52.9	40.1	23.7	7.1
1918	26.6	18.2–31.7	22.2	52.9	40.1	23.7	7.1
1917	26.5	18.0–31.5	22.2	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1916	26.5	18.0–31.5	22.2	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1915	26.5	18.1–31.6	22.0	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1914	26.5	18.1–31.6	22.0	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1913	26.5	18.1–31.6	22.0	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1912	26.5	18.1–31.6	22.0	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1911	26.5	18.1–31.6	22.0	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1910	26.5	18.0–31.5	22.1	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1909	26.4	18.0–31.5	21.8	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1908	26.4	18.0–31.5	21.8	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1907	26.4	18.0–31.5	21.8	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1906	26.4	18.0–31.5	21.8	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1905	26.4	18.1–31.6	21.9	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1904	26.4	18.1–31.6	21.9	52.3	40.1	23.7	7.1
1903	26.4	18.0–31.5	21.9	51.9	40.1	23.7	7.1
1902	26.4	18.0–31.5	21.9	51.9	40.1	23.7	7.1
1901	26.4	18.0–31.5	21.9	51.9	40.1	23.7	7.1
1900	24.1	16.2–28.9	12.1	51.9	40.1	23.7	7.1

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Guyana 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

#97Lebanon52.3 #98Niger52.1 #100Serbia51.6 #101Papua New Guinea51.5

All rankings

How democratic isGuyana?

Guyana, 1975–2025

Electoral competition and justice administration moved differently

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.

Guyana score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Guyana?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.