2025 country profile

How democratic is
Iran?

Iran scores 25.4 out of 100 and ranks 154 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

25.4out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank154 of 179

10-year change−8.0

25-year change−14.8

Source-bound range18.1–31.6

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

Iran, 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

Mass expulsions exposed weak protections against arbitrary action

Freedom House describes arbitrary mass expulsions of Afghan migrants and refugees. This bears on equal treatment and safeguards against coercive state action, including for people without voting rights. An election-centered reading of democracy would miss these restrictions on basic civil protections.

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 Iran fell 8.0 points, from 33.4 to 25.4 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: 55.6 → 28.4
Approx. contribution to overall change: −4.5 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: 41.5 → 32.0
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.6 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.

2020–2021−2.4 points
The overall score fell from 28.2 to 25.8. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022−3.2 points
The overall score fell from 25.8 to 22.6. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024+2.3 points
The overall score rose from 22.8 to 25.1. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 33.4 in 2016. 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	55.6	28.4	−27.2	−4.5
Rights and checks	41.5	32.0	−9.5	−1.6
Political equality	56.0	49.7	−6.3	−1.0
Elections	18.6	15.9	−2.7	−0.7
Participation	10.6	10.1	−0.5	−0.2

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?

15.9

Rights and checks on power

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

32.0

Public participation

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

10.1

Public reasoning

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

28.4

Political equality

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

49.7

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

Iran score table

Download Iran CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	25.4	18.1–31.6	15.9	32.0	10.1	28.4	49.7
2024	25.1	17.4–30.7	16.6	26.4	9.7	32.8	49.3
2023	22.8	15.6–28.4	15.3	23.1	8.0	26.4	51.2
2022	22.6	15.4–27.9	14.8	24.1	7.8	26.5	49.7
2021	25.8	18.3–32.0	15.8	28.0	8.8	38.1	49.1
2020	28.2	21.0–34.3	16.5	37.3	9.4	38.0	51.6
2019	30.2	22.5–36.4	18.1	38.7	9.4	45.0	53.0
2018	30.9	23.3–37.5	18.2	40.0	10.3	43.9	55.3
2017	31.6	24.0–37.9	18.5	41.1	10.6	49.4	51.6
2016	33.4	26.1–39.8	18.6	42.1	10.7	55.7	54.9
2015	33.4	25.8–39.6	18.6	41.5	10.6	55.6	56.0
2014	32.6	25.8–39.2	18.3	40.0	9.6	55.6	55.7
2013	32.1	25.2–38.6	17.4	40.1	9.6	54.2	55.1
2012	32.3	24.9–37.7	15.8	38.8	9.8	59.7	55.1
2011	31.6	24.4–36.8	14.5	38.8	8.9	59.7	55.0
2010	31.4	24.5–36.9	14.4	38.6	8.9	58.8	55.0
2009	32.9	26.1–38.9	15.8	39.1	10.7	58.9	57.2
2008	32.7	26.1–39.1	16.7	39.4	9.3	58.7	57.9
2007	33.0	26.3–39.4	17.3	39.5	9.5	58.7	57.9
2006	33.0	26.4–39.5	17.3	39.3	9.6	58.7	57.9
2005	35.0	28.7–41.4	17.7	39.5	11.9	65.0	58.3
2004	38.3	31.6–44.5	20.7	41.7	12.7	77.8	57.3
2003	39.0	32.2–45.2	23.2	43.1	12.1	78.3	57.0
2002	39.5	32.4–45.6	23.2	43.1	13.6	78.3	57.0
2001	39.7	32.5–45.6	23.4	43.1	13.8	78.3	57.0
2000	40.2	33.1–46.1	23.3	45.7	14.0	78.3	57.0
1999	40.8	34.1–47.4	23.4	44.8	16.1	78.3	57.0
1998	39.7	32.5–45.9	23.1	44.8	13.4	78.3	57.0
1997	40.1	33.7–46.6	21.8	42.9	16.5	78.3	57.0
1996	34.6	27.4–40.8	17.4	38.2	14.9	60.8	55.1
1995	34.3	27.5–40.5	16.5	37.7	14.9	60.8	55.1
1994	34.7	27.8–40.7	16.5	37.7	15.5	62.7	55.1
1993	34.3	27.4–40.3	16.2	37.1	16.1	60.2	55.1
1992	33.8	27.1–39.9	15.9	34.0	16.5	60.2	55.1
1991	34.1	27.3–40.1	16.0	35.0	16.9	60.2	55.1
1990	34.2	27.5–40.3	16.0	35.0	17.3	60.2	55.1
1989	34.6	27.5–40.5	16.8	33.2	16.6	60.5	59.4
1988	31.0	25.1–37.2	17.7	31.0	10.8	52.2	57.6
1987	31.0	25.1–37.2	17.1	31.0	11.2	52.2	57.6
1986	29.3	23.6–35.4	10.9	31.0	11.6	52.2	57.6
1985	29.4	23.7–35.4	10.9	31.0	12.0	52.2	57.6
1984	29.5	23.7–35.3	10.8	30.6	12.4	52.2	57.6
1983	28.7	23.1–34.0	10.4	29.5	10.5	52.2	59.0
1982	29.6	24.2–35.1	10.6	31.5	10.5	55.4	59.0
1981	30.1	24.5–35.5	12.1	31.6	10.4	55.4	59.0
1980	31.3	25.4–37.4	16.7	26.2	11.5	59.3	58.6
1979	31.8	25.1–37.5	15.9	22.9	17.5	64.5	51.3
1978	17.1	10.5–21.4	11.0	27.6	13.8	5.2	37.4
1977	17.0	10.3–21.3	10.7	27.7	13.8	5.2	37.4
1976	17.0	10.3–21.3	10.7	27.7	13.8	5.2	37.4
1975	17.0	10.3–21.3	10.7	27.7	13.8	5.2	37.4
1974	17.3	10.5–21.5	11.3	28.2	13.8	5.2	37.4
1973	17.3	10.5–21.5	11.3	28.2	13.8	5.2	37.4
1972	17.3	10.5–21.5	11.3	28.2	13.8	5.2	37.4
1971	17.3	10.5–21.5	11.3	28.2	13.8	5.2	37.4
1970	17.3	10.5–21.5	11.3	28.2	13.8	5.2	37.4
1969	17.2	10.5–21.5	11.1	28.1	13.8	5.2	37.4
1968	17.2	10.5–21.5	11.1	28.1	13.8	5.2	37.4
1967	17.1	10.3–21.3	11.0	27.5	13.8	5.2	37.4
1966	17.1	10.3–21.3	11.0	27.5	13.8	5.2	37.4
1965	17.1	10.4–21.4	11.0	27.5	13.8	5.2	37.5
1964	17.1	10.3–21.3	10.9	27.5	13.8	5.2	37.5
1963	15.0	9.5–19.2	6.1	26.9	10.7	6.3	34.8
1962	15.1	8.8–19.2	6.0	26.7	9.5	7.8	34.3
1961	15.2	9.3–19.7	6.1	25.2	9.5	9.3	34.3
1960	14.7	8.5–18.7	6.1	24.7	9.5	7.6	34.0
1959	13.7	7.6–17.5	5.8	24.3	8.3	7.6	30.0
1958	13.6	7.6–17.5	5.8	23.9	8.3	7.6	29.6
1957	13.6	7.6–17.5	5.8	23.9	8.3	7.6	29.6
1956	13.5	7.7–17.5	5.7	23.9	8.3	7.6	29.6
1955	16.7	10.3–21.4	10.2	25.2	10.0	13.0	29.6
1954	16.2	9.9–20.9	5.8	23.2	10.0	18.6	29.6
1953	24.4	17.4–30.6	11.8	30.1	18.9	35.8	29.8
1952	34.7	27.7–41.8	20.5	37.6	23.1	68.0	32.4
1951	33.3	26.3–40.5	18.5	37.6	19.8	68.0	32.4
1950	32.4	25.4–39.5	15.6	37.0	19.8	68.0	32.4
1949	27.3	20.6–33.7	15.9	31.2	12.3	68.0	22.0
1948	25.7	18.7–31.9	15.9	31.2	12.3	56.8	22.0
1947	22.9	15.5–28.8	16.1	31.2	12.3	38.4	21.3
1946	22.9	15.5–28.8	16.1	31.2	12.3	38.4	21.3
1945	20.6	13.8–26.4	16.4	31.2	11.0	26.4	21.3
1944	19.5	12.5–25.0	15.8	27.9	9.5	26.4	21.1
1943	18.7	11.9–24.2	12.7	27.9	9.5	26.4	21.1
1942	18.2	11.5–23.6	12.2	27.9	9.5	23.7	21.1
1941	11.1	6.0–14.6	10.0	16.3	7.1	5.2	20.5
1940	7.8	3.6–10.1	11.3	12.2	4.8	2.3	11.9
1939	7.8	3.5–10.1	11.3	12.2	4.8	2.3	11.9
1938	7.8	3.5–10.1	11.3	12.2	4.8	2.3	11.9
1937	7.8	3.5–10.1	11.3	12.2	4.8	2.3	11.9
1936	7.8	3.5–10.1	11.3	12.2	4.8	2.3	11.9
1935	7.8	3.5–10.1	11.3	12.2	4.8	2.3	11.9
1934	7.8	3.5–10.1	11.3	12.2	4.8	2.3	11.9
1933	7.5	3.2–9.6	11.3	10.6	4.8	2.3	11.6
1932	7.7	3.4–10.0	11.4	10.6	4.8	2.9	11.6
1931	7.8	3.4–10.0	11.5	10.6	4.8	2.9	11.6
1930	8.4	3.8–10.9	11.5	10.6	7.8	2.9	11.6
1929	8.4	3.8–11.0	11.5	10.6	7.8	2.9	11.6
1928	8.4	3.8–11.0	11.5	10.6	7.8	2.9	11.6
1927	8.4	3.8–11.0	11.5	10.6	7.8	2.9	11.6
1926	7.1	3.0–9.7	5.6	10.3	7.8	2.9	10.6
1925	8.5	3.9–11.5	8.0	10.7	9.5	4.5	10.6
1924	10.8	5.4–14.3	11.5	16.6	9.4	7.2	10.3
1923	9.8	4.5–12.9	11.3	17.3	5.3	9.0	8.1
1922	10.1	4.9–13.4	14.5	16.8	5.3	9.0	7.0
1921	7.0	2.8–9.5	8.8	5.5	5.3	9.0	7.0
1920	9.5	4.3–12.6	12.1	5.5	5.6	20.5	7.0
1919	9.6	4.1–12.5	12.1	5.6	5.6	20.5	7.3
1918	9.6	4.1–12.5	12.1	5.6	5.6	20.5	7.3
1917	9.6	4.1–12.5	12.1	5.6	5.6	20.5	7.3
1916	9.6	4.1–12.5	12.1	5.6	5.6	20.5	7.3
1915	12.3	6.0–16.1	12.1	19.8	5.6	20.5	7.3
1914	9.8	4.3–12.9	12.1	6.6	5.6	20.5	7.3
1913	9.6	4.3–12.7	12.1	5.8	5.6	20.5	7.3
1912	9.6	4.3–12.7	12.1	5.8	5.6	20.5	7.3
1911	12.7	6.3–16.7	13.6	20.5	5.6	20.5	7.3
1910	12.6	6.2–16.4	13.7	20.1	5.6	20.5	7.3
1909	9.2	4.1–12.3	10.6	6.8	5.6	17.8	7.3
1908	11.1	5.6–14.8	11.8	12.2	6.9	19.2	7.4
1907	12.6	6.8–16.7	12.1	20.3	6.9	19.2	7.4
1906	8.2	3.3–11.0	8.0	8.8	3.0	19.2	5.9
1905	3.6	1.1–5.3	2.9	2.7	2.7	5.1	5.1
1904	3.6	1.0–5.1	2.9	2.7	2.7	5.1	5.0
1903	3.6	1.0–5.1	2.9	2.7	2.7	5.1	5.0
1902	3.6	1.0–5.1	2.9	2.7	2.7	5.1	5.0
1901	3.6	1.0–5.1	2.9	2.7	2.7	5.1	5.0
1900	3.6	1.0–5.1	2.9	2.7	2.7	5.1	5.0

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Iran 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

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All rankings

How democratic isIran?

Iran, 1975–2025

Mass expulsions exposed weak protections against arbitrary action

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.

Iran score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Iran?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.