2025 country profile

How democratic is
Italy?

Italy scores 81.0 out of 100 and ranks 24 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

81.0out of 100Closer to the standard

2025 rank24 of 179

10-year change−6.6

25-year change−5.7

Source-bound range76.7–86.9

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

Italy, 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

Anticorruption safeguards and civic organizations faced pressure

Freedom House describes weakened anticorruption protections and restrictions on migration-focused organizations through fines, equipment seizures, and surveillance. These affect two different checks on power: formal enforcement and independent civic scrutiny. Their significance is not captured by noting only that elections remain 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 Italy fell 6.6 points, from 87.6 to 81.0 between 2015 and 2025. 4 of the five areas declined; none improved at the published precision. 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: 94.4 → 81.6
Approx. contribution to overall change: −2.5 points

Another important influence

Elections

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

Area score: 86.5 → 74.5
Approx. contribution to overall change: −2.5 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.

2017–2018−1.2 points
The overall score fell from 88.4 to 87.2. Participation supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−2.3 points
The overall score fell from 85.6 to 83.3. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2024–2025−2.3 points
The overall score fell from 83.3 to 81.0. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 88.4 in 2017. 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	94.4	81.6	−12.8	−2.5
Elections	86.5	74.5	−12.0	−2.5
Rights and checks	91.7	86.6	−5.1	−1.0
Political equality	91.9	88.9	−3.0	−0.6
Participation	74.1	74.1	0.0	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?

74.5

Rights and checks on power

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

86.6

Public participation

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

74.1

Public reasoning

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

81.6

Political equality

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

88.9

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

Italy score table

Download Italy CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	81.0	76.7–86.9	74.5	86.6	74.1	81.6	88.9
2024	83.3	79.3–88.6	78.4	88.1	74.5	86.2	89.6
2023	85.6	82.3–90.1	80.6	91.3	75.0	91.2	90.5
2022	86.6	83.6–91.0	84.2	91.3	75.0	92.0	90.9
2021	87.0	83.9–91.2	85.7	90.8	75.6	92.0	91.3
2020	86.7	83.7–91.1	85.7	90.7	76.3	91.7	89.8
2019	87.7	85.0–91.6	85.4	91.8	75.6	93.6	92.8
2018	87.2	84.2–91.5	86.4	91.5	74.2	93.0	91.7
2017	88.4	85.9–91.9	87.0	92.1	76.1	94.3	93.4
2016	88.2	85.5–91.8	86.9	91.7	76.2	94.4	92.3
2015	87.6	84.8–91.3	86.5	91.7	74.1	94.4	91.9
2014	87.6	84.8–91.3	86.5	91.7	74.5	94.1	91.9
2013	87.7	85.0–91.4	86.4	91.7	75.0	94.4	91.9
2012	88.4	85.9–91.8	86.9	91.4	75.6	95.3	93.3
2011	88.3	85.8–91.8	86.2	91.7	76.0	95.0	93.3
2010	87.8	85.5–91.6	85.6	90.9	75.5	94.7	93.1
2009	87.7	85.0–91.2	85.7	90.8	75.7	94.7	92.2
2008	87.5	84.9–91.3	85.5	90.1	75.7	94.7	92.2
2007	87.8	85.3–91.6	86.1	91.3	75.6	94.7	92.1
2006	87.7	85.1–91.4	85.2	91.7	75.8	94.2	92.1
2005	87.2	84.4–91.1	84.6	90.7	75.8	93.4	92.1
2004	87.0	84.4–91.1	83.7	90.7	75.8	93.4	92.1
2003	86.6	83.9–91.0	83.7	90.7	75.8	91.5	92.1
2002	86.7	84.0–91.0	83.7	90.3	75.8	91.5	92.7
2001	87.1	84.4–91.0	83.3	90.1	75.8	94.4	92.6
2000	86.7	84.0–90.3	84.0	90.4	72.8	94.4	92.6
1999	86.9	84.3–90.6	84.3	90.4	73.7	94.4	92.6
1998	86.9	84.3–90.6	84.3	90.4	73.7	94.4	92.6
1997	86.9	84.3–90.6	84.3	90.4	73.7	94.4	92.6
1996	86.1	83.1–90.0	83.5	90.4	73.7	91.4	92.4
1995	86.0	83.0–90.0	82.8	90.4	73.7	91.4	92.4
1994	86.2	83.4–90.2	83.0	89.9	73.7	93.0	92.4
1993	86.7	83.9–90.6	83.5	90.2	73.0	94.5	93.3
1992	86.3	83.5–90.3	83.1	90.4	72.0	95.2	92.1
1991	86.0	83.1–90.0	82.9	89.5	72.0	94.7	92.1
1990	85.4	82.4–89.9	82.1	89.5	70.3	94.7	91.7
1989	85.7	82.4–90.4	82.1	88.7	71.9	94.7	91.9
1988	84.9	81.7–89.6	82.1	88.7	68.6	94.7	91.9
1987	84.9	81.7–89.6	82.0	88.7	68.6	94.7	91.9
1986	84.7	81.5–89.4	81.9	88.7	67.7	94.7	91.9
1985	84.7	81.5–89.4	81.9	88.7	67.7	94.7	91.9
1984	84.6	81.4–89.5	81.9	88.7	67.7	94.2	91.8
1983	84.3	81.0–89.2	80.6	88.7	67.7	94.2	91.8
1982	84.2	80.9–89.2	80.2	88.7	67.7	94.2	91.8
1981	84.2	80.9–89.1	80.2	88.8	67.7	94.2	91.8
1980	83.8	80.3–88.6	79.2	88.4	67.7	94.2	91.1
1979	82.1	78.3–87.1	76.3	88.0	66.2	94.2	87.2
1978	82.1	78.3–87.2	76.4	88.0	66.2	94.2	87.2
1977	82.1	78.3–87.2	76.4	88.0	66.2	94.2	87.2
1976	81.7	77.7–86.8	75.8	87.7	66.2	93.3	87.2
1975	81.5	77.4–86.5	75.2	87.1	66.2	93.3	87.2
1974	81.3	77.2–86.4	74.8	86.5	66.2	93.3	87.2
1973	79.6	75.7–85.0	74.8	86.5	59.3	93.3	86.7
1972	79.5	75.7–85.0	74.2	86.6	59.2	93.3	86.7
1971	79.3	75.4–84.8	74.1	86.6	59.2	93.3	85.8
1970	79.3	75.2–84.6	74.4	86.5	59.2	93.3	85.8
1969	78.3	73.7–83.6	73.2	85.2	59.9	91.6	83.8
1968	78.2	73.9–83.9	72.9	85.4	59.3	91.6	83.9
1967	77.3	72.7–83.3	72.9	84.8	56.0	91.6	83.9
1966	77.3	72.7–83.3	72.9	84.8	56.0	91.6	83.9
1965	76.7	72.2–83.1	72.9	84.8	54.3	90.4	83.9
1964	76.7	72.2–83.1	72.9	84.8	54.3	90.4	83.9
1963	76.5	72.0–82.9	72.8	84.8	54.3	90.4	83.2
1962	76.0	71.2–82.3	72.7	84.1	54.3	90.4	81.6
1961	75.9	71.0–82.0	72.7	83.7	54.3	90.4	81.1
1960	75.9	71.1–82.1	72.7	83.7	54.3	90.4	81.1
1959	74.6	69.4–81.1	71.1	83.6	53.7	90.4	77.0
1958	74.5	69.2–80.8	70.9	83.6	54.7	90.4	75.5
1957	74.4	69.1–80.7	70.5	83.6	54.7	90.4	75.5
1956	74.2	69.1–80.8	70.5	83.6	54.7	90.4	74.6
1955	72.8	67.2–79.2	68.8	79.6	54.7	90.4	72.8
1954	72.8	67.2–79.2	68.8	79.6	54.7	90.4	72.8
1953	71.5	65.6–78.3	68.4	79.6	54.7	85.3	71.6
1952	71.4	65.4–78.2	67.8	79.6	54.7	85.3	71.6
1951	71.4	65.4–78.2	67.8	79.6	54.7	85.3	71.6
1950	71.4	65.4–78.2	67.8	79.6	54.7	85.3	71.6
1949	71.0	65.1–77.8	67.8	79.6	53.8	85.3	70.7
1948	68.7	62.6–75.7	62.3	79.8	52.9	81.5	69.0
1947	67.1	60.5–74.7	62.9	76.3	53.0	78.2	66.9
1946	56.9	50.0–64.5	42.9	72.0	50.3	61.6	59.7
1945	30.0	23.6–36.1	13.2	40.1	14.9	43.1	49.4
1944	27.3	20.7–32.6	10.0	33.2	14.9	43.1	46.2
1943	7.6	4.0–9.8	5.2	11.5	2.1	1.6	27.3
1942	7.5	4.1–9.7	5.4	12.4	1.3	1.6	27.9
1941	7.5	4.1–9.7	5.4	12.4	1.3	1.6	27.9
1940	8.0	4.3–10.3	5.4	12.4	2.6	1.6	27.9
1939	7.9	4.2–10.2	5.4	11.7	2.6	1.6	27.9
1938	8.9	5.2–11.4	5.4	11.6	6.7	1.6	27.9
1937	9.3	5.5–11.8	5.4	12.2	6.7	1.6	30.3
1936	9.3	5.4–11.8	5.3	12.2	6.7	1.6	30.3
1935	9.3	5.6–12.0	5.3	12.2	7.0	1.6	30.3
1934	10.0	6.2–12.6	5.4	12.2	10.3	1.6	30.3
1933	9.4	5.6–12.1	5.8	12.2	7.0	1.6	30.3
1932	9.4	5.6–12.1	5.7	12.1	7.0	1.6	30.3
1931	9.4	5.6–12.1	5.7	12.1	7.0	1.6	30.3
1930	9.4	5.6–12.1	5.8	12.1	7.0	1.6	30.3
1929	10.5	6.5–13.3	6.0	11.9	10.3	1.6	33.3
1928	10.1	6.1–12.9	6.8	12.4	7.0	1.6	33.3
1927	10.1	6.1–12.9	6.8	12.5	7.0	1.6	33.3
1926	10.1	6.0–12.9	6.8	12.6	7.0	1.6	33.3
1925	11.4	6.9–14.6	8.8	16.7	8.1	1.8	32.4
1924	19.5	13.1–24.5	18.6	27.0	15.7	8.6	32.5
1923	22.2	15.1–27.7	26.0	29.5	17.0	10.9	31.5
1922	34.2	26.5–40.7	30.1	58.8	24.6	28.1	33.5
1921	43.8	36.6–50.9	36.2	64.7	33.6	58.2	31.2
1920	44.0	36.9–51.2	37.5	64.7	33.6	58.2	31.2
1919	43.8	37.0–51.3	36.7	64.4	34.1	58.2	30.8
1918	39.7	32.4–46.7	33.8	59.0	31.4	51.2	27.7
1917	39.4	32.2–46.3	33.9	58.9	31.4	49.4	27.7
1916	39.6	32.4–46.9	33.9	59.0	31.4	50.3	27.7
1915	39.7	32.4–46.9	34.0	59.1	32.0	50.3	27.4
1914	41.3	34.2–48.7	36.4	62.5	32.9	53.4	26.3
1913	42.3	35.1–49.3	36.7	64.0	33.9	57.1	25.8
1912	40.9	33.8–47.7	30.9	64.1	33.7	56.9	25.4
1911	40.3	33.2–47.1	30.9	64.1	33.7	56.9	23.4
1910	40.5	33.3–47.1	30.7	64.1	33.7	57.9	23.4
1909	40.1	33.1–46.7	30.6	64.1	33.6	56.3	23.2
1908	40.1	33.3–47.0	30.8	64.1	33.6	56.3	23.2
1907	40.1	33.3–47.1	30.8	63.8	33.6	56.3	23.2
1906	40.1	33.3–47.1	30.8	63.8	33.6	56.3	23.2
1905	40.1	33.3–47.0	30.8	63.8	33.6	56.3	23.2
1904	39.6	32.4–46.0	30.4	63.8	33.6	54.2	23.0
1903	39.6	32.5–46.0	30.3	63.8	33.6	54.2	23.0
1902	39.4	32.9–46.4	30.3	63.8	33.6	54.2	22.5
1901	39.4	32.6–46.1	30.3	63.6	33.6	54.2	22.5
1900	39.4	32.4–46.3	30.7	63.5	33.5	53.8	22.5

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Italy 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

#22Lithuania81.7 #23Latvia81.4 #25Chile80.8 #26Spain80.4

All rankings

How democratic isItaly?

Italy, 1975–2025

Anticorruption safeguards and civic organizations faced pressure

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.

Italy score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Italy?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.