2025 country profile

How democratic is
Mexico?

Mexico scores 47.1 out of 100 and ranks 113 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

47.1out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank113 of 179

10-year change−12.4

25-year change−12.4

Source-bound range39.1–54.8

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

Mexico, 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

Judicial elections raised independence concerns

The popular election of judges, including Supreme Court members, drew concerns about governing-party interference. A new disciplinary tribunal also faced criticism over its broad powers. The democratic question is not whether voting occurred, but whether the new arrangements strengthen accountability without making courts dependent on political actors.

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 Mexico fell 12.4 points, from 59.5 to 47.1 between 2015 and 2025. 2 of the five areas improved while 3 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: 77.2 → 42.7
Approx. contribution to overall change: −6.6 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: 55.4 → 65.1
Approx. contribution to overall change: +1.8 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.

2018–2019−3.6 points
The overall score fell from 60.0 to 56.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2019–2020−1.2 points
The overall score fell from 56.4 to 55.2. Political equality supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−5.1 points
The overall score fell from 53.1 to 48.0. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 60.3 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	77.2	42.7	−34.5	−6.6
Rights and checks	61.9	35.9	−26.0	−5.5
Elections	64.3	46.9	−17.4	−3.4
Participation	55.4	65.1	+9.7	+1.8
Political equality	41.7	47.2	+5.5	+1.2

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?

46.9

Rights and checks on power

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

35.9

Public participation

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

65.1

Public reasoning

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

42.7

Political equality

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

47.2

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

Mexico score table

Download Mexico CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	47.1	39.1–54.8	46.9	35.9	65.1	42.7	47.2
2024	48.0	40.0–55.6	49.6	39.0	62.1	43.9	46.7
2023	53.1	45.8–61.5	54.8	47.0	66.0	53.5	45.4
2022	54.2	46.4–62.6	58.4	48.5	65.2	54.4	45.5
2021	54.2	46.4–62.2	62.4	52.2	57.6	55.7	44.2
2020	55.2	47.5–63.3	66.4	54.1	54.4	55.9	46.3
2019	56.4	49.1–65.0	68.4	55.5	54.3	55.0	49.7
2018	60.0	52.6–67.5	67.5	61.4	57.5	68.9	46.1
2017	60.3	53.1–67.6	63.8	64.4	57.9	75.5	42.4
2016	59.7	52.6–67.3	64.3	62.5	55.8	77.2	41.7
2015	59.5	52.5–67.2	64.3	61.9	55.4	77.2	41.7
2014	58.9	52.1–66.7	62.1	62.8	52.8	79.1	41.0
2013	59.1	51.5–66.0	62.3	62.5	53.3	79.2	41.4
2012	61.6	55.3–69.0	65.0	66.0	55.8	83.0	41.9
2011	61.7	55.3–69.1	66.2	66.5	55.8	81.8	41.9
2010	61.7	55.1–68.8	66.2	66.5	55.8	81.8	41.8
2009	61.3	55.0–68.8	65.0	66.7	55.4	82.4	41.0
2008	61.3	54.7–68.7	64.9	66.5	55.4	82.4	41.3
2007	61.2	54.4–68.6	63.9	66.5	55.4	82.7	41.3
2006	61.5	54.8–68.6	67.4	66.8	55.4	80.4	41.4
2005	62.2	55.6–69.6	71.1	67.2	55.4	80.5	40.8
2004	61.9	55.4–69.5	71.1	67.2	55.4	78.9	40.8
2003	61.8	55.1–69.4	70.2	67.2	55.6	78.9	40.8
2002	61.4	54.4–68.5	69.3	67.3	55.6	78.9	40.0
2001	61.2	54.1–68.3	68.1	67.3	55.6	78.9	40.0
2000	59.5	52.1–67.7	67.1	67.9	56.6	67.0	41.3
1999	54.2	45.4–62.2	60.5	56.5	52.1	63.5	40.0
1998	53.9	45.8–62.4	60.0	56.5	51.7	63.5	39.7
1997	52.9	44.6–61.2	55.5	55.5	51.7	63.5	39.7
1996	50.3	42.3–58.7	51.2	48.9	49.8	63.5	39.7
1995	49.9	41.8–58.2	49.1	48.9	49.8	63.5	39.7
1994	47.1	38.6–54.8	46.7	46.4	47.1	58.1	38.3
1993	44.1	35.9–51.3	45.5	36.6	44.5	58.5	36.9
1992	43.7	35.8–51.1	43.8	36.6	44.5	58.5	36.9
1991	43.0	34.9–50.1	41.0	36.0	44.5	58.5	36.9
1990	42.5	34.7–49.9	38.8	35.5	44.5	58.5	36.9
1989	40.9	33.2–48.0	36.8	34.1	44.9	54.7	35.5
1988	38.4	30.3–45.0	34.5	32.4	44.5	46.4	35.0
1987	37.8	29.7–44.2	32.7	30.6	44.4	46.4	36.4
1986	37.2	29.1–43.5	32.2	30.2	44.4	43.8	36.4
1985	36.8	28.8–43.1	32.0	30.2	42.8	43.8	36.4
1984	36.2	28.6–42.5	31.9	30.2	39.7	43.8	36.4
1983	36.2	28.6–42.5	31.9	30.2	39.7	43.8	36.4
1982	35.4	27.9–41.7	31.2	29.2	39.7	41.3	36.4
1981	35.0	27.4–40.9	30.2	28.0	39.7	41.6	36.4
1980	34.9	27.6–41.2	29.8	27.9	39.7	41.6	36.6
1979	34.9	27.7–41.3	29.6	27.9	39.7	41.6	36.6
1978	34.6	27.2–40.8	29.6	27.9	39.7	41.6	35.5
1977	34.2	26.7–40.2	27.6	27.9	39.9	41.6	35.5
1976	31.4	24.8–37.5	26.0	26.3	38.0	34.3	33.3
1975	30.8	24.0–36.5	24.9	26.3	38.0	32.4	33.3
1974	30.7	23.7–36.2	24.9	26.0	38.0	32.4	33.3
1973	30.7	23.6–36.2	24.8	26.0	38.0	32.4	33.3
1972	30.6	23.4–35.9	24.9	26.0	38.0	32.4	32.7
1971	30.5	23.4–35.8	24.7	26.0	38.0	32.4	32.4
1970	30.3	23.4–35.7	24.8	26.0	36.9	32.4	32.4
1969	29.7	23.3–35.3	24.1	26.0	36.5	31.1	31.5
1968	29.6	23.1–35.1	23.6	26.0	36.5	31.1	31.5
1967	29.4	22.7–34.6	23.5	26.0	36.0	31.1	31.3
1966	29.3	22.8–34.6	23.1	26.0	36.0	31.1	31.3
1965	29.3	22.8–34.6	23.1	26.0	36.0	31.1	31.3
1964	29.1	22.7–34.6	23.1	26.0	36.0	31.1	30.2
1963	29.2	22.6–34.6	23.1	26.6	36.0	31.1	30.2
1962	29.2	22.6–34.6	23.1	26.6	36.0	31.1	30.2
1961	29.2	22.6–34.6	23.0	26.6	36.0	31.1	30.2
1960	28.9	22.8–34.6	22.8	26.6	36.0	31.1	29.0
1959	28.6	22.3–34.0	22.8	26.4	36.0	31.1	27.5
1958	30.0	23.4–35.5	22.8	26.4	36.0	39.0	27.2
1957	30.1	23.6–35.7	23.1	26.7	36.0	39.0	27.3
1956	30.1	23.6–35.7	23.1	26.7	36.0	39.0	27.3
1955	30.1	23.6–35.6	23.0	26.7	36.0	39.0	27.3
1954	30.1	23.6–35.6	22.9	26.7	36.0	39.0	27.3
1953	29.2	22.7–34.6	19.5	26.3	35.9	39.0	27.3
1952	29.1	22.8–34.7	19.4	26.3	35.9	39.0	27.3
1951	29.1	22.7–34.5	19.6	26.3	35.5	39.0	27.3
1950	29.1	22.7–34.5	19.6	26.3	35.5	39.0	27.1
1949	29.1	22.7–34.6	19.6	26.3	35.5	39.0	27.1
1948	29.1	22.7–34.6	19.4	26.3	35.5	39.0	27.2
1947	29.2	22.7–34.8	19.4	26.3	36.5	39.0	27.2
1946	28.8	22.4–34.4	19.3	26.3	36.5	39.0	25.3
1945	28.8	22.5–34.6	19.1	26.3	36.8	39.0	25.3
1944	28.8	22.5–34.6	19.1	26.3	36.8	39.0	25.3
1943	28.8	22.6–34.6	19.0	26.3	36.8	39.0	25.2
1942	28.7	22.4–34.5	18.9	26.3	36.8	39.0	25.2
1941	28.7	22.4–34.5	18.9	26.3	36.8	39.0	25.2
1940	29.2	22.7–35.0	20.0	26.3	36.8	41.1	24.5
1939	28.6	22.0–34.2	19.9	25.4	35.5	40.2	24.5
1938	28.8	22.1–34.3	19.1	25.0	37.2	40.2	25.4
1937	28.6	22.2–34.2	19.1	25.0	37.2	40.2	24.1
1936	28.1	22.2–33.9	19.3	24.4	35.3	40.2	24.1
1935	28.1	22.2–33.9	19.3	24.4	35.3	40.2	24.1
1934	27.3	20.9–32.8	18.7	25.0	37.1	34.0	23.9
1933	26.6	20.1–31.8	17.6	25.6	37.1	34.0	21.4
1932	26.8	20.4–32.1	17.7	26.5	37.1	34.0	21.4
1931	26.7	20.1–31.9	17.7	25.9	37.1	34.0	21.4
1930	26.7	20.1–31.9	17.7	25.9	37.1	34.0	21.4
1929	26.3	19.7–31.7	16.7	23.7	37.1	38.1	19.6
1928	26.2	19.4–31.7	18.4	27.6	34.8	35.8	17.3
1927	26.2	19.9–32.0	18.3	28.9	34.8	35.8	16.4
1926	26.2	19.9–32.0	18.3	28.9	34.8	35.8	16.4
1925	26.3	19.8–31.9	18.6	29.2	34.8	35.8	16.4
1924	26.6	20.1–32.2	18.9	30.3	34.8	35.8	16.4
1923	26.4	20.1–32.5	19.2	30.4	34.8	34.5	16.4
1922	26.1	19.5–31.8	19.2	30.5	34.8	32.3	16.4
1921	26.1	19.5–31.8	19.2	30.5	34.8	32.3	16.4
1920	26.5	19.5–32.2	20.1	28.5	34.8	35.0	17.0
1919	27.8	20.5–33.6	22.5	29.5	37.1	35.0	17.4
1918	27.8	20.5–33.6	22.5	29.5	37.1	35.0	17.4
1917	25.7	18.8–31.5	19.3	29.7	37.1	30.7	15.1
1916	19.1	13.1–23.8	11.2	14.2	37.1	27.9	11.0
1915	18.8	13.0–23.5	10.8	13.5	37.1	27.9	11.0
1914	17.8	12.0–22.2	10.4	13.1	37.1	23.3	11.0
1913	19.4	13.3–24.1	11.3	19.3	37.1	23.3	11.0
1912	22.9	16.2–27.8	18.9	23.9	37.1	27.8	11.0
1911	19.4	13.3–23.8	13.5	23.1	35.7	23.6	7.5
1910	15.0	10.1–18.7	12.0	17.8	33.5	10.0	7.3
1909	14.2	9.1–17.3	10.8	18.6	32.7	8.9	6.2
1908	14.2	9.1–17.3	10.8	18.6	32.7	8.9	6.2
1907	14.2	9.1–17.3	10.8	18.6	32.7	8.9	6.2
1906	14.2	9.1–17.3	10.8	18.6	32.8	8.9	6.2
1905	14.2	9.1–17.3	10.8	18.6	32.8	8.9	6.2
1904	14.2	9.1–17.3	10.8	18.6	32.8	8.9	6.2
1903	14.2	9.1–17.3	10.8	18.6	32.8	8.9	6.2
1902	14.2	9.1–17.3	10.8	18.6	32.8	8.9	6.2
1901	14.2	9.1–17.3	10.8	18.6	32.8	8.9	6.2
1900	14.5	9.4–17.7	12.4	18.6	32.8	8.9	6.2

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Mexico 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

#111Philippines48.0 #112Paraguay47.9 #114Iraq46.8 #115Mali46.6

All rankings

How democratic isMexico?

Mexico, 1975–2025

Judicial elections raised independence concerns

Public reasoning

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.

Mexico score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Mexico?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.