Free and fair elections
Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?
21.4
2025 country profile
How democratic is
Palestine/West Bank?
Democracys.org estimate calculated from V-Dem v16. This score describes institutions and lived political conditions in 2025—not the character of a country or its people.
DEMOCRACYS SCORE
32.5out of 100Far from the standard2025 rank137 of 179
10-year change−11.5
25-year change−18.6
Likely score area23.7–39.2
Weakest areaReasoning
SCORE HISTORY
Palestine/West Bank, 1975–2025
The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.
About uncertaintyBENEATH 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.
Rights and checks on power
Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?
31.4
Public participation
Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?
43.8
Public reasoning
Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?
17.3
Political equality
Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?
56.2
HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE
Change is measured.
Cause is not assumed.
Palestine/West Bank’s score changed −11.5 points from 2015 to 2025. That is a descriptive comparison of V-Dem-derived estimates, not proof of why the change occurred or whether it is statistically significant.
Country-specific causal annotations will only appear when supported by named, human-reviewed sources.
ANNUAL DATA
Palestine/West Bank score table
| Year | Score | Likely score area | Elections | Rights & checks | Participation | Reasoning | Equality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32.5 | 23.7–39.2 | 21.4 | 31.4 | 43.8 | 17.3 | 56.2 |
| 2024 | 32.7 | 24.0–39.3 | 21.2 | 32.6 | 44.5 | 17.3 | 55.4 |
| 2023 | 33.5 | 25.5–40.1 | 22.9 | 33.4 | 38.5 | 20.5 | 58.1 |
| 2022 | 33.9 | 26.0–40.6 | 22.9 | 32.7 | 41.8 | 20.5 | 57.6 |
| 2021 | 33.5 | 25.1–40.3 | 23.5 | 34.1 | 41.8 | 20.5 | 52.5 |
| 2020 | 41.5 | 34.2–49.3 | 24.2 | 39.8 | 43.4 | 46.1 | 58.1 |
| 2019 | 49.3 | 42.9–56.5 | 27.2 | 50.8 | 49.2 | 52.9 | 71.8 |
| 2018 | 47.7 | 41.2–55.0 | 26.5 | 46.8 | 46.9 | 53.0 | 71.1 |
| 2017 | 46.1 | 39.4–53.1 | 25.2 | 46.6 | 45.8 | 47.5 | 71.5 |
| 2016 | 44.1 | 37.4–51.6 | 24.3 | 44.8 | 45.9 | 44.1 | 66.8 |
| 2015 | 44.0 | 37.5–51.7 | 24.4 | 44.8 | 45.9 | 44.1 | 66.2 |
| 2014 | 46.4 | 39.8–53.3 | 24.9 | 45.0 | 46.5 | 52.9 | 68.6 |
| 2013 | 47.1 | 40.6–53.9 | 24.6 | 44.9 | 46.5 | 57.4 | 68.7 |
| 2012 | 47.6 | 42.1–54.3 | 24.3 | 38.1 | 50.0 | 65.1 | 68.3 |
| 2011 | 47.6 | 41.8–54.2 | 24.1 | 38.3 | 50.9 | 65.1 | 67.5 |
| 2010 | 47.9 | 41.9–54.2 | 24.4 | 38.0 | 50.9 | 66.9 | 67.5 |
| 2009 | 46.4 | 40.6–53.1 | 24.2 | 38.0 | 49.8 | 59.4 | 67.7 |
| 2008 | 46.2 | 40.1–52.7 | 23.4 | 37.7 | 48.5 | 61.0 | 67.9 |
| 2007 | 49.5 | 42.8–56.6 | 32.3 | 40.6 | 48.3 | 62.6 | 68.2 |
| 2006 | 57.5 | 50.4–65.9 | 50.1 | 55.1 | 49.7 | 65.6 | 68.4 |
| 2005 | 56.9 | 48.9–64.5 | 53.3 | 53.7 | 50.7 | 59.3 | 68.2 |
| 2004 | 55.9 | 48.3–64.4 | 51.1 | 52.6 | 50.2 | 59.3 | 67.3 |
| 2003 | 52.0 | 43.9–59.9 | 50.2 | 50.5 | 34.2 | 60.3 | 68.1 |
| 2002 | 51.2 | 43.5–59.2 | 47.1 | 49.6 | 34.2 | 60.3 | 68.0 |
| 2001 | 51.2 | 43.6–59.4 | 47.4 | 49.4 | 34.2 | 60.3 | 68.0 |
| 2000 | 51.1 | 43.2–59.0 | 47.1 | 49.4 | 34.2 | 60.3 | 68.0 |
| 1999 | 51.2 | 43.6–59.4 | 46.1 | 51.6 | 34.2 | 60.3 | 66.9 |
| 1998 | 51.7 | 44.3–60.1 | 46.1 | 52.2 | 34.2 | 62.4 | 66.9 |
| 1997 | 51.6 | 43.8–59.6 | 45.4 | 51.9 | 34.2 | 63.1 | 66.9 |
| 1996 | 51.3 | 43.8–59.5 | 44.3 | 51.9 | 34.2 | 63.1 | 66.8 |
| 1995 | 42.7 | 36.1–49.8 | 16.1 | 49.0 | 34.2 | 59.0 | 66.8 |
| 1994 | 36.2 | 29.7–43.5 | 15.5 | 48.4 | 33.9 | 28.7 | 64.5 |
| 1993 | 24.5 | 17.5–30.2 | 8.3 | 29.9 | 25.1 | 30.8 | 35.2 |
| 1992 | 22.2 | 15.5–27.3 | 7.9 | 28.1 | 21.4 | 22.2 | 38.0 |
| 1991 | 21.7 | 15.2–26.8 | 7.9 | 25.7 | 21.4 | 22.2 | 37.4 |
| 1990 | 21.6 | 15.1–26.8 | 7.7 | 25.7 | 21.4 | 22.2 | 36.9 |
| 1989 | 22.1 | 15.4–27.3 | 8.3 | 27.1 | 21.4 | 22.2 | 37.7 |
| 1988 | 22.1 | 15.4–27.3 | 8.3 | 27.1 | 21.4 | 22.2 | 37.7 |
| 1987 | 22.1 | 15.5–27.4 | 8.3 | 27.1 | 21.4 | 22.2 | 37.7 |
| 1986 | 22.2 | 15.8–27.8 | 8.7 | 27.4 | 20.6 | 22.2 | 37.7 |
| 1985 | 22.2 | 15.8–27.8 | 8.7 | 27.4 | 20.6 | 22.2 | 37.7 |
| 1984 | 22.0 | 15.7–27.4 | 8.7 | 27.4 | 19.6 | 22.2 | 37.9 |
| 1983 | 22.0 | 15.7–27.3 | 8.8 | 27.4 | 19.6 | 22.2 | 37.5 |
| 1982 | 22.0 | 15.7–27.3 | 8.8 | 27.4 | 19.6 | 22.2 | 37.5 |
| 1981 | 22.0 | 15.7–27.3 | 8.8 | 27.4 | 19.6 | 22.2 | 37.5 |
| 1980 | 21.4 | 15.3–26.6 | 8.7 | 27.4 | 18.5 | 22.2 | 35.8 |
| 1979 | 21.6 | 15.1–26.5 | 8.7 | 28.0 | 18.5 | 22.2 | 36.0 |
| 1978 | 21.6 | 15.1–26.5 | 8.7 | 28.0 | 18.5 | 22.2 | 36.0 |
| 1977 | 21.6 | 15.1–26.5 | 8.7 | 28.0 | 18.5 | 22.2 | 36.0 |
| 1976 | 24.2 | 17.4–29.4 | 8.7 | 28.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | 36.0 |
| 1975 | 24.1 | 17.5–29.4 | 8.7 | 28.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | 35.3 |
| 1974 | 24.1 | 17.5–29.4 | 8.7 | 28.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | 35.3 |
| 1973 | 24.1 | 17.5–29.4 | 8.7 | 28.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | 35.3 |
| 1972 | 24.0 | 17.4–29.3 | 8.5 | 28.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | 35.3 |
| 1971 | 24.0 | 17.4–29.3 | 8.5 | 28.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | 35.3 |
| 1970 | 24.0 | 17.4–29.3 | 8.5 | 28.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | 35.3 |
| 1969 | 22.3 | 15.7–27.5 | 4.9 | 27.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | 35.3 |
| 1968 | 22.4 | 15.8–27.5 | 4.9 | 27.0 | 32.4 | 22.2 | 35.8 |
| 1967 | 22.4 | 16.3–28.1 | 5.1 | 27.1 | 32.4 | 22.3 | 34.9 |
| 1949 | 18.1 | 12.2–24.1 | 5.1 | 15.9 | 22.9 | 21.8 | 31.8 |
| 1948 | 18.2 | 12.0–24.1 | 4.9 | 14.9 | 24.9 | 21.8 | 32.4 |
CITE THIS PROFILE
Source and attribution
Democracys.org (2026), “Palestine/West Bank Democracy Score, 1900–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.
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