2025 country profile

How democratic is
Russia?

Russia scores 24.1 out of 100 and ranks 156 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

24.1out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank156 of 179

10-year change−12.1

25-year change−28.0

Source-bound range17.7–28.6

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

Russia, 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.

2024 context · Freedom House assessment

Due-process protections deteriorated further

Freedom House describes obstruction and persecution of lawyers handling rights cases, alongside arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilians in Russia. The institutional mechanism is reduced access to legal protection against state power. These developments sit within broader repression, rather than representing an ordinary dispute among freely competing parties.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2025

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 Russia fell 12.1 points, from 36.2 to 24.1 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. The latest year moved in the opposite direction (+1.0), so the longer trend is not the whole story.

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: 39.7 → 15.5
Approx. contribution to overall change: −5.1 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: 37.9 → 39.1
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.2 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.

2020–2021−1.7 points
The overall score fell from 36.1 to 34.4. Participation supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022−7.1 points
The overall score fell from 34.4 to 27.3. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−3.2 points
The overall score fell from 26.3 to 23.1. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 36.5 in 2018. 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	39.7	15.5	−24.2	−5.1
Rights and checks	25.0	14.7	−10.3	−2.6
Political equality	56.1	40.9	−15.2	−2.4
Elections	26.5	17.0	−9.5	−2.2
Participation	37.9	39.1	+1.2	+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?

17.0

Rights and checks on power

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

14.7

Public participation

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

39.1

Public reasoning

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

15.5

Political equality

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

40.9

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

Russia score table

Download Russia CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	24.1	17.7–28.6	17.0	14.7	39.1	15.5	40.9
2024	23.1	16.7–27.4	17.1	14.9	37.6	12.5	40.4
2023	26.3	20.4–31.6	19.0	16.4	36.8	21.8	42.4
2022	27.3	20.7–32.5	20.6	16.8	39.1	19.2	46.9
2021	34.4	27.5–40.5	24.5	21.9	41.2	36.1	52.8
2020	36.1	28.8–42.1	25.5	22.2	47.6	36.7	53.6
2019	35.7	28.5–41.9	25.9	24.1	39.1	39.3	53.9
2018	36.5	29.4–42.7	26.4	24.4	39.0	42.0	54.6
2017	36.0	28.6–42.0	26.1	24.6	37.9	39.2	56.1
2016	35.6	28.4–41.6	26.3	24.3	37.9	37.9	55.8
2015	36.2	29.1–42.4	26.5	25.0	37.9	39.7	56.1
2014	36.0	29.1–42.2	26.4	25.2	40.2	36.0	56.3
2013	39.2	32.0–45.5	27.6	26.1	40.9	48.9	57.0
2012	40.8	33.8–47.2	27.8	27.9	42.2	53.5	57.6
2011	43.3	36.3–49.7	29.9	29.6	43.4	61.0	57.9
2010	43.5	36.7–50.0	30.6	29.4	43.8	61.2	57.6
2009	44.2	37.4–51.3	30.9	30.9	44.7	61.7	57.8
2008	44.0	37.1–50.9	30.2	30.8	45.0	60.7	58.4
2007	44.0	36.9–50.6	31.6	31.5	44.2	57.4	59.7
2006	44.6	37.1–50.8	32.2	32.3	44.3	58.6	59.7
2005	44.3	37.2–51.2	32.0	32.3	45.6	56.4	58.8
2004	46.1	39.3–53.0	32.1	33.5	47.2	63.2	59.2
2003	47.2	39.8–54.0	33.9	35.2	46.5	65.5	59.2
2002	48.0	41.8–56.0	35.4	36.7	46.9	65.5	59.4
2001	50.1	43.2–57.9	37.4	41.7	49.0	66.9	58.5
2000	52.1	44.4–59.6	40.3	44.0	51.5	66.9	60.3
1999	56.5	48.8–64.0	46.1	53.1	54.0	70.5	60.1
1998	56.8	49.4–64.5	45.6	53.9	55.0	70.5	60.3
1997	56.9	49.6–64.8	45.6	54.0	55.3	70.5	60.5
1996	58.0	51.2–66.2	46.1	54.4	55.3	76.0	60.3
1995	58.1	51.4–66.4	47.7	54.2	55.3	76.0	58.9
1994	58.3	51.3–66.4	47.7	53.3	55.6	76.0	60.9
1993	58.2	51.5–66.6	48.0	52.7	55.5	75.7	61.1
1992	58.8	51.9–66.6	49.8	51.8	54.7	79.0	60.9
1991	47.1	40.4–53.6	25.5	32.4	40.8	75.4	71.9
1990	42.0	35.7–48.3	23.4	23.5	29.7	74.5	74.1
1989	37.5	31.8–43.8	17.6	16.8	25.9	70.9	76.6
1988	33.9	28.1–39.6	14.5	11.5	25.3	63.9	77.8
1987	33.6	27.8–39.1	14.4	10.8	25.0	63.7	78.7
1986	31.5	25.6–36.7	11.7	10.7	23.1	56.0	81.0
1985	27.3	22.3–32.7	10.9	8.1	21.6	37.9	81.2
1984	25.0	19.7–29.7	10.6	7.6	21.6	26.1	81.2
1983	25.0	19.7–29.7	10.7	7.6	21.6	26.1	81.2
1982	25.1	19.7–29.8	10.7	7.8	21.6	26.1	81.2
1981	25.1	19.7–29.7	10.7	7.8	21.6	26.1	81.2
1980	25.1	19.6–29.7	10.7	7.8	21.6	26.1	81.2
1979	24.6	19.4–29.1	10.7	6.5	21.6	26.1	81.2
1978	24.6	19.4–29.0	10.7	6.4	21.6	26.1	81.6
1977	24.6	19.4–29.0	10.7	6.4	21.6	26.1	81.6
1976	24.6	19.4–29.0	10.7	6.5	21.2	26.1	81.6
1975	24.6	19.4–29.1	10.7	6.6	21.2	26.1	81.6
1974	24.6	19.4–29.0	10.7	6.6	21.2	26.1	81.7
1973	24.6	19.2–29.0	10.8	6.5	21.2	26.1	81.7
1972	24.6	19.2–28.9	10.8	6.5	21.2	26.1	81.6
1971	24.6	19.3–29.0	10.9	6.5	21.2	26.1	81.4
1970	24.3	19.1–28.8	10.1	6.4	21.2	26.1	81.5
1969	24.2	18.9–28.3	9.2	6.4	21.6	26.1	81.6
1968	24.2	19.0–28.4	9.2	6.5	21.6	26.1	81.2
1967	24.7	19.3–29.0	9.2	6.6	21.6	29.3	81.1
1966	24.7	19.1–28.9	9.2	6.4	21.6	29.3	81.4
1965	24.8	19.3–28.9	9.2	6.4	21.6	29.3	82.4
1964	25.3	20.1–30.0	9.2	6.3	21.6	33.5	81.2
1963	25.4	20.1–30.2	9.2	6.3	21.6	33.9	81.2
1962	21.2	16.1–25.5	9.5	6.3	4.9	33.9	81.4
1961	21.5	16.3–25.8	10.6	6.3	4.9	33.9	81.3
1960	21.4	16.2–25.7	10.6	6.2	4.9	33.9	81.1
1959	21.4	16.3–25.9	10.6	6.3	4.9	33.9	81.0
1958	21.5	16.1–25.7	10.6	6.2	4.9	33.9	81.5
1957	21.4	16.3–25.9	10.5	6.2	4.9	33.9	81.4
1956	20.7	15.2–24.5	10.5	5.7	4.9	32.3	79.0
1955	20.1	14.4–23.6	10.5	5.4	4.9	28.8	79.0
1954	20.0	14.7–23.8	10.5	5.3	4.9	28.8	78.7
1953	15.3	10.9–18.4	10.3	3.1	4.9	8.8	75.8
1952	14.9	10.7–17.9	10.3	3.0	4.9	7.2	75.8
1951	15.0	10.7–17.9	10.3	3.0	4.9	7.2	76.1
1950	14.9	10.7–17.9	10.2	3.0	4.9	7.2	76.1
1949	14.8	10.5–17.7	9.9	3.1	4.9	7.2	74.7
1948	14.8	10.4–17.6	9.9	3.1	4.9	7.2	74.7
1947	14.4	10.0–17.2	10.0	3.2	4.9	7.2	70.7
1946	14.4	10.0–17.2	10.0	3.2	4.9	7.2	70.7
1945	13.6	9.2–16.2	9.3	3.2	4.9	6.4	66.4
1944	13.5	9.4–16.4	9.3	3.1	4.9	6.4	66.5
1943	13.5	9.4–16.4	9.3	3.1	4.9	6.4	66.5
1942	13.5	9.4–16.4	9.3	3.1	4.9	6.4	66.5
1941	13.5	9.4–16.4	9.3	3.1	4.9	6.4	66.5
1940	13.6	9.3–16.3	9.6	3.0	4.9	6.0	67.6
1939	13.6	9.3–16.3	9.6	3.0	4.9	6.0	67.6
1938	13.6	9.4–16.4	9.6	3.0	4.9	6.0	67.6
1937	14.0	9.7–16.9	11.6	3.0	4.9	6.0	67.6
1936	13.9	9.5–16.6	11.1	3.0	4.9	6.0	67.6
1935	13.8	9.6–16.9	11.1	3.1	4.3	6.4	67.5
1934	14.7	10.0–17.9	11.1	3.1	4.3	10.4	67.5
1933	14.7	9.9–17.8	11.1	3.2	4.3	10.4	67.7
1932	15.3	10.4–18.5	11.1	3.3	4.3	12.2	68.8
1931	15.3	10.2–18.4	11.1	3.4	4.3	12.2	68.4
1930	15.9	10.9–19.4	11.1	3.4	4.3	15.4	68.8
1929	16.5	11.8–20.4	11.1	3.5	4.7	18.5	68.4
1928	17.3	12.2–21.1	11.2	3.6	4.7	21.4	70.0
1927	17.6	12.5–21.5	11.2	3.7	4.7	23.8	69.6
1926	17.7	12.5–21.4	11.2	3.7	4.7	23.8	69.9
1925	17.5	12.4–21.4	11.2	3.7	4.7	23.8	68.3
1924	18.0	12.9–22.1	11.4	3.8	4.7	26.0	69.3
1923	18.1	13.1–22.2	11.4	4.7	4.7	25.1	68.4
1922	16.7	11.2–20.5	11.1	4.8	5.5	22.0	58.2
1921	17.1	12.0–21.6	11.1	5.0	6.5	22.9	57.6
1920	16.8	11.3–20.9	11.4	4.9	6.1	22.9	55.3
1919	16.8	11.4–20.9	11.4	5.2	6.1	22.9	54.5
1918	18.2	12.0–22.4	12.6	6.8	7.1	25.5	53.4
1917	20.1	13.7–25.4	9.8	21.5	11.5	38.6	25.6
1916	15.8	9.9–20.3	10.5	23.3	13.3	17.7	15.7
1915	16.0	9.8–20.3	10.5	23.7	13.3	17.7	16.1
1914	16.1	9.9–20.4	10.6	24.5	13.3	17.7	16.0
1913	16.2	10.1–20.5	10.8	25.2	13.1	17.7	15.9
1912	16.2	10.2–20.6	10.8	25.3	13.1	17.7	15.8
1911	16.2	10.0–20.4	10.7	25.2	13.1	17.7	15.9
1910	16.0	10.1–20.4	10.7	24.4	13.1	17.7	15.9
1909	16.1	10.1–20.4	10.7	25.0	13.1	17.7	15.9
1908	16.0	10.0–20.3	10.7	24.1	13.1	17.7	15.9
1907	15.6	9.7–20.0	10.9	20.9	13.1	18.3	16.0
1906	15.6	9.9–20.3	10.8	19.8	13.1	18.4	17.1
1905	11.3	6.1–14.8	6.7	13.3	12.1	8.8	16.8
1904	9.8	5.3–13.0	4.8	14.3	11.5	6.7	13.5
1903	9.5	5.3–12.8	4.7	14.4	10.3	6.7	13.5
1902	9.5	5.3–12.8	4.7	14.4	10.3	6.7	13.5
1901	9.5	5.3–12.7	4.7	14.4	10.3	6.7	13.3
1900	9.4	5.0–12.5	4.8	14.2	10.3	6.7	13.1

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Russia 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 isRussia?

Russia, 1975–2025

Due-process protections deteriorated further

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.

Russia score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Russia?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.