2025 country profile

How democratic is
Rwanda?

Rwanda scores 36.8 out of 100 and ranks 128 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is free and fair elections. 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

36.8out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank128 of 179

10-year change−10.8

25-year change−0.4

Source-bound range28.9–43.9

Weakest areaElections

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Rwanda, 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

Access to identity documents became a means of political pressure

Freedom House reports that people perceived as opponents were denied official documents needed for travel. This links administrative discretion to political coercion. Restricting an opponent’s everyday rights can deter independent activity even when the restriction is not formally framed as a ban on political participation.

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 Rwanda fell 10.8 points, from 47.6 to 36.8 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. Participation contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Participation

The evidence rates opportunities to participate through civic organizations, direct democracy, and local or regional institutions less favorably.

Area score: 59.1 → 39.1
Approx. contribution to overall change: −3.7 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: 38.4 → 24.8
Approx. contribution to overall change: −3.1 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.

2015–2016−1.7 points
The overall score fell from 47.6 to 45.9. Political equality supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2020–2021−1.6 points
The overall score fell from 44.2 to 42.6. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023−4.8 points
The overall score fell from 42.5 to 37.7. Participation supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 47.6 in 2015. 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
Participation	59.1	39.1	−20.0	−3.7
Rights and checks	38.4	24.8	−13.6	−3.1
Political equality	67.0	51.4	−15.6	−2.6
Elections	22.6	19.3	−3.3	−1.0
Public reasoning	59.6	56.7	−2.9	−0.5

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?

19.3

Rights and checks on power

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

24.8

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?

56.7

Political equality

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

51.4

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

Rwanda score table

Download Rwanda CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	36.8	28.9–43.9	19.3	24.8	39.1	56.7	51.4
2024	36.7	29.2–44.4	20.1	24.5	38.9	57.3	49.9
2023	37.7	30.0–45.1	21.2	26.3	39.2	57.3	51.1
2022	42.5	35.7–49.7	21.9	29.3	47.4	63.0	59.5
2021	42.6	35.1–49.1	22.6	28.8	48.1	63.0	58.7
2020	44.2	37.3–51.2	22.7	32.1	50.7	63.0	60.6
2019	44.9	37.6–51.5	22.7	31.9	54.1	63.7	60.7
2018	45.0	38.6–52.3	22.6	31.6	57.7	62.3	59.5
2017	45.0	38.4–52.0	22.2	31.1	58.5	62.3	59.8
2016	45.9	39.4–53.0	22.6	35.1	58.2	61.2	60.6
2015	47.6	40.7–54.1	22.6	38.4	59.1	59.6	67.0
2014	46.7	40.0–53.3	22.6	38.5	55.5	58.0	66.8
2013	46.7	40.3–53.4	22.1	38.5	55.9	58.0	67.3
2012	46.5	39.9–53.0	22.0	38.1	58.1	57.8	64.4
2011	46.1	39.3–52.4	21.6	37.6	58.5	57.8	63.5
2010	46.0	39.5–52.9	21.7	37.3	57.9	57.8	63.2
2009	45.3	38.3–51.5	22.0	36.4	55.3	57.6	63.0
2008	44.6	37.7–50.7	20.3	36.1	55.7	57.8	61.7
2007	44.5	38.0–51.0	19.7	36.1	56.1	57.7	61.7
2006	44.6	38.6–51.6	19.7	36.1	56.9	57.7	61.6
2005	44.6	38.5–51.5	19.6	36.4	56.5	57.7	61.5
2004	44.3	38.1–51.1	19.8	35.9	56.8	57.7	59.9
2003	40.8	34.3–47.4	14.3	35.9	52.4	52.5	60.4
2002	38.6	32.1–44.9	11.5	35.9	45.8	52.5	60.4
2001	38.5	31.9–44.7	11.4	35.9	45.8	52.5	60.3
2000	37.2	30.3–43.6	11.4	36.0	38.6	52.5	60.3
1999	35.3	28.3–41.8	10.7	44.6	37.7	35.6	60.1
1998	35.1	28.3–41.9	10.6	44.2	37.7	35.6	59.2
1997	34.9	27.9–41.5	10.7	43.1	37.7	35.6	59.2
1996	34.8	27.5–41.1	10.7	42.7	37.7	35.6	59.1
1995	33.1	25.9–39.6	10.4	42.2	37.7	35.6	49.8
1994	26.9	19.6–33.2	14.3	37.3	23.0	27.5	36.2
1993	36.6	30.5–43.3	18.7	39.0	22.3	75.0	39.4
1992	40.9	33.8–48.4	29.0	49.2	22.3	75.0	38.2
1991	38.7	31.4–45.6	25.6	48.9	19.0	72.3	38.2
1990	30.5	23.2–37.4	21.7	45.5	18.9	32.2	38.2
1989	28.5	21.0–34.6	21.0	44.7	16.7	27.7	37.0
1988	28.4	21.0–34.5	20.7	44.7	16.7	27.7	37.0
1987	28.4	21.0–34.5	20.4	44.7	16.7	27.7	37.0
1986	28.4	21.0–34.5	20.4	44.7	16.7	27.7	37.0
1985	28.4	21.0–34.5	20.4	44.7	16.7	27.7	37.0
1984	28.4	21.0–34.5	20.4	44.7	16.7	27.7	37.0
1983	28.4	21.1–34.6	20.7	44.7	16.7	27.7	37.0
1982	28.4	21.1–34.6	20.7	44.7	16.7	27.7	37.0
1981	26.3	19.4–32.3	16.5	38.1	16.7	27.7	37.0
1980	26.2	19.2–32.1	16.5	38.1	16.7	27.7	36.1
1979	26.3	19.3–32.1	16.7	38.1	16.7	27.7	36.6
1978	22.4	15.9–27.2	9.3	37.6	20.1	15.8	36.6
1977	21.5	14.9–26.2	9.0	37.1	16.7	15.8	36.6
1976	21.5	14.9–26.2	9.0	37.1	16.7	15.8	36.6
1975	21.5	14.8–26.0	8.8	37.1	16.7	15.8	36.5
1974	21.3	14.8–25.8	9.0	36.8	16.7	14.9	36.5
1973	28.4	20.9–34.4	16.5	46.0	30.7	16.3	38.6
1972	33.8	25.5–40.6	23.8	47.0	30.7	29.4	40.5
1971	33.7	25.2–40.4	23.8	46.5	30.7	29.4	40.5
1970	33.3	25.0–40.0	23.8	46.6	30.7	29.0	38.7
1969	34.5	26.6–41.8	23.9	48.2	30.7	33.8	38.2
1968	34.4	26.5–41.7	23.5	48.3	30.7	33.8	38.2
1967	34.4	26.5–41.7	23.5	48.3	30.7	33.8	38.2
1966	34.4	26.4–41.6	23.5	48.1	30.7	33.8	38.2
1965	34.5	26.5–41.6	23.8	48.1	30.7	33.8	38.2
1964	34.6	26.5–41.8	24.5	48.1	30.7	33.8	38.2
1963	34.8	26.9–42.2	25.2	48.0	30.7	33.8	38.2
1962	30.8	22.4–37.3	26.3	47.1	32.2	17.5	35.1
1961	19.6	12.9–24.1	14.8	36.3	16.7	7.0	31.0
1960	13.7	7.9–17.4	8.6	25.3	13.4	6.4	18.7
1959	7.4	3.6–10.0	7.6	10.0	9.4	1.4	12.3
1958	7.2	3.4–9.7	7.2	11.2	9.4	1.4	10.6
1957	6.9	3.2–9.3	6.2	10.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1956	6.6	3.0–8.9	5.1	10.3	9.4	1.4	10.6
1955	6.6	3.0–8.8	4.7	10.3	9.4	1.4	10.6
1954	5.7	2.4–7.8	1.6	10.3	9.4	1.4	10.6
1953	5.7	2.4–7.8	1.6	10.3	9.4	1.4	10.6
1952	5.7	2.4–7.8	1.6	10.3	9.4	1.4	10.6
1951	5.7	2.4–7.9	1.6	10.4	9.4	1.4	10.6
1950	5.7	2.4–7.9	1.6	10.4	9.4	1.4	10.6
1949	5.7	2.4–7.8	1.6	10.4	9.4	1.4	10.6
1948	5.7	2.4–7.8	1.6	10.4	9.4	1.4	10.6
1947	5.7	2.4–7.8	1.6	10.4	9.4	1.4	10.6
1946	5.7	2.4–7.8	1.6	10.4	9.4	1.4	10.6
1945	5.7	2.4–7.8	1.6	10.4	9.4	1.4	10.6
1944	5.7	2.4–7.8	1.6	10.4	9.4	1.4	10.6
1943	5.6	2.4–7.9	1.6	9.9	9.4	1.4	10.6
1942	5.6	2.4–7.9	1.6	9.9	9.4	1.4	10.6
1941	5.6	2.4–7.9	1.6	9.9	9.4	1.4	10.6
1940	5.6	2.4–7.9	1.6	9.9	9.4	1.4	10.6
1939	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	10.0	9.4	1.4	10.6
1938	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	10.0	9.4	1.4	10.6
1937	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	10.0	9.4	1.4	10.6
1936	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	10.0	9.4	1.4	10.6
1935	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	10.0	9.4	1.4	10.6
1934	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	10.0	9.4	1.4	10.6
1933	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	10.0	9.4	1.4	10.6
1932	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	10.0	9.4	1.4	10.6
1931	5.5	2.3–7.6	1.6	9.4	9.4	1.4	10.6
1930	5.6	2.3–7.6	1.6	9.5	9.4	1.4	10.6
1929	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1928	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1927	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1926	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1925	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1924	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1923	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1922	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1921	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1920	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1919	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1918	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1917	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6
1916	5.6	2.3–7.7	1.6	9.7	9.4	1.4	10.6

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Rwanda Democracy Score, 1916–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

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