2025 country profile

How democratic is
Serbia?

Serbia scores 51.6 out of 100 and ranks 100 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

51.6out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank100 of 179

10-year change−9.3

25-year change−10.2

Source-bound range44.4–59.0

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

Serbia, 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

Retaliation reached protesters and educators

Freedom House reports violence against antigovernment protesters and retaliation against educators seen as supporting the student movement. This can narrow participation beyond the demonstrations themselves by raising the personal cost of solidarity or criticism. The issue is whether dissent remains safe and institutionally protected.

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 Serbia fell 9.3 points, from 60.9 to 51.6 between 2015 and 2025. 1 of the five areas improved while 4 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Rights and checks contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Rights and checks

The evidence points toward weaker civil liberties, equality before the law, or constraints on executive power.

Area score: 73.6 → 52.2
Approx. contribution to overall change: −4.0 points

Moving in the other direction

Political equality

The evidence rates the distribution of political influence, rights, and access across social groups more favorably.

Area score: 72.9 → 73.4
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.1 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.

2016–2017−2.1 points
The overall score fell from 59.2 to 57.1. Elections supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2019–2020−3.1 points
The overall score fell from 54.7 to 51.6. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022+4.2 points
The overall score rose from 50.4 to 54.6. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 60.9 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
Rights and checks	73.6	52.2	−21.4	−4.0
Elections	42.2	30.0	−12.2	−3.1
Public reasoning	60.2	52.3	−7.9	−1.6
Participation	58.3	54.9	−3.4	−0.7
Political equality	72.9	73.4	+0.5	+0.1

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?

30.0

Rights and checks on power

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

52.2

Public participation

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

54.9

Public reasoning

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

52.3

Political equality

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

73.4

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

Serbia score table

Download Serbia CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	51.6	44.4–59.0	30.0	52.2	54.9	52.3	73.4
2024	52.0	44.5–59.4	31.5	55.3	54.9	49.7	73.2
2023	53.2	45.5–60.6	36.0	56.3	54.6	48.2	74.6
2022	54.6	46.9–62.1	35.7	59.9	55.3	49.6	76.7
2021	50.4	42.8–58.0	33.6	56.3	53.0	39.9	74.2
2020	51.6	43.9–59.3	34.9	57.0	53.3	42.2	74.9
2019	54.7	47.3–62.4	36.5	65.3	55.2	44.8	76.2
2018	55.9	48.5–63.5	35.4	67.5	52.9	54.1	73.9
2017	57.1	49.5–64.3	37.6	66.6	55.0	58.8	70.6
2016	59.2	51.7–66.5	41.1	69.7	58.0	57.8	72.1
2015	60.9	54.3–68.9	42.2	73.6	58.3	60.2	72.9
2014	61.5	54.6–69.3	44.0	73.1	58.5	61.0	73.7
2013	64.6	58.0–72.6	50.2	76.4	60.3	65.0	72.7
2012	70.9	64.9–77.9	59.3	80.8	61.1	80.8	74.0
2011	72.0	65.9–78.6	60.7	81.9	62.7	81.0	75.1
2010	72.1	66.0–78.7	61.0	81.9	62.9	81.0	75.1
2009	72.8	66.9–79.4	62.3	83.5	63.4	81.9	74.1
2008	73.4	67.7–79.9	62.8	83.5	64.0	84.6	73.7
2007	74.0	68.7–80.7	62.8	83.5	64.7	86.8	73.7
2006	74.1	68.6–80.6	63.3	82.0	65.3	87.6	73.7
2005	73.0	67.7–80.0	63.4	82.1	61.9	85.5	73.7
2004	73.6	68.5–80.6	63.4	81.5	62.9	88.4	73.7
2003	74.0	68.5–80.6	64.6	81.3	63.3	88.4	73.7
2002	72.9	67.1–79.5	61.0	80.9	62.2	88.4	73.7
2001	72.3	67.0–79.3	58.4	81.2	62.1	88.4	73.7
2000	61.8	55.5–68.7	36.4	62.5	59.8	84.9	70.9
1999	41.8	33.4–47.9	29.8	45.7	44.6	28.4	65.7
1998	42.7	34.8–49.3	29.8	45.6	44.9	31.8	65.7
1997	43.0	34.7–49.5	29.9	46.1	44.2	33.3	65.7
1996	43.0	34.9–49.6	29.3	46.1	45.1	33.3	65.7
1995	42.8	34.6–49.2	28.8	45.4	45.1	33.3	65.7
1994	41.8	33.6–48.2	28.8	45.4	42.0	31.8	65.7
1993	41.9	33.6–48.2	28.8	45.1	42.0	31.8	66.2
1992	39.3	31.7–45.7	23.8	40.1	38.6	31.8	68.3
1991	36.2	29.2–42.0	16.4	32.2	44.0	31.8	65.4
1990	41.1	33.8–47.7	20.0	45.0	44.8	35.3	68.4
1989	35.6	28.8–41.9	13.6	43.5	23.3	38.6	72.2
1988	36.4	29.8–43.0	13.7	46.7	23.3	40.2	72.2
1987	36.7	30.1–43.4	13.7	45.8	24.9	40.2	72.2
1986	36.6	30.0–43.4	13.5	45.8	24.9	40.2	72.2
1985	36.6	30.0–43.4	13.5	45.8	24.9	40.2	72.2
1984	36.6	30.0–43.4	13.5	45.8	24.9	40.2	72.2
1983	36.5	29.9–43.2	13.5	45.7	24.9	40.2	71.6
1982	36.5	29.9–43.2	13.5	45.7	24.9	40.2	71.6
1981	36.3	29.3–42.9	13.5	45.0	24.9	39.2	72.3
1980	33.9	27.3–40.1	11.4	43.7	22.4	34.9	72.2
1979	33.0	26.5–39.4	9.4	43.5	22.4	34.9	71.9
1978	32.9	26.4–39.2	9.4	44.1	22.4	34.9	70.5
1977	32.9	26.3–39.0	9.4	44.1	22.4	34.9	69.9
1976	32.9	26.3–39.0	9.4	44.1	22.4	34.9	69.9
1975	32.9	26.3–39.0	9.4	44.1	22.4	34.9	69.9
1974	32.9	26.3–39.1	9.1	43.9	22.4	34.9	71.5
1973	32.7	26.2–38.9	9.3	42.3	22.4	34.9	71.5
1972	32.7	26.2–38.9	9.3	42.3	22.4	34.9	71.5
1971	32.8	26.3–39.0	9.4	42.3	22.4	34.9	71.5
1970	32.8	26.3–39.0	9.4	42.3	22.4	34.9	71.5
1969	32.7	26.2–38.9	9.3	42.3	22.4	34.9	71.5
1968	32.8	26.2–38.9	9.4	42.3	22.4	34.9	71.5
1967	32.8	26.3–39.0	9.4	42.3	22.4	34.9	71.5
1966	32.7	26.0–38.6	9.2	42.0	22.4	34.9	71.5
1965	32.7	26.0–38.6	9.2	42.0	22.4	34.9	71.5
1964	32.7	25.9–38.5	9.2	40.8	22.4	34.9	73.4
1963	32.7	25.9–38.5	9.2	40.8	22.4	34.9	73.4
1962	31.7	25.4–37.7	9.2	35.1	22.4	34.9	73.4
1961	31.7	25.4–37.7	9.2	35.1	22.4	34.9	73.4
1960	31.7	25.4–37.7	9.2	35.1	22.4	34.9	73.4
1959	30.8	24.9–37.0	9.2	35.1	22.4	29.9	73.4
1958	30.8	24.9–37.0	9.2	35.1	22.4	29.9	73.4
1957	30.8	25.0–37.1	9.3	35.1	22.4	29.9	73.4
1956	30.8	25.0–37.1	9.3	35.1	22.4	29.9	73.4
1955	29.6	23.4–35.5	9.3	35.1	22.4	23.7	73.4
1954	29.5	23.1–35.2	9.3	34.9	22.4	23.7	73.4
1953	29.5	22.9–35.1	9.5	34.5	22.4	23.7	73.4
1952	29.3	22.9–35.0	9.4	33.4	22.4	23.7	73.4
1951	29.2	22.9–35.0	9.4	32.9	22.4	23.7	73.4
1950	28.9	22.6–34.6	9.4	31.4	22.4	23.7	73.4
1949	26.7	20.5–32.0	9.0	28.9	22.4	16.8	72.8
1948	26.0	19.8–31.3	9.0	25.1	22.4	16.8	72.8
1947	26.2	19.7–31.2	9.1	25.0	23.0	16.8	72.8
1946	26.4	20.4–31.8	9.2	25.7	23.0	17.2	72.8
1945	19.0	13.6–23.4	4.9	13.4	24.2	8.7	62.0
1944	9.7	5.7–12.6	5.3	4.9	14.4	3.3	28.6
1943	9.2	5.2–11.9	5.3	4.7	14.4	3.4	24.9
1942	9.1	5.1–11.7	5.6	4.6	13.4	3.4	24.9
1941	12.4	6.8–15.6	9.4	11.4	15.8	4.4	25.8
1940	28.0	21.1–34.3	12.8	32.7	21.5	45.0	34.0
1939	29.7	22.4–36.0	14.6	35.0	22.4	46.2	35.7
1938	29.5	22.2–35.8	14.1	35.0	22.4	46.2	35.7
1937	29.5	22.2–35.8	14.1	35.0	22.4	46.2	35.7
1936	29.5	22.2–35.8	14.1	35.0	22.4	46.2	35.7
1935	29.5	22.3–35.8	14.0	35.0	22.4	46.2	35.7
1931	24.5	18.0–30.3	10.4	22.5	22.4	37.4	35.7
1930	24.4	17.8–30.1	10.3	22.5	22.4	36.7	35.7
1929	28.2	20.9–34.4	13.6	40.7	22.4	36.7	32.6
1928	30.3	23.0–36.7	15.6	42.4	22.4	44.0	32.6
1927	31.3	24.3–38.1	16.6	43.5	24.8	44.0	32.6
1926	31.4	24.4–38.2	16.7	44.1	24.8	44.0	32.6
1925	31.4	24.4–38.2	16.7	44.1	24.8	44.0	32.6
1924	31.5	24.5–38.3	16.8	44.1	24.8	44.0	32.6
1923	31.5	24.5–38.3	16.8	44.1	24.8	44.0	32.6
1922	31.3	24.2–37.9	16.9	43.0	24.8	44.0	32.6
1921	31.2	24.0–37.9	16.9	42.6	24.8	43.5	32.6
1920	31.0	23.8–37.6	16.3	42.4	24.8	44.0	32.6
1919	31.0	23.7–37.5	16.2	42.4	24.8	44.0	32.6
1918	25.3	18.9–31.2	14.6	32.0	20.8	28.9	32.9
1917	22.9	16.2–28.2	14.6	31.9	20.8	19.0	30.4
1916	22.8	16.1–28.1	14.6	31.9	20.8	18.6	30.4
1915	24.9	18.1–30.7	14.6	33.0	20.8	28.5	30.4
1914	27.8	20.3–33.3	15.9	39.4	21.4	31.9	33.9
1913	28.5	21.4–34.7	16.1	40.4	22.2	33.0	34.3
1912	28.4	21.3–34.5	16.2	41.2	22.2	31.8	34.3
1911	28.5	21.6–34.8	16.2	41.6	22.2	31.8	34.3
1910	28.8	21.5–35.0	16.2	41.6	22.2	33.5	34.3
1909	28.8	21.5–35.0	16.2	41.6	22.2	33.5	34.3
1908	28.9	21.6–35.1	16.5	41.6	22.2	33.5	34.3
1907	28.9	21.5–35.0	16.7	41.5	22.2	33.5	34.3
1906	28.9	21.5–35.0	16.7	41.5	22.2	33.5	34.3
1905	29.0	21.7–35.1	16.7	42.1	22.2	33.5	34.3
1904	28.7	21.5–34.8	16.7	42.1	20.8	33.5	34.3
1903	27.7	20.6–33.8	16.4	39.5	20.8	30.8	34.4
1902	26.0	19.3–32.1	16.5	38.2	20.8	23.5	34.4
1901	25.9	19.1–31.9	16.5	37.5	20.8	23.5	34.4
1900	25.9	19.1–31.9	16.5	37.5	20.8	23.5	34.4

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Serbia 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 isSerbia?

Serbia, 1975–2025

Retaliation reached protesters and educators

Rights and checks

Political equality

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.

Serbia score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Serbia?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.