2025 country profile

How democratic is
Spain?

Spain scores 80.4 out of 100 and ranks 26 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is public participation. 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

80.4out of 100Closer to the standard

2025 rank26 of 179

10-year change−2.1

25-year change−4.3

Source-bound range76.2–86.1

Weakest areaParticipation

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

SCORE HISTORY

Spain, 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 vacancies began to be filled after prolonged deadlock

The General Council of the Judiciary worked through appointments left vacant during a political dispute over the council’s own membership. This matters because courts need functioning institutions as well as formal independence. Renewed appointments address one bottleneck; they do not alone resolve every concern about political influence.

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 Spain fell 2.1 points, from 82.5 to 80.4 between 2015 and 2025. 1 of the five areas improved while 4 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Political equality contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Political equality

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

Area score: 88.0 → 83.5
Approx. contribution to overall change: −0.9 points

Moving in the other direction

Rights and checks

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

Area score: 88.7 → 90.9
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.4 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.

2017–2018+1.0 points
The overall score rose from 82.7 to 83.7. Political equality supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022−1.3 points
The overall score fell from 83.1 to 81.8. Political equality supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023−1.3 points
The overall score fell from 81.8 to 80.5. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 84.0 in 2019. 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
Political equality	88.0	83.5	−4.5	−0.9
Elections	85.6	82.2	−3.4	−0.7
Public reasoning	85.9	83.3	−2.6	−0.5
Participation	65.5	63.6	−1.9	−0.4
Rights and checks	88.7	90.9	+2.2	+0.4

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?

82.2

Rights and checks on power

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

90.9

Public participation

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

63.6

Public reasoning

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

83.3

Political equality

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

83.5

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

Spain score table

Download Spain CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	80.4	76.2–86.1	82.2	90.9	63.6	83.3	83.5
2024	80.4	75.7–85.7	82.6	90.7	63.5	83.3	83.2
2023	80.5	76.4–86.1	84.6	90.2	64.0	81.8	83.4
2022	81.8	78.0–87.2	86.7	90.4	64.4	86.9	81.8
2021	83.1	79.8–87.9	85.0	92.1	64.8	86.9	88.3
2020	83.8	80.2–88.6	87.4	90.0	65.5	87.0	90.4
2019	84.0	80.6–88.5	87.1	93.0	64.9	87.1	89.3
2018	83.7	80.3–88.3	85.1	91.9	64.6	88.5	89.9
2017	82.7	79.2–87.6	83.5	91.5	64.7	87.8	87.3
2016	83.1	79.7–87.8	84.7	91.0	65.5	87.2	88.5
2015	82.5	78.9–87.4	85.6	88.7	65.5	85.9	88.0
2014	82.8	79.0–87.6	87.1	88.8	66.1	85.8	87.2
2013	82.7	78.9–87.7	87.5	88.8	65.6	85.8	86.9
2012	84.4	81.1–89.0	88.9	89.6	65.8	89.7	89.3
2011	85.6	82.6–89.9	89.3	92.4	66.7	90.8	90.4
2010	86.1	83.2–90.3	89.2	93.0	67.0	91.2	91.5
2009	86.0	83.1–90.4	88.8	93.1	67.4	90.7	91.7
2008	86.0	83.1–90.3	88.6	93.1	67.2	90.7	91.7
2007	85.8	82.6–90.0	87.6	93.1	67.2	90.3	92.1
2006	85.8	82.8–90.2	87.9	93.1	67.2	90.3	92.1
2005	85.8	82.7–90.1	87.9	93.0	67.2	90.3	92.1
2004	84.6	81.6–89.0	87.5	93.0	63.0	89.9	91.9
2003	84.1	81.2–89.1	87.5	91.5	63.3	88.5	91.9
2002	84.6	81.7–89.5	89.3	91.5	63.6	88.5	91.9
2001	84.6	81.8–89.6	89.3	91.5	63.9	88.5	91.9
2000	84.7	81.9–89.7	89.3	91.5	64.2	88.5	91.9
1999	84.9	82.0–89.6	89.4	92.2	64.5	88.5	91.5
1998	85.0	82.1–89.8	89.4	92.2	65.0	88.5	91.5
1997	85.1	82.2–89.9	89.4	92.2	65.6	88.5	91.5
1996	85.2	82.4–90.0	89.3	92.2	66.2	88.5	91.5
1995	85.6	82.7–90.1	89.2	92.1	66.7	90.1	91.5
1994	85.7	82.9–90.3	89.2	92.1	67.3	90.1	91.5
1993	85.9	83.0–90.4	89.2	92.1	67.8	90.1	91.5
1992	86.1	83.1–90.4	89.2	91.0	68.4	91.6	91.5
1991	86.2	83.3–90.6	89.2	91.0	69.0	91.6	91.5
1990	86.3	83.4–90.7	89.2	91.0	69.5	91.6	91.5
1989	86.2	83.2–90.7	89.1	91.0	69.8	91.6	90.5
1988	86.2	83.2–90.8	89.1	91.0	70.1	91.6	90.5
1987	86.1	83.0–90.6	89.1	91.0	70.3	91.6	89.4
1986	85.5	82.2–90.2	89.0	90.3	70.6	89.3	89.4
1985	84.6	81.3–89.3	88.9	90.5	66.3	89.3	89.6
1984	84.7	81.4–89.4	88.9	90.5	66.6	89.3	89.6
1983	84.7	81.4–89.4	88.9	90.5	66.6	89.3	89.6
1982	83.8	80.1–88.7	88.1	90.0	66.5	87.8	88.1
1981	83.5	79.9–88.7	86.7	91.3	64.6	89.5	87.0
1980	83.1	79.3–88.4	86.7	91.3	63.3	89.5	86.3
1979	83.1	79.3–88.2	85.9	91.3	62.9	91.9	85.4
1978	73.0	67.8–78.9	76.6	86.1	34.9	91.9	85.4
1977	53.1	47.0–60.5	40.3	57.6	25.4	82.0	71.1
1976	30.6	23.4–36.9	14.5	35.4	10.2	55.3	53.2
1975	23.6	17.2–29.0	11.8	32.4	5.8	32.6	50.8
1974	18.0	12.5–22.5	11.3	24.6	5.8	10.4	51.0
1973	17.5	11.7–21.5	11.2	24.6	4.6	10.4	51.0
1972	17.5	11.6–21.5	11.2	24.6	4.6	10.4	51.0
1971	17.4	11.6–21.3	10.6	24.6	4.6	10.4	51.0
1970	17.8	11.9–22.0	10.4	24.6	4.6	12.7	51.0
1969	16.8	11.2–20.8	10.4	24.1	4.4	10.0	48.7
1968	16.8	11.2–20.8	10.4	24.1	4.4	10.0	48.7
1967	16.3	10.8–20.0	8.6	24.1	4.4	10.0	48.8
1966	15.9	10.5–19.5	7.7	24.1	4.4	10.0	46.9
1965	15.9	10.6–19.5	7.2	24.1	4.8	10.0	46.9
1964	16.0	10.8–19.6	7.2	24.1	5.2	10.0	46.9
1963	16.2	11.0–19.8	7.2	24.1	5.6	10.0	46.9
1962	16.2	11.3–19.9	7.0	24.1	6.0	10.0	46.6
1961	16.3	11.4–20.0	7.0	24.1	6.4	10.0	46.4
1960	16.2	11.2–19.8	7.0	24.1	6.8	10.0	45.0
1959	15.1	10.3–18.5	7.0	22.7	7.1	8.1	40.8
1958	14.9	10.1–18.3	6.9	22.7	7.5	7.2	40.8
1957	14.9	10.1–18.3	6.9	21.9	7.9	7.2	40.8
1956	15.0	10.2–18.4	6.9	21.9	8.3	7.2	40.8
1955	15.0	10.3–18.4	6.9	22.0	8.7	7.2	39.6
1954	15.1	10.4–18.5	6.9	22.0	9.1	7.2	39.6
1953	15.2	10.5–18.6	6.9	22.0	9.5	7.2	39.6
1952	15.2	10.6–18.7	6.9	22.0	9.9	7.2	39.6
1951	15.3	10.7–18.8	6.9	22.0	10.3	7.2	39.6
1950	15.3	10.7–18.8	6.9	22.0	10.3	7.2	39.6
1949	15.3	10.5–18.6	6.9	21.5	10.3	7.2	39.6
1948	15.3	10.5–18.6	6.9	21.5	10.3	7.2	39.6
1947	15.2	10.3–18.4	6.9	21.5	10.3	7.2	39.0
1946	13.5	8.3–16.7	6.9	21.5	4.3	7.2	39.0
1945	13.3	8.4–16.8	6.9	20.7	4.3	7.2	38.0
1944	13.0	7.6–16.3	6.9	20.6	3.6	7.2	38.0
1943	12.9	7.5–16.2	6.9	20.2	3.6	7.2	38.0
1942	12.1	7.0–15.2	6.9	17.5	3.6	5.6	38.0
1941	12.1	7.0–15.3	6.9	17.4	3.6	5.6	38.0
1940	12.0	7.0–15.2	7.0	16.8	3.6	5.6	38.0
1939	30.4	23.8–36.4	17.1	32.5	27.4	27.5	52.4
1938	44.2	36.4–51.1	34.3	52.9	43.7	38.5	53.3
1937	45.0	37.1–51.8	35.8	53.2	43.7	38.5	55.2
1936	53.4	45.3–60.9	49.7	61.9	43.7	47.7	65.6
1935	58.2	50.0–65.9	55.1	67.2	48.3	53.0	68.6
1934	58.2	50.0–65.9	55.1	67.2	48.3	53.0	68.6
1933	59.2	51.4–67.1	55.8	68.7	48.3	56.5	68.1
1932	59.2	51.5–67.2	55.9	68.7	48.3	56.5	68.1
1931	42.2	35.4–49.3	27.4	39.2	48.3	45.7	53.1
1930	15.3	9.6–18.9	6.3	31.0	7.9	7.5	34.1
1929	15.2	9.5–18.9	6.1	31.0	7.9	7.5	34.1
1928	15.2	9.5–18.9	6.1	31.0	7.9	7.5	34.1
1927	15.2	9.5–18.9	6.1	31.0	7.9	7.5	34.1
1926	15.2	9.5–18.9	6.1	31.0	7.9	7.5	34.1
1925	15.2	9.5–18.9	6.1	31.0	7.9	7.5	34.1
1924	16.5	10.9–20.2	6.1	31.0	13.7	7.5	34.1
1923	19.7	13.4–24.2	9.3	41.7	13.7	9.9	33.4
1922	30.7	23.5–37.1	17.6	51.3	26.2	29.3	33.8
1921	31.1	23.8–37.4	18.0	51.7	26.2	29.3	35.0
1920	31.1	23.8–37.3	17.9	51.7	26.2	29.3	35.0
1919	31.1	23.8–37.3	17.9	51.7	26.2	29.3	35.0
1918	31.1	23.8–37.3	17.8	51.7	26.2	29.3	35.0
1917	31.1	23.9–37.3	17.9	51.7	26.2	29.3	35.0
1916	31.1	23.9–37.3	17.9	51.7	26.2	29.3	35.0
1915	31.0	23.7–37.2	17.9	51.7	26.2	29.3	34.5
1914	30.8	23.6–37.1	17.9	51.7	26.2	29.3	33.7
1913	30.9	23.7–37.1	18.0	51.7	26.2	29.3	33.7
1912	30.7	23.7–37.1	18.0	51.7	26.2	29.3	33.1
1911	30.7	23.7–37.1	18.0	51.7	26.2	29.3	33.1
1910	30.8	23.8–37.1	18.1	51.7	26.2	29.3	33.1
1909	30.8	23.8–37.2	18.2	51.7	26.2	29.3	33.1
1908	30.5	23.4–36.6	18.2	51.7	26.2	29.3	31.4
1907	30.4	23.5–36.9	18.3	51.6	26.2	28.9	31.4
1906	30.4	23.5–36.9	18.4	51.6	26.2	28.9	31.4
1905	30.4	23.5–36.9	18.3	51.6	26.2	28.9	31.4
1904	30.4	23.5–36.9	18.2	51.6	26.2	28.9	31.4
1903	30.4	23.5–36.9	18.2	51.6	26.2	28.9	31.4
1902	30.4	23.5–36.8	18.1	51.6	26.2	28.9	31.4
1901	30.4	23.5–36.9	18.3	51.6	26.2	28.9	31.4
1900	30.5	23.6–37.0	18.5	51.6	26.2	28.9	31.4

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Spain 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

#24Italy81.0 #25Chile80.8 #27Slovenia80.2 #28New Zealand79.1

All rankings

How democratic isSpain?

Spain, 1975–2025

Judicial vacancies began to be filled after prolonged deadlock

Political equality

Rights and checks

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.

Spain score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Spain?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.