2025 country profile

How democratic is
Syria?

Syria scores 27.4 out of 100 and ranks 150 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

27.4out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank150 of 179

10-year change+17.8

25-year change+11.3

Source-bound range20.0–33.7

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

Syria, 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

The post-Assad opening remained uneven and insecure

Freedom House reports fewer restrictions on independent journalism and the return of some displaced residents after the regime’s collapse. It also records continuing ethnic and sectarian violence by multiple armed actors. An opening in expression is therefore not the same as secure rights or a consolidated democratic system.

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 Syria rose 17.8 points, from 9.6 to 27.4 between 2015 and 2025. 4 of the five areas improved while 1 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Public reasoning contributed the largest upward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Public reasoning

The evidence rates public justification, consultation, and engagement with opposing arguments more favorably.

Area score: 2.4 → 58.9
Approx. contribution to overall change: +10.4 points

Moving in the other direction

Elections

The evidence rates electoral choice, voting rights, political organization, and the space for open debate less favorably.

Area score: 13.6 → 12.8
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.

2022–2023+1.9 points
The overall score rose from 10.6 to 12.5. Rights and checks supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024+3.9 points
The overall score rose from 12.5 to 16.4. Participation supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2024–2025+11.0 points
The overall score rose from 16.4 to 27.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 27.4 in 2025. 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	2.4	58.9	+56.5	+10.4
Political equality	20.2	43.2	+23.0	+3.5
Rights and checks	5.1	16.6	+11.5	+3.0
Participation	12.7	17.9	+5.2	+1.1
Elections	13.6	12.8	−0.8	−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?

12.8

Rights and checks on power

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

16.6

Public participation

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

17.9

Public reasoning

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

58.9

Political equality

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

43.2

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

Syria score table

Download Syria CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	27.4	20.0–33.7	12.8	16.6	17.9	58.9	43.2
2024	16.4	10.6–20.7	14.3	15.6	19.5	10.5	23.8
2023	12.5	7.2–15.7	14.5	11.9	12.3	7.5	17.2
2022	10.6	6.1–13.2	13.7	7.6	11.8	5.1	16.9
2021	10.3	6.1–13.1	13.6	8.2	12.4	3.4	17.3
2020	10.5	5.9–13.1	13.8	7.3	12.7	4.2	17.5
2019	9.4	5.4–11.8	13.6	5.5	13.1	2.4	17.7
2018	10.4	6.3–13.0	13.5	5.2	15.8	2.6	21.6
2017	10.2	6.4–12.8	13.7	5.4	12.2	3.3	21.7
2016	9.7	6.0–11.9	13.6	5.1	12.7	2.4	20.5
2015	9.6	5.8–11.8	13.6	5.1	12.7	2.4	20.2
2014	9.7	6.1–12.1	13.7	4.9	12.8	2.4	20.8
2013	9.9	6.1–12.1	13.6	4.8	13.1	2.4	22.0
2012	11.7	7.4–14.4	14.4	7.0	13.1	4.0	25.2
2011	13.6	9.0–16.7	14.4	9.8	13.5	4.7	31.7
2010	14.4	9.8–17.5	14.4	13.7	12.8	4.5	33.6
2009	14.7	9.8–17.8	14.4	13.7	12.8	5.1	33.8
2008	14.8	9.9–17.8	14.4	13.7	12.8	5.1	34.7
2007	14.7	9.9–17.8	14.5	13.7	12.3	5.1	34.7
2006	14.6	9.8–17.7	14.8	13.7	11.5	5.1	34.7
2005	14.7	10.1–18.0	14.8	13.7	11.9	5.1	34.9
2004	15.2	9.9–18.5	14.9	13.3	14.6	5.1	34.9
2003	15.6	10.3–18.9	15.0	13.5	16.2	5.1	34.9
2002	15.9	11.0–19.7	15.0	14.0	15.1	6.2	34.9
2001	16.1	11.1–20.0	15.2	14.0	16.3	6.2	34.9
2000	16.1	11.1–19.9	15.0	14.0	16.3	6.2	34.9
1999	14.8	9.3–17.9	14.4	9.6	15.3	3.4	42.4
1998	14.5	9.2–17.7	14.4	9.6	14.1	3.4	42.4
1997	14.5	9.2–17.7	14.5	9.2	14.5	3.4	42.4
1996	14.6	9.2–17.8	14.5	9.2	14.9	3.4	42.4
1995	14.7	9.3–17.8	14.5	9.2	15.3	3.4	42.4
1994	14.7	9.3–17.9	14.4	9.2	15.3	3.4	42.4
1993	14.7	9.2–17.8	14.4	9.2	15.3	3.4	42.4
1992	14.6	9.2–17.7	14.4	9.1	15.3	3.4	42.4
1991	14.7	9.2–17.8	14.5	9.1	15.3	3.4	42.4
1990	14.6	9.2–17.8	14.4	9.1	14.9	3.4	42.7
1989	14.6	9.4–18.0	14.3	8.5	15.3	3.4	43.4
1988	14.6	9.4–18.0	14.3	8.5	15.3	3.4	43.4
1987	14.6	9.4–18.0	14.3	8.5	15.3	3.4	43.4
1986	14.8	9.5–18.1	14.3	9.2	15.3	3.4	43.4
1985	14.8	9.5–18.1	14.3	9.2	15.3	3.4	43.4
1984	14.7	9.4–17.9	14.3	9.3	14.5	3.4	43.4
1983	14.7	9.4–18.0	14.3	9.1	14.9	3.4	43.4
1982	14.6	9.4–18.0	14.3	8.6	15.3	3.4	43.4
1981	14.6	9.3–17.9	14.3	8.5	15.3	3.4	43.4
1980	14.6	9.3–17.9	14.3	8.5	15.3	3.4	43.4
1979	14.7	9.4–18.1	14.3	9.4	15.3	3.4	42.8
1978	14.7	9.2–17.9	14.3	9.3	15.3	3.4	42.8
1977	14.8	9.5–18.2	14.4	9.6	15.3	3.4	42.8
1976	14.8	9.4–18.1	14.3	9.5	15.3	3.4	42.8
1975	14.7	9.3–17.9	14.3	9.3	15.3	3.4	42.8
1974	14.8	9.3–18.0	14.3	9.7	15.3	3.4	42.8
1973	14.8	9.3–18.0	14.4	9.7	15.3	3.4	42.8
1972	13.6	8.3–17.1	14.7	10.0	8.6	3.4	42.8
1971	14.4	9.3–17.8	13.7	9.9	12.0	4.0	42.8
1970	11.6	6.8–14.5	7.5	8.8	5.9	4.0	43.2
1969	16.2	9.8–20.3	9.9	13.9	10.1	10.8	44.0
1968	16.3	9.9–20.5	9.9	14.7	10.1	10.8	44.0
1967	16.3	9.9–20.5	9.9	14.7	10.1	10.8	44.0
1966	16.9	10.4–21.2	10.4	15.4	11.2	10.8	44.4
1965	20.3	12.9–25.3	14.2	18.7	11.2	18.9	44.4
1964	19.9	12.7–25.1	14.2	18.7	11.2	18.9	42.1
1963	23.3	16.0–29.1	15.9	33.4	13.7	19.9	38.5
1962	28.7	20.6–35.3	26.0	40.4	14.9	28.8	37.4
1961	20.4	14.2–25.6	9.4	23.4	15.6	19.2	40.0
1960	18.2	11.5–23.1	7.8	21.7	9.3	18.1	42.9
1959	18.3	11.2–22.8	8.1	23.0	9.3	18.1	41.3
1958	24.3	17.4–30.0	11.0	31.9	12.6	35.1	39.1
1957	36.6	28.2–44.0	30.5	49.0	20.1	49.0	39.1
1956	36.5	28.0–43.9	30.5	48.7	20.1	49.0	39.1
1955	36.6	28.1–44.0	30.3	49.1	20.1	49.0	39.1
1954	30.3	22.1–37.4	26.7	34.3	15.1	47.7	32.7
1953	29.1	21.2–35.4	17.1	33.5	18.4	50.6	31.9
1952	27.5	19.7–34.0	14.4	33.4	15.1	50.6	31.9
1951	31.5	23.5–38.6	20.7	45.9	15.1	50.6	33.3
1950	35.3	27.9–43.3	24.4	47.2	20.5	54.3	35.8
1949	33.0	25.6–40.8	23.0	47.7	23.8	40.9	33.2
1948	36.3	27.8–43.6	31.0	49.7	20.5	50.1	35.0
1947	32.8	25.0–39.7	21.4	41.9	20.5	50.1	35.0
1946	20.5	13.3–26.0	13.6	23.9	8.3	39.6	23.8
1945	15.9	9.7–21.0	11.7	29.6	6.4	16.1	20.7
1944	15.4	9.5–20.3	13.5	28.3	6.4	13.6	19.5
1943	14.1	8.2–18.5	11.6	23.9	6.4	13.6	18.3
1942	13.4	7.7–17.7	10.4	20.8	6.4	13.6	18.3
1941	13.3	7.8–17.9	10.5	20.5	6.4	13.6	18.3
1940	13.3	7.7–17.8	10.5	20.5	6.4	13.6	18.3
1939	13.8	7.5–18.0	10.5	20.7	6.4	15.8	18.3
1938	16.5	9.5–21.1	15.7	29.9	6.4	15.8	19.1
1937	16.8	9.8–21.5	15.7	30.3	6.4	15.8	20.4
1936	16.2	9.6–21.0	12.7	23.3	6.4	22.3	20.4
1935	16.3	9.8–21.3	12.4	22.2	6.4	24.3	20.4
1934	16.3	9.9–21.3	12.4	22.4	6.4	24.3	20.4
1933	18.1	11.0–23.3	13.7	31.5	6.4	24.3	20.4
1932	17.6	11.0–22.9	14.2	28.1	6.4	24.3	20.4
1931	16.3	9.9–21.3	12.3	22.4	6.4	24.3	20.4
1930	16.2	9.7–21.0	11.9	22.2	6.4	24.3	20.4
1929	14.0	7.8–18.5	9.5	19.3	5.4	21.5	18.5
1928	15.0	8.6–19.7	9.5	25.3	5.4	21.5	18.5
1927	11.6	6.2–15.8	7.0	18.5	5.5	11.6	18.5
1926	11.6	6.2–15.8	7.0	18.5	5.5	11.6	18.5
1925	11.5	6.1–15.7	7.0	18.2	5.5	11.6	18.5
1924	11.6	6.1–15.7	7.0	18.7	5.5	11.6	18.5
1923	11.6	6.1–15.7	7.0	18.8	5.5	11.6	18.5
1922	10.8	5.7–14.7	7.0	18.5	5.5	8.0	18.5
1919	19.1	12.2–24.0	12.8	46.1	11.3	12.7	20.0
1918	17.1	10.8–21.7	12.8	32.5	11.3	12.7	20.0

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Syria Democracy Score, 1918–2025,” 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

#148Cameroon27.8 #149Egypt27.5 #151Cuba26.6 #152Central African Republic26.2

All rankings

How democratic isSyria?

Syria, 1975–2025

The post-Assad opening remained uneven and insecure

Public reasoning

Elections

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.

Syria score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Syria?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.