2025 country profile

How democratic is
Türkiye?

Türkiye scores 30.2 out of 100 and ranks 141 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is public reasoning. 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

30.2out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank141 of 179

10-year change−16.2

25-year change−31.1

Source-bound range22.8–36.1

Weakest areaReasoning

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

SCORE HISTORY

Türkiye, 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

Prosecutions targeted leading opposition figures

A broad crackdown included the arrest and prosecution of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, which Freedom House characterizes as politicized. Its relevance is the ability of potential challengers to compete for national power. An arrest or prosecution is not a conviction, and the source’s assessment should remain distinguishable from a judicial finding.

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 Türkiye fell 16.2 points, from 46.4 to 30.2 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. 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: 48.0 → 22.7
Approx. contribution to overall change: −5.2 points

Another important influence

Public reasoning

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

Area score: 27.3 → 13.3
Approx. contribution to overall change: −4.0 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.

2015–2016−9.9 points
The overall score fell from 46.4 to 36.5. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2016–2017−2.9 points
The overall score fell from 36.5 to 33.6. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022−1.5 points
The overall score fell from 32.2 to 30.7. Political equality supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 46.4 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	48.0	22.7	−25.3	−5.2
Public reasoning	27.3	13.3	−14.0	−4.0
Participation	57.5	40.0	−17.5	−3.1
Elections	38.8	29.3	−9.5	−2.0
Political equality	65.4	53.6	−11.8	−1.9

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?

29.3

Rights and checks on power

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

22.7

Public participation

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

40.0

Public reasoning

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

13.3

Political equality

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

53.6

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

Türkiye score table

Download Türkiye CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	30.2	22.8–36.1	29.3	22.7	40.0	13.3	53.6
2024	31.0	23.9–36.8	28.9	23.0	41.2	15.9	52.5
2023	30.3	23.0–36.1	28.5	23.0	41.2	15.4	49.6
2022	30.7	23.4–36.4	28.5	23.8	41.6	14.3	52.5
2021	32.2	24.9–38.1	28.7	24.3	43.9	15.4	56.6
2020	33.2	26.2–39.6	29.2	24.5	46.7	16.5	57.4
2019	33.5	26.0–39.3	28.9	22.5	48.5	18.3	57.2
2018	33.2	25.5–38.9	29.5	20.8	49.1	16.7	59.2
2017	33.6	26.5–39.3	29.0	20.2	49.2	18.9	59.7
2016	36.5	29.3–43.1	30.8	31.8	51.2	17.8	58.8
2015	46.4	38.3–53.3	38.8	48.0	57.5	27.3	65.4
2014	48.5	40.3–56.2	42.6	49.4	58.6	31.3	64.5
2013	51.2	43.4–58.9	46.9	53.7	59.0	33.7	66.0
2012	57.3	49.6–65.2	50.8	61.7	61.8	44.5	69.3
2011	58.2	50.6–66.1	52.2	62.3	62.9	45.6	69.8
2010	60.2	52.7–68.0	52.5	63.0	62.9	54.9	68.2
2009	62.4	54.8–69.8	54.5	70.2	59.4	61.8	66.6
2008	62.7	55.4–70.6	55.4	70.4	59.0	61.8	67.4
2007	65.7	59.0–73.6	61.6	71.8	59.7	67.8	68.0
2006	65.3	58.4–72.8	64.3	73.0	53.4	69.3	67.5
2005	65.6	58.7–73.3	64.3	73.1	53.7	70.3	67.3
2004	66.7	59.6–74.1	65.7	73.8	54.0	70.3	70.5
2003	66.4	59.2–73.8	65.1	74.3	54.2	70.3	68.8
2002	64.8	57.5–72.5	63.6	74.2	54.3	70.3	62.4
2001	61.8	54.7–70.5	59.1	69.6	51.3	68.7	61.0
2000	61.3	53.9–69.6	58.6	69.0	50.9	68.7	60.3
1999	59.9	52.4–68.5	57.0	68.1	50.6	68.2	56.8
1998	60.1	53.1–68.5	54.4	66.7	51.2	73.2	56.5
1997	59.7	52.5–68.1	54.5	67.4	51.9	73.2	53.2
1996	59.4	52.5–68.1	54.7	64.6	52.5	73.2	53.2
1995	59.2	52.3–67.8	53.8	64.0	53.2	72.2	53.9
1994	59.4	52.0–67.5	53.6	64.0	53.9	72.2	54.3
1993	59.4	52.0–67.5	53.0	64.0	54.5	72.2	54.3
1992	59.6	52.3–67.8	53.3	64.0	55.2	72.2	54.3
1991	59.2	51.6–67.2	51.8	64.0	55.4	71.7	54.3
1990	58.1	50.3–66.0	51.7	61.3	55.8	69.1	53.5
1989	56.2	48.4–64.0	48.7	58.5	53.8	69.1	51.8
1988	56.1	48.2–63.8	48.7	58.5	54.2	69.1	51.0
1987	54.4	46.4–61.7	42.4	58.2	53.1	69.1	51.0
1986	53.5	46.2–61.1	41.4	59.1	49.1	69.1	51.0
1985	53.0	45.4–60.4	40.3	60.2	47.2	69.1	50.5
1984	52.9	45.2–60.1	40.1	60.2	47.2	69.1	50.5
1983	37.9	30.4–44.4	14.7	44.7	42.8	44.4	50.5
1982	23.2	16.6–27.8	11.4	19.8	42.8	6.1	52.4
1981	21.7	15.3–26.2	11.4	17.6	35.7	6.1	52.4
1980	38.2	30.0–45.6	33.5	42.7	45.5	20.9	53.1
1979	59.4	51.5–67.8	56.2	61.0	53.4	70.7	56.3
1978	59.7	51.9–68.0	56.2	61.1	53.4	72.6	56.3
1977	59.6	51.5–67.8	56.5	61.6	53.4	71.1	56.3
1976	59.8	51.5–67.8	56.8	62.2	53.4	71.1	56.3
1975	59.7	50.9–67.4	56.8	61.7	53.4	71.1	56.3
1974	59.6	50.9–67.3	56.8	61.7	53.4	70.5	56.3
1973	54.3	45.0–62.5	51.8	52.0	49.9	61.9	56.3
1972	49.6	40.8–58.4	49.9	50.2	49.9	39.8	59.1
1971	49.2	40.6–58.1	48.2	50.2	49.9	39.8	59.1
1970	54.0	45.5–63.0	54.1	62.9	53.2	41.9	59.1
1969	59.6	51.7–68.6	57.3	64.5	50.5	66.8	59.7
1968	59.6	51.8–68.6	57.4	64.5	50.5	66.8	59.7
1967	59.6	51.8–68.6	57.4	64.5	50.5	66.8	59.7
1966	58.5	50.8–67.2	51.7	64.5	50.5	66.8	59.7
1965	53.7	46.7–61.6	32.0	65.9	50.5	64.8	59.7
1964	53.4	46.3–61.2	31.4	64.8	50.5	64.8	59.7
1963	53.2	46.4–61.0	29.9	64.4	50.5	66.6	59.7
1962	47.8	40.4–56.1	28.9	61.5	47.3	45.7	59.7
1961	37.5	29.8–45.0	19.3	33.0	46.2	35.6	59.7
1960	30.7	22.7–37.1	22.1	35.4	35.1	11.5	60.0
1959	37.9	29.5–46.5	34.6	44.2	33.7	32.1	46.0
1958	37.9	29.5–46.5	34.6	44.2	33.7	32.1	46.0
1957	38.1	29.6–46.6	35.3	44.2	33.7	32.1	46.0
1956	38.3	29.9–46.8	35.4	44.2	33.7	32.1	47.2
1955	38.8	29.7–46.9	39.5	43.8	33.7	32.1	45.9
1954	40.1	31.3–48.4	39.0	47.7	33.7	34.6	46.4
1953	40.6	32.0–49.3	40.0	46.7	33.7	37.2	46.4
1952	40.5	31.6–49.1	40.0	45.7	33.7	37.2	46.4
1951	40.4	31.8–49.3	40.3	45.3	33.7	37.2	46.4
1950	37.0	28.2–44.9	33.5	42.1	32.5	31.9	45.9
1949	35.8	27.4–43.0	23.4	40.3	29.5	36.4	52.9
1948	35.9	27.0–42.7	23.4	40.5	29.5	36.4	52.9
1947	35.8	27.2–42.8	23.2	40.5	29.5	36.4	52.9
1946	35.1	27.1–42.3	20.8	39.9	29.4	36.4	52.9
1945	29.5	22.1–35.8	14.6	35.0	29.0	22.5	52.9
1944	29.2	21.9–35.6	14.1	34.5	29.0	22.5	52.9
1943	29.2	21.9–35.5	14.1	34.5	28.6	22.5	52.9
1942	28.8	21.5–35.2	14.1	32.7	28.6	22.5	52.9
1941	28.8	21.5–35.2	14.1	32.7	28.6	22.5	52.9
1940	29.0	21.6–35.3	14.1	33.8	28.6	22.5	53.0
1939	29.0	21.5–35.0	13.8	34.1	28.6	22.5	53.0
1938	28.0	20.5–33.9	13.9	34.1	28.6	18.1	53.0
1937	28.0	20.5–33.9	13.9	34.1	28.6	18.1	53.0
1936	28.0	20.5–33.9	13.9	34.1	28.6	18.1	53.0
1935	28.3	20.6–33.9	13.9	34.1	28.6	19.1	53.0
1934	27.8	20.4–33.9	13.9	34.1	28.6	17.5	52.8
1933	27.3	19.7–33.1	13.9	34.1	28.6	17.5	49.1
1932	27.1	19.7–33.0	13.9	34.1	28.6	17.5	47.8
1931	27.1	19.7–33.0	13.9	34.1	28.6	17.5	47.8
1930	26.1	19.0–32.1	11.0	33.7	28.6	17.5	47.8
1929	21.0	13.9–26.2	10.8	34.0	7.9	16.9	46.9
1928	21.0	14.0–26.2	10.8	34.2	7.9	16.9	46.9
1927	20.2	13.7–25.5	10.8	33.5	7.9	13.8	46.6
1926	20.2	13.7–25.5	10.8	33.5	7.9	13.8	46.6
1925	20.4	13.9–25.8	11.4	33.0	8.3	13.8	46.4
1924	23.9	16.3–29.6	11.8	41.7	11.5	19.1	46.1
1923	21.9	14.6–27.4	10.6	35.9	11.1	18.3	42.8
1922	18.7	11.9–23.8	10.2	37.1	11.2	13.6	27.8
1921	18.1	11.5–22.9	9.7	35.3	11.2	12.3	28.4
1920	17.7	11.3–22.6	9.7	34.6	11.2	12.3	26.8
1919	15.9	9.8–20.6	9.6	29.7	8.0	12.3	25.3
1918	11.4	6.3–14.9	7.4	19.3	5.4	7.4	22.1
1917	10.8	5.8–14.2	7.1	18.4	4.7	6.7	22.1
1916	10.8	5.8–14.2	7.1	18.4	4.7	6.7	22.1
1915	10.8	5.8–14.2	7.4	18.1	4.7	6.7	22.1
1914	11.4	6.2–14.8	7.4	21.2	4.7	7.3	22.1
1913	12.0	6.7–15.7	7.9	23.0	4.9	6.7	24.1
1912	17.2	10.5–21.7	11.3	33.9	8.9	12.8	24.5
1911	18.4	11.2–23.0	13.6	34.0	8.9	15.9	24.3
1910	18.7	11.4–23.4	14.1	35.6	8.9	15.9	24.3
1909	18.6	11.2–23.4	15.3	36.1	7.0	16.4	24.3
1908	11.7	6.9–15.6	6.2	23.9	4.1	8.6	22.7
1907	6.1	3.0–8.2	0.9	14.2	3.0	1.4	21.3
1906	6.1	3.0–8.2	0.9	13.8	3.0	1.4	21.3
1905	6.1	3.0–8.2	0.9	13.8	3.0	1.4	21.3
1904	6.1	3.0–8.2	0.9	13.8	3.0	1.4	21.3
1903	6.1	3.0–8.2	0.9	13.8	3.0	1.4	21.3
1902	6.1	3.0–8.2	0.9	13.8	3.0	1.4	21.3
1901	6.1	3.0–8.2	0.9	13.8	3.0	1.4	21.3
1900	6.1	3.0–8.2	0.9	13.8	3.0	1.4	21.3

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Türkiye 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

#139Guinea-Bissau31.2 #140Guinea30.3 #142Hong Kong29.6 #143Haiti29.1

All rankings

How democratic isTürkiye?

Türkiye, 1975–2025

Prosecutions targeted leading opposition figures

Rights and checks

Public reasoning

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.

Türkiye score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Türkiye?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.