2025 country profile

How democratic is
Venezuela?

Venezuela scores 16.2 out of 100 and ranks 166 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

16.2out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank166 of 179

10-year change−14.5

25-year change−40.4

Source-bound range10.9–19.7

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

Venezuela, 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

Noncompetitive elections coincided with continued repression

Governing-party candidates dominated elections that Freedom House describes as neither free nor fair and largely boycotted by the opposition. Arrests and other abuses against perceived dissidents continued. The mechanism is a combination of restricted competition and coercion that reduces the possibility of replacing incumbents through ordinary political action.

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 Venezuela fell 14.5 points, from 30.7 to 16.2 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. 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: 53.3 → 22.5
Approx. contribution to overall change: −4.8 points

Another important influence

Public reasoning

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

Area score: 10.0 → 2.1
Approx. contribution to overall change: −3.8 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.

2016–2017−3.8 points
The overall score fell from 29.2 to 25.4. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2017–2018−3.8 points
The overall score fell from 25.4 to 21.6. Political equality supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−3.4 points
The overall score fell from 20.6 to 17.2. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 30.7 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
Political equality	53.3	22.5	−30.8	−4.8
Public reasoning	10.0	2.1	−7.9	−3.8
Rights and checks	20.2	8.9	−11.3	−2.7
Elections	30.0	18.1	−11.9	−2.2
Participation	53.1	46.3	−6.8	−0.9

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?

18.1

Rights and checks on power

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

8.9

Public participation

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

46.3

Public reasoning

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

2.1

Political equality

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

22.5

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

Venezuela score table

Download Venezuela CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	16.2	10.9–19.7	18.1	8.9	46.3	2.1	22.5
2024	17.2	11.7–20.7	19.6	9.4	46.7	2.1	25.8
2023	20.6	14.4–24.8	20.6	11.1	46.3	7.5	27.5
2022	20.1	14.1–24.2	20.9	11.2	41.0	8.0	28.0
2021	21.3	15.6–25.9	21.5	11.4	45.5	7.4	31.4
2020	20.9	14.9–25.3	20.6	12.0	45.4	6.0	32.4
2019	22.1	16.1–26.7	20.9	13.2	46.6	6.6	35.0
2018	21.6	15.6–26.0	21.3	13.5	45.7	5.8	34.0
2017	25.4	18.9–30.1	23.3	18.9	47.6	7.0	42.6
2016	29.2	22.1–34.4	29.3	25.0	52.8	7.6	44.6
2015	30.7	23.8–35.7	30.0	20.2	53.1	10.0	53.3
2014	31.4	24.5–36.6	31.2	18.6	54.3	11.4	54.8
2013	33.8	27.0–39.4	32.7	19.9	55.8	16.3	54.5
2012	41.4	33.9–47.7	39.9	23.6	59.8	32.4	57.3
2011	42.4	35.4–49.2	41.5	23.9	62.0	33.0	58.1
2010	42.8	35.4–49.3	41.9	24.1	62.0	33.0	59.4
2009	44.3	37.0–51.0	43.1	24.7	61.8	36.1	62.1
2008	44.5	37.4–51.2	43.2	24.6	62.8	36.1	62.3
2007	45.0	38.0–51.9	43.4	24.7	63.9	37.2	62.6
2006	45.4	38.4–52.3	45.0	24.7	62.9	38.0	62.6
2005	47.3	40.0–54.5	47.4	26.2	64.3	40.4	64.4
2004	49.6	42.0–57.3	47.5	34.4	65.2	40.4	64.4
2003	52.1	44.0–59.3	48.7	39.5	65.6	44.9	64.4
2002	53.9	46.2–62.0	49.5	41.7	65.8	50.1	64.4
2001	55.7	47.8–63.7	52.9	45.2	66.1	50.8	65.2
2000	56.6	48.6–64.4	57.3	45.1	66.1	50.8	65.2
1999	67.3	60.8–75.9	66.5	60.7	68.1	73.9	67.8
1998	71.9	66.4–78.2	73.0	77.1	59.2	89.5	62.8
1997	73.1	67.8–79.4	74.6	79.5	59.9	89.5	63.8
1996	73.1	67.9–79.6	74.8	79.5	59.9	89.5	63.8
1995	72.8	67.5–79.4	74.8	79.5	58.4	89.5	63.8
1994	72.7	67.6–79.5	74.8	79.1	58.4	89.5	63.8
1993	73.1	67.8–79.8	74.4	82.0	59.9	87.8	63.4
1992	73.2	68.2–79.9	73.3	82.7	59.9	88.3	63.6
1991	72.5	67.2–79.3	74.2	82.7	58.6	85.5	63.6
1990	71.7	65.8–78.3	74.1	78.8	58.6	85.5	63.3
1989	71.1	65.4–78.2	73.5	77.9	58.6	83.5	63.7
1988	70.3	64.4–77.5	73.2	78.5	54.5	84.9	62.6
1987	68.1	62.0–75.6	72.6	79.0	45.4	84.9	62.6
1986	68.1	62.0–75.6	72.6	79.0	45.4	84.9	62.6
1985	68.2	62.0–75.6	73.0	79.0	45.4	84.9	62.6
1984	68.7	62.2–75.7	73.1	79.0	45.4	87.4	62.6
1983	68.7	62.2–75.6	73.2	79.2	45.4	87.3	62.6
1982	68.4	62.0–75.7	73.1	79.2	44.3	87.3	62.6
1981	68.7	62.2–75.8	73.1	79.3	45.4	87.3	62.6
1980	68.8	62.3–75.9	73.1	79.8	45.4	87.3	62.6
1979	68.9	62.6–76.0	72.8	79.6	45.4	87.3	63.7
1978	69.1	62.7–76.0	73.2	78.8	45.4	88.7	63.7
1977	69.2	62.7–76.1	73.6	78.8	45.4	88.7	63.7
1976	69.2	62.7–76.1	73.6	78.8	45.4	88.7	63.7
1975	69.2	62.9–76.4	73.6	78.0	45.4	88.7	64.7
1974	69.2	63.0–76.6	73.6	78.5	45.4	87.9	64.7
1973	68.3	62.0–75.7	70.0	79.1	45.4	86.6	64.6
1972	68.6	62.0–75.7	70.2	80.2	45.4	86.6	64.6
1971	68.4	62.0–75.6	68.9	80.2	45.4	86.9	64.6
1970	68.1	61.5–75.2	68.5	80.2	45.4	86.4	64.1
1969	67.9	61.3–75.0	67.1	80.5	45.4	86.4	64.1
1968	66.9	60.2–73.9	64.3	79.4	45.4	86.7	62.9
1967	66.7	60.0–73.7	63.8	78.6	45.4	86.7	62.9
1966	66.7	60.0–73.7	63.8	78.6	45.4	86.7	62.9
1965	66.7	60.0–73.7	63.8	78.6	45.4	86.7	62.9
1964	64.7	57.9–72.3	63.1	78.6	43.8	78.7	62.9
1963	65.0	58.2–73.0	65.5	79.1	43.8	78.0	62.1
1962	65.1	58.5–73.4	65.8	79.1	43.8	78.0	62.1
1961	65.1	58.7–73.4	66.3	78.6	43.8	78.0	62.1
1960	64.8	58.3–73.0	65.0	77.8	43.4	79.2	62.1
1959	61.6	54.5–69.6	59.3	77.7	40.9	74.7	59.4
1958	37.8	30.5–44.9	26.3	44.8	18.5	53.1	54.2
1957	14.5	8.9–18.2	9.4	16.5	13.2	7.1	31.3
1956	13.1	7.7–16.7	9.0	16.0	9.9	5.4	30.9
1955	13.1	7.7–16.7	9.0	16.0	9.9	5.4	30.9
1954	13.1	7.7–16.7	9.0	16.0	9.9	5.4	30.9
1953	13.1	7.7–16.7	9.0	16.0	9.9	5.4	30.9
1952	13.6	7.9–17.3	9.5	16.8	9.9	6.4	30.9
1951	14.1	8.7–18.3	9.6	17.1	9.9	7.8	30.9
1950	14.3	8.6–18.4	9.6	17.9	9.9	8.6	29.7
1949	16.0	9.7–20.4	10.2	23.6	9.9	11.3	29.2
1948	39.7	30.9–47.5	37.4	45.0	23.6	52.1	43.6
1947	40.8	33.3–48.5	30.8	48.4	33.1	46.9	46.4
1946	38.6	31.1–45.6	18.4	48.4	33.1	52.8	46.4
1945	29.5	22.2–36.1	15.7	42.6	28.6	37.2	27.6
1944	23.5	16.3–29.3	11.3	41.4	10.8	39.7	23.4
1943	23.1	15.9–28.9	11.0	41.4	10.8	39.7	22.1
1942	23.1	16.0–28.9	10.9	41.4	10.8	39.7	22.1
1941	22.6	15.5–28.5	10.6	41.4	10.8	37.5	22.0
1940	19.7	13.2–25.3	8.3	41.1	8.0	30.2	21.2
1939	19.2	12.1–24.2	7.6	41.1	7.5	29.3	21.2
1938	18.9	12.0–24.0	7.4	41.1	7.5	29.3	19.9
1937	18.8	11.8–23.6	7.2	41.1	7.5	29.3	19.4
1936	14.3	8.5–18.6	5.3	31.7	7.5	17.0	16.6
1935	7.1	3.4–9.6	2.4	12.5	3.9	6.3	14.0
1934	6.5	3.2–9.0	2.4	11.5	3.7	4.7	14.0
1933	6.6	3.3–9.1	2.4	11.5	3.7	5.1	14.0
1932	6.6	3.3–9.1	2.4	11.5	3.7	5.1	14.0
1931	6.6	3.3–9.1	2.4	11.5	3.7	5.1	14.0
1930	6.6	3.3–9.1	2.4	11.5	3.7	5.1	14.0
1929	6.6	3.2–9.0	2.4	11.5	3.7	5.1	14.0
1928	6.9	3.4–9.4	2.4	11.5	3.7	6.2	14.0
1927	6.6	3.2–9.0	2.4	11.7	3.7	4.8	14.0
1926	6.6	3.2–9.0	2.4	11.7	3.7	4.8	14.0
1925	6.6	3.2–9.0	2.4	11.7	3.7	4.8	14.0
1924	6.5	3.1–8.9	2.4	11.3	3.7	4.8	14.0
1923	6.5	3.1–8.9	2.4	11.3	3.7	4.8	14.0
1922	6.5	3.1–8.9	2.4	11.3	3.7	4.8	14.0
1921	6.5	3.1–8.9	2.4	11.3	3.7	4.8	14.0
1920	6.7	3.0–8.9	2.4	11.3	4.2	4.8	14.0
1919	6.5	2.9–8.7	2.0	11.3	4.2	4.8	14.0
1918	6.5	3.1–8.9	2.0	11.3	4.2	4.8	14.1
1917	6.6	3.0–8.9	2.0	11.7	4.2	4.8	14.0
1916	6.6	3.1–9.0	2.1	11.9	4.2	4.8	14.0
1915	7.1	3.3–9.6	2.2	11.9	4.2	6.9	14.0
1914	7.4	3.5–9.8	2.3	13.9	4.0	6.9	13.9
1913	7.5	3.4–9.8	2.6	13.9	4.0	6.9	13.9
1912	7.5	3.4–9.8	2.6	13.9	4.0	6.9	13.9
1911	7.3	3.3–9.5	2.6	13.9	4.0	5.7	13.9
1910	7.3	3.3–9.5	2.6	13.9	4.0	5.7	13.9
1909	7.2	3.2–9.4	2.6	13.6	4.0	5.7	13.9
1908	7.3	3.3–9.5	2.4	14.7	4.0	5.8	13.9
1907	7.3	3.4–9.6	2.4	14.1	4.0	6.0	13.9
1906	7.3	3.4–9.6	2.5	14.1	4.0	6.0	13.9
1905	7.3	3.4–9.6	2.5	14.1	4.0	6.0	13.9
1904	7.3	3.4–9.6	2.5	14.1	4.0	6.0	13.9
1903	7.3	3.4–9.6	2.5	14.1	4.0	6.0	13.9
1902	7.3	3.4–9.6	2.5	14.1	4.0	6.0	13.9
1901	7.3	3.4–9.6	2.5	14.1	4.0	6.0	13.9
1900	7.3	3.4–9.6	2.5	14.1	4.0	6.0	13.9

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Venezuela 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

#164Cambodia17.9 #165Saudi Arabia16.9 #167China16.1 #168Azerbaijan15.6

All rankings

How democratic isVenezuela?

Venezuela, 1975–2025

Noncompetitive elections coincided with continued repression

Political equality

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.

Venezuela score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Venezuela?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.