2025 country profile

How democratic is
Yemen?

Yemen scores 13.2 out of 100 and ranks 171 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is political equality. 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

13.2out of 100Far from the standard

2025 rank171 of 179

10-year change−3.5

25-year change−16.2

Source-bound range7.9–16.9

Weakest areaEquality

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

SCORE HISTORY

Yemen, 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

War and fragmented authority prevent normal political life

Freedom House describes overdue elections, interrupted political activity, and institutions that no longer function amid prolonged conflict. Repression by competing authorities and armed groups further constrains civilians. This is structural context: small changes in a national estimate do not imply a functioning electoral route to accountable government.

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 Yemen fell 3.5 points, from 16.7 to 13.2 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. Elections contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Elections

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

Area score: 18.4 → 12.7
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.1 points

Another important influence

Rights and checks

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

Area score: 18.1 → 12.5
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.1 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.

2015–2016−4.6 points
The overall score fell from 16.7 to 12.1. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2021–2022+2.0 points
The overall score rose from 10.0 to 12.0. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023+2.9 points
The overall score rose from 12.0 to 14.9. Political equality supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 16.7 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
Elections	18.4	12.7	−5.7	−1.1
Rights and checks	18.1	12.5	−5.6	−1.1
Participation	25.8	23.0	−2.8	−0.4
Political equality	10.2	8.6	−1.6	−0.4
Public reasoning	12.9	11.1	−1.8	−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?

12.7

Rights and checks on power

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

12.5

Public participation

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

23.0

Public reasoning

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

11.1

Political equality

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

8.6

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

Yemen score table

Download Yemen CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	13.2	7.9–16.9	12.7	12.5	23.0	11.1	8.6
2024	13.9	8.6–17.7	12.6	13.9	23.0	12.9	8.8
2023	14.9	9.6–18.9	12.8	13.2	22.4	16.4	11.0
2022	12.0	7.3–15.6	12.3	11.9	21.8	13.0	4.5
2021	10.0	5.6–12.8	11.6	9.3	22.0	6.4	4.6
2020	10.2	5.7–12.9	11.3	9.4	21.4	7.3	4.8
2019	11.0	6.5–14.1	11.7	11.2	22.4	7.4	5.5
2018	10.7	6.3–13.6	11.3	9.8	22.4	7.4	5.6
2017	10.5	6.0–13.1	11.2	10.5	23.0	6.3	5.2
2016	12.1	7.4–15.2	11.3	10.7	23.4	7.3	10.1
2015	16.7	11.1–20.8	18.4	18.1	25.8	12.9	10.2
2014	26.8	19.9–33.0	30.0	24.1	28.4	35.8	17.6
2013	36.4	29.1–43.0	33.6	30.6	31.9	71.4	22.2
2012	39.9	33.3–46.8	35.7	32.7	34.1	78.8	26.2
2011	34.0	26.2–40.5	31.0	30.8	40.5	45.6	24.0
2010	32.4	25.3–39.0	28.6	37.0	36.3	41.8	20.6
2009	33.0	25.7–39.4	28.5	37.5	37.5	43.2	20.9
2008	33.0	25.6–39.3	28.5	37.5	37.8	42.9	20.9
2007	33.7	26.4–40.2	28.3	37.5	41.6	42.9	20.9
2006	33.7	26.4–40.2	28.3	37.5	41.9	42.9	20.9
2005	33.7	26.3–40.6	28.1	37.5	42.2	41.9	21.7
2004	33.7	26.3–40.5	28.1	37.5	42.2	41.9	21.7
2003	33.6	26.2–40.4	27.5	37.5	42.2	41.9	21.7
2002	32.7	25.3–39.6	26.1	34.3	42.2	41.9	21.7
2001	32.6	24.9–39.3	26.1	33.7	42.2	41.9	21.7
2000	29.4	21.9–35.7	26.3	33.7	25.6	41.7	21.7
1999	26.2	19.1–33.0	26.2	32.4	13.5	41.7	21.7
1998	26.3	19.1–33.0	26.6	32.4	13.5	41.7	21.7
1997	26.8	19.8–34.0	27.9	32.4	13.5	43.6	21.7
1996	27.4	20.0–34.3	29.9	29.2	13.5	48.3	21.7
1995	27.4	20.0–34.3	29.9	29.2	13.5	48.3	21.7
1994	28.8	20.7–35.6	31.8	31.8	13.5	53.2	21.0
1993	29.6	22.2–37.0	30.9	36.8	13.5	53.2	21.5
1992	29.1	21.5–36.1	28.1	36.9	13.5	53.2	21.5
1991	30.1	22.7–37.0	28.0	36.9	16.9	53.2	21.5
1990	22.4	13.0–28.1	22.4	30.6	4.4	42.5	24.5
1989	15.8	8.0–20.2	17.0	20.5	3.3	23.4	22.1
1988	15.0	7.5–19.2	12.9	20.5	3.3	23.4	22.1
1987	14.1	7.0–18.2	8.9	20.5	3.3	23.4	22.1
1986	14.2	7.1–18.3	8.9	21.0	3.3	23.4	22.1
1985	14.2	7.1–18.3	8.9	21.0	3.3	23.4	22.1
1984	14.2	7.1–18.3	8.9	21.0	3.3	23.4	22.1
1983	14.2	7.1–18.3	8.9	21.0	3.3	23.4	22.1
1982	14.2	7.1–18.3	8.9	21.0	3.3	23.4	22.1
1981	13.9	4.9–18.1	9.0	21.0	2.7	23.4	22.1
1980	13.9	4.9–18.1	9.0	21.0	2.7	23.4	22.1
1979	13.5	4.6–17.7	8.9	21.0	2.7	21.1	22.1
1978	12.6	4.1–16.2	9.0	21.0	2.7	14.9	22.5
1977	15.5	6.0–20.3	9.2	18.6	2.7	35.6	23.2
1976	15.5	5.9–20.0	9.3	18.5	2.7	35.6	23.4
1975	14.6	5.4–19.1	9.3	18.4	2.7	29.4	23.4
1974	16.8	9.5–21.6	11.7	22.2	6.1	26.1	23.0
1973	15.0	8.0–19.4	11.5	19.9	6.1	19.6	21.8
1972	15.0	8.0–19.4	11.6	19.7	6.1	19.6	21.8
1971	15.6	8.2–20.1	11.2	23.6	6.1	19.6	21.8
1970	11.5	5.5–15.1	2.7	14.3	6.1	19.6	21.8
1969	11.4	5.5–15.1	2.6	14.3	6.1	19.6	21.8
1968	11.4	5.3–15.1	2.5	14.3	6.2	19.6	21.8
1967	11.3	5.2–14.9	2.3	14.3	6.2	19.6	22.1
1966	11.8	5.7–15.6	2.3	17.3	6.2	19.6	22.1
1965	11.8	5.7–15.6	2.3	17.3	6.2	19.6	22.1
1964	11.5	5.9–15.5	2.5	17.3	5.3	19.6	21.2
1963	10.7	5.4–14.4	2.4	16.6	5.3	15.7	20.9
1962	6.0	2.4–8.3	1.7	12.9	4.1	2.1	14.8
1961	5.9	2.4–8.3	1.9	13.0	4.1	2.1	13.7
1960	5.9	2.4–8.3	1.9	13.0	4.1	2.1	13.7
1959	5.7	2.2–8.0	1.9	11.3	4.1	2.1	13.7
1958	5.7	2.2–8.0	1.9	11.3	4.1	2.1	13.7
1957	5.7	2.1–7.9	1.8	11.3	4.1	2.1	13.7
1956	5.7	2.1–7.9	1.8	11.3	4.1	2.1	13.7
1955	5.7	2.1–7.9	1.8	11.3	4.1	2.1	13.7
1954	5.7	2.1–7.9	1.8	11.3	4.1	2.1	13.7
1953	5.3	2.0–7.5	1.8	9.0	4.1	2.1	13.7
1952	4.7	1.5–6.6	1.8	7.0	4.1	2.1	11.6
1951	3.8	1.1–5.4	1.8	7.0	4.1	2.1	5.4
1950	3.8	1.1–5.4	1.8	7.0	4.1	2.1	5.4
1949	3.8	1.1–5.4	1.8	7.0	4.1	2.1	5.4
1948	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1947	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1946	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1945	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1944	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1943	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1942	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1941	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1940	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1939	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1938	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1937	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1936	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1935	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1934	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1933	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1932	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1931	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1930	3.0	0.5–4.1	1.8	4.8	3.4	0.8	5.5
1929	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1928	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1927	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1926	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1925	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1924	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1923	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1922	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1921	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1920	2.9	0.5–4.2	1.8	4.8	3.2	0.8	5.5
1919	2.7	0.5–3.9	1.8	4.8	2.3	0.8	5.5
1918	2.7	0.5–3.9	1.8	4.8	2.3	0.8	5.5

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Yemen Democracy Score, 1918–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

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