2025 country profile

How democratic is
Zanzibar?

Zanzibar scores 49.9 out of 100 and ranks 106 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

49.9out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank106 of 179

10-year change−4.4

25-year change−1.8

Source-bound range42.1–57.8

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

Zanzibar, 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.

2020 context · Freedom House assessment

The last fully described Zanzibar election faced coercion allegations

Freedom House’s Tanzania report describes an opposition candidate’s detention during Zanzibar’s 2020 election and allegations of violence before and after voting. This is historical context specific to Zanzibar, not a description of the whole country or a verified explanation of its 2025 score. A newer standalone narrative is not available in this source set.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2025

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

Coverage limitation: this source assesses Tanzania as a whole. Only its explicitly Zanzibar-specific historical account is summarized here. It does not establish the causes of Zanzibar’s latest score changes.

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 Zanzibar fell 4.4 points, from 54.3 to 49.9 between 2015 and 2025. 2 of the five areas improved while 3 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Participation contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Participation

The evidence rates opportunities to participate through civic organizations, direct democracy, and local or regional institutions less favorably.

Area score: 50.2 → 39.9
Approx. contribution to overall change: −2.2 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: 60.6 → 65.3
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.9 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.

2015–2016−2.4 points
The overall score fell from 54.3 to 51.9. Elections supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−1.6 points
The overall score fell from 54.7 to 53.1. Participation supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2024–2025−3.2 points
The overall score fell from 53.1 to 49.9. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 54.8 in 2022. 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
Participation	50.2	39.9	−10.3	−2.2
Public reasoning	66.9	55.9	−11.0	−2.0
Political equality	69.6	62.4	−7.2	−1.3
Rights and checks	60.6	65.3	+4.7	+0.9
Elections	29.9	30.9	+1.0	+0.3

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?

30.9

Rights and checks on power

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

65.3

Public participation

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

39.9

Public reasoning

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

55.9

Political equality

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

62.4

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

Zanzibar score table

Download Zanzibar CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	49.9	42.1–57.8	30.9	65.3	39.9	55.9	62.4
2024	53.1	46.4–60.6	28.8	65.9	38.1	74.6	66.8
2023	54.7	48.0–62.0	29.1	62.3	45.2	74.6	69.6
2022	54.8	48.4–62.4	28.9	62.7	44.7	74.6	70.9
2021	54.2	47.0–61.0	27.9	61.1	45.1	74.6	70.2
2020	53.2	46.7–61.0	26.7	58.5	45.0	74.4	69.4
2019	52.2	45.5–59.6	27.2	58.8	45.8	70.6	65.6
2018	53.1	46.0–60.0	27.1	60.8	47.7	71.8	65.2
2017	51.9	45.8–59.7	26.9	59.3	46.9	66.9	66.3
2016	51.9	45.4–59.3	25.2	58.4	47.7	66.9	68.7
2015	54.3	47.6–61.7	29.9	60.6	50.2	66.9	69.6
2014	55.9	48.8–63.3	32.9	61.4	52.7	66.9	70.1
2013	55.9	49.1–63.3	33.3	61.7	53.0	66.9	69.2
2012	55.5	48.3–62.7	33.4	60.9	51.8	66.9	69.2
2011	55.5	48.2–62.5	33.2	60.9	51.6	66.9	69.2
2010	55.1	48.1–62.0	31.4	60.7	52.6	66.9	69.2
2009	51.4	45.1–59.6	30.2	59.6	39.6	65.4	68.4
2008	51.2	44.3–58.6	29.9	59.6	39.4	65.4	67.6
2007	51.1	44.0–58.3	29.9	59.1	39.4	65.4	67.6
2006	51.0	44.2–58.3	29.6	59.3	39.5	65.4	67.6
2005	50.9	43.7–57.9	29.1	59.0	39.5	65.4	67.6
2004	50.7	43.7–57.9	28.8	58.4	39.5	65.4	67.6
2003	52.4	46.0–60.0	29.7	58.4	46.6	65.4	67.6
2002	52.1	45.6–59.6	29.7	58.0	46.6	65.4	66.3
2001	51.7	45.1–59.1	29.6	55.8	46.6	65.4	66.3
2000	51.7	45.1–59.0	29.6	55.8	46.6	65.4	66.3
1999	50.3	43.4–57.5	29.3	51.8	46.4	65.4	63.7
1998	50.3	43.3–57.5	29.0	51.8	46.4	65.4	63.7
1997	50.3	43.3–57.6	29.0	51.8	46.4	65.4	63.7
1996	50.2	43.3–57.5	28.8	51.8	46.4	65.4	63.7
1995	45.1	37.5–53.3	25.1	52.0	38.0	50.9	65.4
1994	37.5	29.6–44.8	13.9	42.4	37.8	38.3	65.6
1993	37.5	29.5–44.7	13.7	42.4	37.8	38.3	65.6
1992	37.0	29.6–44.6	12.7	41.9	37.6	38.3	65.6
1991	36.2	28.2–42.9	11.6	42.9	34.9	38.3	65.5
1990	36.1	28.1–42.7	11.4	42.9	34.9	38.3	65.5
1989	33.7	26.1–40.5	11.1	41.3	34.9	28.6	65.2
1988	34.2	26.4–40.9	11.3	43.4	34.9	28.6	65.2
1987	34.7	27.0–41.4	11.3	45.9	34.9	28.6	65.6
1986	34.7	27.0–41.4	11.3	45.9	34.9	28.6	65.6
1985	34.4	26.7–41.2	11.5	45.9	33.1	28.6	65.6
1984	33.6	25.8–40.4	11.3	45.9	32.2	26.6	65.0
1983	31.7	24.1–38.1	10.6	39.4	30.0	26.6	64.5
1982	31.7	24.1–38.1	10.6	39.4	30.0	26.6	64.5
1981	26.7	18.7–32.3	10.6	39.4	9.4	26.6	64.5
1980	23.1	16.0–28.4	2.7	39.4	9.4	26.6	64.5
1979	21.8	14.4–26.6	1.8	36.9	9.4	26.6	63.0
1978	21.8	14.4–26.6	1.8	36.9	9.4	26.6	63.0
1977	21.1	14.1–26.1	1.7	33.5	9.4	26.6	62.2
1976	18.8	12.0–23.4	1.7	24.6	7.0	26.6	60.4
1975	18.3	10.7–22.5	1.7	24.6	5.3	26.6	60.4
1974	18.3	10.7–22.5	1.7	24.6	5.3	26.6	60.4
1973	16.4	9.4–20.2	1.7	24.6	5.3	15.0	60.4
1972	15.0	8.6–18.8	1.6	15.9	5.3	15.0	60.4
1971	15.0	8.6–18.8	1.6	15.9	5.3	15.0	60.4
1970	14.9	8.5–18.8	1.6	15.9	5.3	15.0	59.0
1969	14.9	8.5–18.8	1.6	15.9	5.3	15.0	59.0
1968	14.9	8.5–18.8	1.6	15.9	5.3	15.0	59.0
1967	14.9	8.5–18.8	1.6	15.9	5.3	15.0	59.0
1966	15.8	9.8–20.1	1.7	15.9	9.2	15.0	58.1
1965	16.2	10.3–20.8	1.7	15.9	11.3	15.0	57.1
1964	12.9	7.7–16.3	1.5	13.5	8.1	6.0	55.5
1963	17.8	11.3–22.5	19.6	47.3	10.4	5.7	16.8
1962	15.0	8.6–19.2	13.7	39.1	7.6	5.7	17.4
1961	15.1	8.6–19.2	14.3	39.1	7.6	5.7	17.4
1960	14.4	8.0–18.4	13.1	37.3	7.9	5.7	16.0
1959	14.6	8.0–18.6	13.1	36.0	7.9	6.7	16.0
1958	14.6	8.0–18.6	13.1	36.0	7.9	6.7	16.0
1957	13.8	7.7–17.8	9.7	36.0	7.7	6.7	16.0
1956	12.7	6.7–16.3	6.4	36.0	6.5	6.7	16.0
1955	12.5	6.6–16.1	6.1	36.0	6.4	6.7	16.0
1954	12.6	6.9–16.2	5.4	39.9	6.7	5.4	16.0
1953	12.6	6.9–16.2	5.4	39.9	6.7	5.4	16.0
1952	12.3	7.0–16.1	4.7	39.9	6.7	5.4	15.6
1951	12.3	7.0–16.1	4.7	39.9	6.7	5.4	15.6
1950	12.1	6.6–15.7	4.7	39.9	6.7	5.4	14.4
1949	11.8	6.4–15.3	4.3	39.9	6.7	5.0	14.4
1948	11.8	6.4–15.3	4.3	39.9	6.7	5.0	14.4
1947	11.8	6.4–15.3	4.3	39.9	6.7	5.0	14.4
1946	11.8	6.4–15.3	4.3	39.9	6.7	5.0	14.4
1945	11.1	6.0–14.3	4.3	39.9	6.7	2.8	14.4
1944	11.1	6.0–14.3	4.3	39.9	6.7	2.8	14.4
1943	11.1	6.0–14.3	4.3	39.9	6.7	2.8	14.4
1942	11.1	6.0–14.3	4.3	39.9	6.7	2.8	14.4
1941	11.1	6.0–14.3	4.3	39.9	6.7	2.8	14.4
1940	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1939	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1938	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1937	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1936	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1935	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1934	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1933	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1932	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1931	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1930	11.2	6.1–14.4	4.3	39.9	6.7	3.0	14.4
1929	10.9	6.0–14.1	3.5	39.5	6.7	3.0	14.4
1928	10.9	6.0–14.1	3.5	39.5	6.7	3.0	14.4
1927	10.9	6.0–14.1	3.5	39.5	6.7	3.0	14.4
1926	10.9	6.0–14.0	3.5	39.5	6.6	3.0	14.4
1925	8.9	4.4–11.5	3.5	26.6	6.6	2.1	14.4
1924	8.2	4.0–10.7	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	14.4
1923	8.2	4.0–10.7	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	14.4
1922	8.2	4.0–10.7	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	14.4
1921	8.2	4.0–10.7	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	14.4
1920	8.2	4.0–10.7	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	14.4
1919	8.1	3.9–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.7
1918	8.1	3.9–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.7
1917	8.1	3.9–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.7
1916	8.1	3.9–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.7
1915	8.1	3.9–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.7
1914	8.1	3.9–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.7
1913	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1912	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1911	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1910	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1909	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1908	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1907	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1906	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1905	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1904	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1903	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1902	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1901	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0
1900	8.0	4.0–10.5	3.3	26.6	4.7	1.7	13.0

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Zanzibar 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

#104Gabon50.4 #105Hungary49.9 #107India49.1 #108Somaliland48.5

All rankings

How democratic isZanzibar?