2025 country profile

How democratic is
Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe scores 41.5 out of 100 and ranks 119 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

41.5out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank119 of 179

10-year change−7.7

25-year change−4.6

Source-bound range34.7–48.6

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

Zimbabwe, 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

Violence and intimidation raised the cost of opposition activity

Freedom House reports intensified intimidation, including a firebombing at a venue scheduled to host an opposition press briefing. Such threats can suppress participation and communication without a formal party ban. The account concerns reported political violence, not a claim that every score movement has one identifiable perpetrator or cause.

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 Zimbabwe fell 7.7 points, from 49.2 to 41.5 between 2015 and 2025. 1 of the five areas improved while 4 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. 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: 53.5 → 37.0
Approx. contribution to overall change: −3.3 points

Moving in the other direction

Public reasoning

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

Area score: 57.0 → 60.5
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.6 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+1.7 points
The overall score rose from 48.8 to 50.5. Rights and checks supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023−3.9 points
The overall score fell from 47.3 to 43.4. Political equality supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−1.7 points
The overall score fell from 43.4 to 41.7. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 50.5 in 2017. 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	53.5	37.0	−16.5	−3.3
Political equality	47.5	33.1	−14.4	−3.0
Participation	61.4	55.0	−6.4	−1.1
Elections	30.2	26.8	−3.4	−0.9
Public reasoning	57.0	60.5	+3.5	+0.6

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?

26.8

Rights and checks on power

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

37.0

Public participation

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

55.0

Public reasoning

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

60.5

Political equality

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

33.1

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

Zimbabwe score table

Download Zimbabwe CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	41.5	34.7–48.6	26.8	37.0	55.0	60.5	33.1
2024	41.7	34.6–48.6	27.2	39.5	54.7	56.4	34.6
2023	43.4	36.9–51.0	29.6	42.5	52.9	60.9	34.9
2022	47.3	41.0–54.5	29.2	46.6	57.7	60.0	46.4
2021	48.2	41.4–55.0	29.7	48.1	59.0	59.5	48.0
2020	48.2	41.6–55.3	29.9	47.6	59.1	57.8	49.9
2019	48.0	40.8–54.4	30.4	50.3	61.9	57.1	44.0
2018	49.5	42.9–56.5	31.3	53.4	63.3	59.2	44.0
2017	50.5	44.0–57.7	30.0	57.8	62.6	62.0	44.8
2016	48.8	42.7–56.4	29.7	51.2	61.0	59.9	45.9
2015	49.2	42.1–56.0	30.2	53.5	61.4	57.0	47.5
2014	49.3	42.2–55.8	30.3	53.8	61.6	57.0	47.5
2013	49.3	42.5–56.2	28.9	54.0	61.9	57.6	48.4
2012	49.4	43.1–56.2	26.6	54.8	55.8	70.7	45.4
2011	49.7	43.6–56.5	26.6	54.6	56.4	71.9	45.3
2010	49.6	43.4–56.3	26.5	54.6	57.1	70.4	45.3
2009	47.1	41.1–54.2	25.4	49.3	57.2	65.1	44.0
2008	43.1	37.1–50.5	25.1	39.2	57.0	54.6	44.1
2007	43.5	36.8–50.3	25.5	40.0	57.7	54.6	44.0
2006	43.8	37.0–50.7	25.5	40.0	58.3	54.6	44.7
2005	43.9	37.7–51.0	25.8	40.0	59.0	54.6	44.4
2004	44.1	37.8–51.3	25.9	40.0	60.3	54.6	44.4
2003	44.4	38.1–51.6	26.9	40.0	60.3	54.6	44.4
2002	46.2	40.2–53.9	26.8	43.6	62.4	54.6	47.9
2001	46.0	39.7–53.2	26.7	42.2	62.4	54.6	48.6
2000	46.1	38.8–53.6	28.4	47.6	62.4	46.0	49.6
1999	49.5	41.7–57.3	31.0	57.1	51.3	66.7	45.4
1998	49.4	41.8–57.3	30.8	57.1	51.3	66.4	45.4
1997	50.0	42.2–57.9	30.9	57.6	52.4	67.9	45.3
1996	50.3	42.3–57.7	31.3	56.8	52.4	67.9	47.0
1995	50.2	41.9–57.4	31.0	56.5	52.4	67.9	47.0
1994	50.0	42.4–57.9	31.0	56.5	51.2	67.1	48.2
1993	49.9	42.1–57.5	31.0	56.5	51.2	66.4	48.2
1992	50.5	43.4–58.7	31.0	56.5	51.2	67.8	49.8
1991	51.3	44.0–59.3	31.0	56.5	51.2	67.8	53.9
1990	51.1	43.5–58.8	30.3	56.5	47.4	68.3	57.5
1989	51.4	44.1–59.4	30.9	55.8	47.4	69.3	58.3
1988	51.2	43.9–59.2	30.6	55.7	47.4	68.2	58.3
1987	48.4	41.3–55.9	21.7	55.1	47.4	68.4	57.5
1986	51.1	43.5–58.9	31.1	55.4	47.4	68.4	57.5
1985	51.2	43.5–59.0	31.3	55.4	47.4	68.4	57.5
1984	51.2	43.3–58.8	32.0	55.4	46.8	68.4	57.5
1983	51.4	43.4–58.9	32.7	55.4	46.8	68.4	57.5
1982	51.4	43.4–58.9	32.7	55.4	46.8	68.4	57.5
1981	51.5	43.6–59.1	33.0	55.4	46.8	68.4	57.5
1980	46.0	37.7–53.4	30.3	54.2	45.4	59.8	43.1
1979	22.1	14.8–27.5	16.5	35.5	30.2	21.4	11.3
1978	18.9	12.3–24.0	5.6	35.5	30.2	21.4	11.3
1977	22.3	15.3–28.0	19.3	35.5	30.2	21.4	10.1
1976	22.4	15.3–28.0	19.4	35.5	30.2	21.4	10.1
1975	22.4	15.3–28.0	19.4	35.5	30.2	21.4	10.1
1974	22.3	15.3–28.0	19.4	35.4	30.2	21.4	10.1
1973	22.3	15.3–28.0	19.3	35.4	30.2	21.4	10.1
1972	22.3	15.3–28.0	19.3	35.4	30.2	21.4	10.1
1971	22.3	15.3–28.0	19.3	35.4	30.2	21.4	10.1
1970	22.4	15.4–28.1	19.7	35.4	30.2	21.4	10.1
1969	22.4	15.4–28.1	19.7	35.4	30.2	21.4	10.1
1968	22.6	15.6–28.4	19.7	36.3	30.2	21.4	10.1
1967	22.6	15.6–28.4	19.7	36.3	30.2	21.4	10.1
1966	22.7	15.8–28.6	19.7	36.3	31.3	21.4	10.1
1965	22.9	15.8–28.5	20.4	36.2	31.3	21.4	10.1
1964	24.0	16.5–29.5	21.3	41.1	30.4	23.0	10.0
1963	26.0	19.0–32.2	22.8	49.7	33.7	22.9	9.7
1962	26.1	19.1–32.4	23.3	49.7	33.7	22.9	9.7
1961	26.1	19.1–32.4	23.3	49.7	33.7	22.9	9.7
1960	26.1	19.1–32.4	23.3	49.7	33.7	22.9	9.7
1959	26.0	18.5–31.8	22.8	50.6	33.7	22.2	9.7
1958	26.3	18.8–32.1	23.9	50.9	33.7	22.2	9.7
1957	26.5	19.0–32.5	24.5	51.4	33.7	22.1	9.7
1956	26.6	19.1–32.7	25.4	51.4	33.7	22.1	9.7
1955	26.7	19.1–32.8	25.5	51.4	33.7	22.1	9.7
1954	26.7	19.1–32.8	25.5	51.4	33.7	22.1	9.7
1953	26.2	19.0–32.2	25.6	51.0	33.7	20.0	9.7
1952	23.4	16.2–28.5	25.8	48.9	33.8	12.7	7.5
1951	23.4	16.2–28.5	25.8	48.9	33.8	12.7	7.5
1950	23.4	16.3–28.6	25.8	48.9	33.8	12.7	7.5
1949	22.0	15.3–27.0	25.8	48.9	33.8	9.2	6.6
1948	22.0	15.4–27.0	25.9	48.9	33.8	9.2	6.6
1947	22.0	15.4–27.0	25.9	48.9	33.8	9.2	6.6
1946	22.0	15.4–27.0	25.9	48.9	33.8	9.2	6.6
1945	21.9	15.3–26.9	25.9	48.3	33.8	9.2	6.6
1944	21.7	14.6–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	9.2	5.7
1943	21.5	14.8–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.7
1942	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1941	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1940	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1939	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1938	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1937	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1936	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1935	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1934	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.9	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1933	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1932	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1931	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1930	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1929	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1928	21.5	14.9–26.4	26.9	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1927	21.5	14.9–26.4	27.0	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1926	21.5	14.9–26.4	27.0	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1925	21.5	14.9–26.4	27.0	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1924	21.5	14.9–26.3	26.8	47.7	33.8	8.8	5.6
1923	20.0	13.1–24.4	21.6	48.4	33.8	6.9	5.4
1922	16.7	11.1–20.7	18.3	41.6	33.4	3.7	4.3
1921	16.7	11.1–20.7	18.3	41.6	33.4	3.7	4.3
1920	16.7	11.2–20.8	18.3	41.6	33.4	3.7	4.3
1919	16.8	11.0–20.6	19.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1918	16.6	11.0–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1917	16.6	11.0–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1916	16.6	11.0–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1915	16.6	11.0–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1914	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.4	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1913	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.5	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1912	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.5	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1911	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.4	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1910	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1909	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1908	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1907	16.6	11.0–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1906	16.6	11.0–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1905	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1904	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.2	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1903	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.2	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1902	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.3	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1901	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.4	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3
1900	16.6	10.9–20.4	18.4	41.6	32.4	3.7	4.3

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Zimbabwe 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

#117Mozambique43.2 #118Vietnam41.7 #120Uganda41.3 #121Kyrgyzstan39.9

All rankings

How democratic isZimbabwe?

Zimbabwe, 1975–2025

Violence and intimidation raised the cost of opposition activity

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.

Zimbabwe score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Zimbabwe?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.