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Political regime

Name: Political regime
Creator: V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy), version 16 – via Our World in Data

What this indicator measures

Classification of regimes from “Regimes of the World” (Lührmann, Tannenberg and Lindberg), adopted by V-Dem. In a closed autocracy, citizens choose neither the executive nor parliament in multiparty elections. In an electoral autocracy, there are multiparty elections but without the freedoms that make them free and fair. In an electoral democracy, they are free and fair; in a liberal democracy, individual rights are also protected and power is checked.

How to read this?

The regime is classified on four levels, from closed autocracy (no multiparty elections) to liberal democracy (free elections, protected rights, checked power).

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173countries with data

2025data year(s)

In brief

Political regime: 173 countries and territories covered. Breakdown: Closed autocracy : 32 ; Electoral autocracy : 55 ; Electoral democracy : 55 ; Liberal democracy : 31.

Why this indicator matters

The classification of regimes distinguishes systems by the way power is chosen and checked. It offers a simple overview for comparing forms of government around the world.

What makes this indicator vary

A country's regime results from its history, institutions, political transitions and crises. It can change following elections, reforms, constitutional breaks or seizures of power.

Reading precautions

This is a classification into four categories based on expert assessments. It simplifies nuanced realities: countries close to the border between two categories may be classified differently depending on the method.