Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index was 0.772 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index in United Kingdom, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 0.772 for tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index in 2025.
That represents a change of down 7.2% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index in United Kingdom peaked at 0.875 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.243, in 1789.
United Kingdom ranks 37th of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.
Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.243 | — |
| 1790 | 0.264 | +8.6% |
| 1791 | 0.278 | +5.3% |
| 1792 | 0.274 | -1.4% |
| 1793 | 0.274 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.274 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.27 | -1.5% |
| 1796 | 0.275 | +1.9% |
| 1797 | 0.27 | -1.8% |
| 1798 | 0.27 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.27 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.27 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.275 | +1.9% |
| 1802 | 0.276 | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 0.27 | -2.2% |
| 1804 | 0.27 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.27 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.275 | +1.9% |
| 1807 | 0.276 | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 0.27 | -2.2% |
| 1809 | 0.27 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.276 | +2.2% |
| 1811 | 0.271 | -1.8% |
| 1812 | 0.276 | +1.8% |
| 1813 | 0.271 | -1.8% |
| 1814 | 0.271 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.271 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.266 | -1.8% |
| 1817 | 0.266 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.271 | +1.9% |
| 1819 | 0.258 | -4.8% |
| 1820 | 0.267 | +3.5% |
| 1821 | 0.262 | -1.9% |
| 1822 | 0.262 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.262 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.262 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.276 | +5.3% |
| 1826 | 0.288 | +4.3% |
| 1827 | 0.282 | -2.1% |
| 1828 | 0.282 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.279 | -1.1% |
| 1830 | 0.285 | +2.2% |
| 1831 | 0.285 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.293 | +2.8% |
| 1833 | 0.301 | +2.7% |
| 1834 | 0.301 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.306 | +1.7% |
| 1836 | 0.301 | -1.6% |
| 1837 | 0.305 | +1.3% |
| 1838 | 0.3 | -1.6% |
| 1839 | 0.304 | +1.3% |
| 1840 | 0.311 | +2.3% |
| 1841 | 0.318 | +2.3% |
| 1842 | 0.311 | -2.2% |
| 1843 | 0.311 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.311 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.311 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.311 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.317 | +1.9% |
| 1848 | 0.312 | -1.6% |
| 1849 | 0.312 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.314 | +0.6% |
| 1851 | 0.316 | +0.6% |
| 1852 | 0.322 | +1.9% |
| 1853 | 0.314 | -2.5% |
| 1854 | 0.314 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.314 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.314 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.32 | +1.9% |
| 1858 | 0.314 | -1.9% |
| 1859 | 0.321 | +2.2% |
| 1860 | 0.316 | -1.6% |
| 1861 | 0.316 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.316 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.316 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.316 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.327 | +3.5% |
| 1866 | 0.327 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.345 | +5.5% |
| 1868 | 0.348 | +0.9% |
| 1869 | 0.345 | -0.9% |
| 1870 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.345 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.35 | +1.4% |
| 1874 | 0.365 | +4.3% |
| 1875 | 0.36 | -1.4% |
| 1876 | 0.36 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.36 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.36 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.36 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.373 | +3.6% |
| 1881 | 0.375 | +0.5% |
| 1882 | 0.375 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.375 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.409 | +9.1% |
| 1885 | 0.413 | +1.0% |
| 1886 | 0.437 | +5.8% |
| 1887 | 0.442 | +1.1% |
| 1888 | 0.442 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.442 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.442 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.442 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.448 | +1.4% |
| 1893 | 0.464 | +3.6% |
| 1894 | 0.464 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.459 | -1.1% |
| 1896 | 0.463 | +0.9% |
| 1897 | 0.463 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.466 | +0.6% |
| 1899 | 0.466 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.471 | +1.1% |
| 1901 | 0.477 | +1.3% |
| 1902 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.477 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.467 | -2.1% |
| 1915 | 0.464 | -0.6% |
| 1916 | 0.464 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.464 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.464 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.696 | +50.0% |
| 1920 | 0.706 | +1.4% |
| 1921 | 0.706 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.707 | +0.1% |
| 1923 | 0.717 | +1.4% |
| 1924 | 0.715 | -0.3% |
| 1925 | 0.713 | -0.3% |
| 1926 | 0.713 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.713 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.713 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.717 | +0.6% |
| 1930 | 0.721 | +0.6% |
| 1931 | 0.719 | -0.3% |
| 1932 | 0.725 | +0.8% |
| 1933 | 0.725 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.725 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.725 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.725 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.725 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.725 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.697 | -3.9% |
| 1940 | 0.7 | +0.4% |
| 1941 | 0.7 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.7 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.7 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.7 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.709 | +1.3% |
| 1946 | 0.784 | +10.6% |
| 1947 | 0.791 | +0.9% |
| 1948 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.791 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.811 | +2.5% |
| 1951 | 0.81 | -0.1% |
| 1952 | 0.808 | -0.2% |
| 1953 | 0.808 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.808 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.804 | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 0.802 | -0.2% |
| 1957 | 0.802 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.802 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.803 | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 0.808 | +0.6% |
| 1961 | 0.808 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.808 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.808 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.81 | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 0.825 | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 0.824 | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 0.829 | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 0.819 | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 0.819 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.823 | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 0.822 | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 0.822 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.822 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.824 | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 0.825 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 0.825 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.825 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.825 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.821 | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 0.805 | -1.9% |
| 1981 | 0.805 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.805 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.803 | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 0.802 | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 0.802 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.802 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.803 | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 0.804 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 0.804 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.816 | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 0.816 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.815 | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 0.814 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 0.814 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.814 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.814 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.811 | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 0.814 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 0.835 | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 0.848 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 0.856 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 0.857 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 0.857 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.857 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.863 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 0.87 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 0.87 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.87 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.87 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.866 | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 0.865 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 0.868 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 0.864 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 0.861 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 0.855 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 0.854 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.865 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 0.875 | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 0.854 | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 0.871 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 0.857 | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 0.844 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 0.852 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 0.832 | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 0.772 | -7.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.772 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.786, 98% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.772 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.737, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | +50.0% | 0.464 | 0.696 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.243 | 0.243 | 0.243 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.2719 | 0.264 | 0.278 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.2722 | 0.27 | 0.276 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.2697 | 0.258 | 0.276 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.2722 | 0.262 | 0.288 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.2981 | 0.285 | 0.306 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.3125 | 0.311 | 0.318 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.3163 | 0.314 | 0.322 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.3272 | 0.316 | 0.348 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.355 | 0.345 | 0.365 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.4083 | 0.373 | 0.442 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.4577 | 0.442 | 0.466 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.4764 | 0.471 | 0.477 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.4927 | 0.464 | 0.696 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.712 | 0.706 | 0.717 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.7212 | 0.697 | 0.725 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.7366 | 0.7 | 0.791 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.8058 | 0.802 | 0.811 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.8158 | 0.808 | 0.829 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.8234 | 0.821 | 0.825 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8035 | 0.802 | 0.805 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.8163 | 0.811 | 0.835 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8618 | 0.848 | 0.87 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8627 | 0.854 | 0.875 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.838 | 0.772 | 0.871 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More economy & growth data for United Kingdom
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.14 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.42 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0099 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 571.28 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -3.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0072 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 417.14 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 3.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0051 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index in United Kingdom?
- Tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index in United Kingdom was 0.772 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 0.875 in 2018.
- What is the lowest tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.243 in 1789.
- How does United Kingdom rank for tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index?
- United Kingdom ranks 37th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is tax revenue vs. electoral democracy index rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Tax revenue vs. Electoral Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which political leaders are elected under comprehensive suffrage in free and fair elections, and freedoms of association and expression are guaranteed.