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Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea

Photo: eGuide Travel · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

Topic 09 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Papua New Guinea: Democracy & Civil Liberties

Do people choose their rulers, and can they speak freely?

Papua New Guinea is placed 110th of 198 countries on democracy & civil liberties in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Rule of Law -0.573 (2025); Civic Space Ratings 53.51 (2025).

Democracy & Civil Liberties

110th

of 198 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topicsjoint 138th of 178 →

01The evidence

The 3 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Papua New Guinea on democracy & civil liberties — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 3

    Rule of Law

    World Bank Group

    Why it is a key: Whether the law binds those who write it — contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts. Where the other two keys measure who holds power and what people may do, this measures whether power itself is bound by rules.

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    -0.573

    Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)

    Higher is better

    Papua New Guinea: -0.573. Across the 211 countries in this edition, values run from -2.199 (Venezuela) to 2.012 (Finland); the world median is -0.102.

    World median
    -0.102
    Best in Melanesia
    0.529 Vanuatu
    Land neighbours
    Indonesia -0.255

    Each grey tick is one of 211 countries in the 2025 edition.

  2. Key 2 of 3

    Civic Space Ratings

    CIVICUS

    Why it is a key: Whether people can assemble, organise and speak in practice this year. Correlates 0.915 with V-Dem, just inside the 0.92 bar, and kept because a country can hold real elections while closing civic space between them.

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    53.51

    Civic space score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    Papua New Guinea: 53.51. Across the 198 countries in this edition, values run from 2.17 (North Korea) to 100 (Kiribati); the world median is 50.46.

    World median
    50.46
    Best in Melanesia
    69 Solomon Islands
    Land neighbours
    Indonesia 42.28

    Each grey tick is one of 198 countries in the 2025 edition.

  3. Key 3 of 3

    V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index

    V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg

    Why it is a key: Regime type as assessed by scholars: whether elections are genuine and whether rulers can be removed by them.

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    0.467

    Electoral democracy index (0–1)

    Higher is better

    Papua New Guinea: 0.467. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.016 (Saudi Arabia) to 0.913 (Denmark); the world median is 0.497.

    World median
    0.497
    Best in Melanesia
    0.729 Vanuatu
    Land neighbours
    Indonesia 0.462

    Each grey tick is one of 176 countries in the 2025 edition.

03In context

Papua New Guinea beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on democracy & civil liberties, never a place within the region.

Melanesia
1st198thNot placed · 26 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on democracy & civil liberties

Papua New Guinea and the countries it borders

The standing is each country’s place among all 198 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.

CountryStandingRule of LawRule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)Civic Space RatingsCivic space score (0–100)V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexElectoral democracy index (0–1)
Indonesia109th-0.25542.280.462
Papua New Guinea110th-0.57353.510.467

“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.

Across Melanesia

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.

Placed either side on democracy & civil liberties

The countries immediately above and below Papua New Guinea in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Papua New Guinea is ahead of the world, and behind

13 more statistics filed under democracy & civil liberties, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median6

Statistics on which Papua New Guinea does better than the middle country measured.

  • Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.849▲ Improved since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.849 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.

    Position 37th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Military Dimension IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.10▲ Improved since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0 · world median 0.1 · Military dimension index (0–1; higher = larger military role). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6760.863▲ Improved since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.863 · world median 0.676 · Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.988; higher is better.

    Position 39th of 175 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Freedom of Expression and Alternative Sources of Information IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6930.839▲ Improved since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.839 · world median 0.693 · Freedom of expression index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.013 to 0.98; higher is better.

    Position 47th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Government Censorship of the MediaV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5651.024▲ Improved since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 1.024 · world median 0.565 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3 to +3.5); higher = less censorship. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -3.017 to 3.489; higher is better.

    Position 65th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.384▲ Improved since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.384 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.

    Position 80th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

Behind the world median7

Statistics on which Papua New Guinea does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Physical Violence IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.790.782No real change since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.782 · world median 0.79 · Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.053 to 0.989; higher is better.

    Position 92nd of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Participatory Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.2980.28▲ Improved since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.28 · world median 0.298 · Participatory democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.008 to 0.785; higher is better.

    Position 93rd of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.022-0.236No real change since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: -0.236 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.

    Position 117th of 206 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Egalitarian Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3210.248▲ Improved since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.248 · world median 0.321 · Egalitarian democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.876; higher is better.

    Position 102nd of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Deliberative Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3390.248▲ Improved since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.248 · world median 0.339 · Deliberative democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.011 to 0.867; higher is better.

    Position 106th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Government Internet ShutdownsV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.0230.303▼ Worsened since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.303 · world median 1.023 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4 to +2); higher = fewer shutdowns. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from -3.547 to 2.081; higher is better.

    Position 111th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Women's Political Empowerment IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.7720.48No real change since 2015

    Papua New Guinea: 0.48 · world median 0.772 · Women's political empowerment index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.028 to 0.954; higher is better.

    Position 154th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

No current reading for Papua New Guinea

Social Institutions and Gender Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.

05Country Index 2026

Democracy & Civil Liberties among Papua New Guinea’s 15 topics

Democracy & Civil Liberties is Papua New Guinea’s 4th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.

On the profile
  1. Environment & Sustainability5th of 181
  2. Peace & Security81st of 177
  3. Food & Agriculture93rd of 175
  4. Democracy & Civil Liberties110th of 198
  5. Energy111th of 193
  6. Mobility & Tradejoint 90th of 147
  7. Digital & Technology122nd of 198
  8. Governance & Institutions142nd of 194
  9. Gender & Equality139th of 183
  10. Work & Labour150th of 182
  11. Economy & Innovation147th of 176
  12. Development & Human Capital164th of 196
  13. Health & Wellbeing171st of 200
  14. Education & Knowledgejoint 161st of 171
  15. Risk & Resilience190th of 192

No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.

06The top of the list

Who leads on democracy & civil liberties

The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Papua New Guinea can most readily be measured against.

All 198 countries
  1. 1

    Norway

    Northern Europe

    1st of 198 · 3 of 3 keys

    Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. =2

    Denmark

    Northern Europe

    Joint 2nd of 198 · 3 of 3 keys

    Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. =2

    Liechtenstein

    Western Europe

    Joint 2nd of 198 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: Guido Radig,Inkey · CC BY 3.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Oceania

    New Zealand=5th3/3 keys

  2. Highest in Melanesia

    Vanuatu=60th3/3 keys

  3. This page

    Papua New Guinea110th3/3 keys

Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

07Analysis

Charts and analysis about Papua New Guinea and democracy & civil liberties

All charts

08Questions

Papua New Guinea on democracy & civil liberties: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Papua New Guinea rank on democracy & civil liberties?

Papua New Guinea is placed 110th of 198 countries on Democracy & Civil Liberties in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Rule of Law, Civic Space Ratings and V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Rule of Law figure for Papua New Guinea?

-0.573 in 2025 (rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was -0.102.

What is the latest Civic Space Ratings figure for Papua New Guinea?

53.51 in 2025 (civic space score (0–100)), according to CIVICUS. The world median in the same edition was 50.46.

How does Papua New Guinea compare with Indonesia on democracy & civil liberties?

Indonesia is placed 109th of 198, and Papua New Guinea 110th. Rule of Law: Indonesia -0.255, Papua New Guinea -0.573; Civic Space Ratings: Indonesia 42.28, Papua New Guinea 53.51; V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index: Indonesia 0.462, Papua New Guinea 0.467.

How have Papua New Guinea’s democracy & civil liberties figures changed?

Rule of Law rose from -0.812 in 2000 to -0.573 in 2025; V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index fell from 0.538 in 2000 to 0.467 in 2025.

Which democracy & civil liberties statistics are missing for Papua New Guinea?

No current reading is published for Papua New Guinea on Social Institutions and Gender Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

09Keep reading

Explore further

Democracy & Civil Liberties

Papua New Guinea, topic by topic

10Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

This topic does not judge whether a government is competent or honest — that is Governance & Institutions — and it does not measure economic freedom. It also cannot capture everything about a political system in a single place in a list, which is why every key behind it links to the publisher's full edition.

About democracy & civil liberties, in full

How the Democracy & Civil Liberties standing is decided, step by step

A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.

  1. A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 3 indicators on this topic are keys and 14 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
  2. Each key is read at one edition. All of them describe 2025.
  3. Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
  4. Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
  5. The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
  6. A country needs 2 of this topic’s 3 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 198 countries clear the bar here.
  7. A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 3.
  8. A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.

The key statistics and their licences

The other 13 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Papua New Guinea’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Papua New Guinea: Democracy & Civil Liberties — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/papua-new-guinea/democracy

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