This choropleth map highlights the longest-standing democracies worldwide, with a focus on Europe. The United States leads with 219 years of continuous democracy, followed by Switzerland with 171 years. New Zealand, notable for being the first country to grant women the right to vote, has maintained its democratic status for 126 years. European countries like the U.K., Norway, and the Netherlands also feature prominently, each with over a century of democratic governance. Post-World War II democracies such as France, Italy, and Austria have sustained their systems for 73 years. In Asia, Japan's democracy has been in place for 67 years following its post-war reconstruction. Costa Rica stands out in Latin America with 70 years of democracy, surpassing other regional nations. The map reveals a pattern where many of the world's oldest democracies are concentrated in Europe and North America, with newer democracies emerging in Asia and Latin America post-World War II. This distribution underscores the historical and geopolitical factors influencing democratic development across different regions.
