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Database of Political Institutions: 2015

By Department of Research and Chief Economist (VPS/RES/RES)

A newer edition of this dataset is available: The Database of Political Institutions (DPI): 2023.

The Database of Political Institutions 2015 (DPI) is one of the most widely used datasets for studying political institutions, electoral systems, and government structures across countries.

The DPI database contains detailed institutional and electoral results data, including:
- Measures of checks and balances
- Tenure and stability of governments
- Party affiliation and ideology
- Fragmentation of opposition and government parties in legislatures

This comprehensive dataset provides essential data on political instability and indicators that enable researchers to analyze how institutional design affects governance outcomes, policymaking, and democratic performance.

Originally compiled in 2000 by researchers at the World Bank Development Research Group, the DPI data has been continuously expanded and updated. The current version, now hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), covers approximately 180 countries over a 40-year period (1975–2015).

With nearly 3,000 academic studies referencing the DPI data, it remains one of the most-cited sources in comparative political economy and DPI politics research. Scholars use the DPI political party variables to examine questions about ideology, party systems, and legislative balance across democratic and non-democratic regimes.

By offering harmonized indicators of political institutions, elections, and government stability, the Database of Political Institutions 2015 continues to serve as a cornerstone resource for empirical analysis in the social sciences.

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Metadata & use

Identifier https://doi.org/10.60966/a8qbhh3e
License Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 IGO
Related Knowledge Product
Citation

Cruz, Cesi, et al. (2016). Database of Political Institutions: 2015. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/a8qbhh3e
Published date 2016-02-03
Modified date 2026-10-02
Tags/Keywords Database · Democracy · Elections · Government · Legislatures · Political Institutions · Political Parties
Language
  1. Spanish
In Series Database of Political Institutions
Temporal coverage 1975-2015
Country
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cape Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo - Brazzaville
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Congo - Kinshasa
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Côte d’Ivoire
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)
Namibia
Nepal
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
St. Lucia
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Gambia
Netherlands
Timor-Leste
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Türkiye
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Region Latin America and the Caribbean
Publisher
Inter-American Development Bank
Author
Cruz, Cesi
Keefer, Philip
Scartascini, Carlos
Inter-American Development Bank
Data collection type Observational Data
Statistical type Panel Data
Data structure Structured Data
Data notes

What is the Database of Political Institutions (DPI)?

The Database of Political Institutions 2015 (DPI) is a global dataset that compiles consistent information on political institutions, elections, and government structures across more than 180 countries between 1975 and 2015. It provides core dpi data on political systems, enabling cross-country and time-series comparisons.

What kind of information does the DPI database include?

The dpi database includes data on checks and balances, government stability, party affiliation, ideology, and legislative fragmentation. It also contains data on political instability and detailed measures of executive and legislative dynamics.

What period and countries does the DPI data cover?

The dataset spans 40 years (1975–2015) and covers roughly 180 countries, making it one of the most extensive global resources for comparative political analysis.

Who created and maintains the DPI database?

The DPI data was initially developed by researchers at the World Bank’s Development Research Group in 2000. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) now hosts and maintains the most recent version, the Database of Political Institutions 2015.

How is the DPI database used in research?

The data DPI is one of the most cited sources in comparative political economy, political science, and development research. It supports analysis of topics such as government tenure, electoral competition, legislative strength, and DPI politics across regimes.

What are DPI political party variables?

The DPI political party variables identify party ideology, government alignment, and the level of opposition or coalition support within each country’s legislature. These indicators help assess how political parties influence policymaking and institutional stability.

How can researchers use the DPI data for comparative analysis?

The DPI database enables users to investigate how political institutions influence policy outcomes, economic growth, and democratic performance. It also enables the analysis of political instability data over time and across regions.

Why is the Database of Political Institutions 2015 crucial?

The Database of Political Institutions 2015 provides harmonized, long-term data that supports empirical testing of theories in governance, democratization, and institutional reform. Its standardized methodology ensures consistency and comparability in the study of DPI politics worldwide.

How frequently is the dataset updated?

While the Database of Political Institutions 2015 is the latest full version available, the IDB periodically reviews and validates the data to ensure its accuracy and usability for ongoing research on political institutions and governance patterns.

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