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About BTI

The Transformation Index BTI aggregates 17 criteria and 49 indicators into the Status Index and Governance Index using expert reports, peer review, and regional plus interregional calibration. See the PDFs in this repository for details.

View the dataset on Hugging Face

Recommended BTI citation

Bertelsmann Stiftung. BTI 2024: Transformation Index. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung, 2024. Available at https://www.bti-project.org.

The Bertelsmann Transformation Index

What it is

The Transformation Index BTI is a comparative assessment of political and economic transformation and the quality of governance in 137 developing and transition countries. BTI publishes two composite rankings: the Status Index and the Governance Index. Scores are based on standardized expert assessments using a 10 to 1 scale anchored by descriptive benchmarks.

History and purpose

  • Origins and cadence The BTI has been produced by Bertelsmann Stiftung since 2003 and appears biennially.
  • Scope Focuses on transformation contexts by excluding long consolidated OECD democracies.
  • Purpose Provide transparent, comparable evidence to guide policy, research, and practice toward democracy under the rule of law and a socially responsible market economy.

How the methodology works

  • Framework 17 criteria and 49 indicators organized into Democracy, Market Economy, and Governance.
  • Expert process One country author drafts a report and ratings. A second expert independently reviews. Scores undergo regional and interregional calibration and final board review to ensure cross country comparability.
  • Scale Indicators are rated 10 to 1 with anchored descriptors so that like conditions receive like scores across countries and time.
  • Indices
    • Status Index Average of political transformation and economic transformation.
    • Governance Index Average of governance criteria, interpreted in light of the Level of Difficulty.
    • Level of Difficulty Captures structural constraints that shape feasible governance performance.

Complete indicator structure

Below are all 17 criteria and 49 indicators. Each entry includes what it measures and why it matters.

Democracy 5 criteria, 18 indicators
  1. Stateness
    1. Monopoly on the use of force Measures state control of security across territory. Why Without it, rules cannot be enforced.
    2. State identity Measures acceptance of citizenship and the nation state. Why Disputed nationhood destabilizes institutions.
    3. No interference of religious dogmas Measures secular operation of law and institutions. Why Prevents non plural restrictions on rights.
    4. Basic administration Measures reach and functionality of core services. Why Administration is the operating system of democracy.
  2. Political participation
    1. Free and fair elections Measures integrity and competitiveness of elections. Why Provides democratic mandate.
    2. Effective power to govern Measures freedom from veto actors. Why Ensures elected authority is real authority.
    3. Association and assembly rights Measures ability to form groups and assemble. Why Enables organized participation and oversight.
    4. Freedom of expression Measures protection of speech and media pluralism. Why Supports accountability and policy debate.
  3. Rule of law
    1. Separation of powers Measures checks and balances in practice. Why Limits abuse and arbitrariness.
    2. Independent judiciary Measures autonomy, capacity, and integrity of courts. Why Safeguards rights and constrains executives.
    3. Prosecution of office abuse Measures investigation and sanction of corruption. Why Reduces impunity and restores trust.
    4. Civil rights Measures protection and equal access to justice. Why Constitutes substantive citizenship.
  4. Stability of democratic institutions
    1. Performance of democratic institutions Measures effectiveness and reliability of bodies. Why Converts rules into results.
    2. Commitment to democratic institutions Measures acceptance by key actors. Why Legitimacy prevents disruptive vetoes.
  5. Political and social integration
    1. Party system Measures rootedness, fragmentation, polarization, volatility. Why Stable competition aggregates interests.
    2. Interest groups Measures breadth and balance of organized interests. Why Inclusive intermediation limits capture.
    3. Approval of democracy Measures public support for norms and institutions. Why Mass legitimacy builds resilience.
    4. Social capital Measures trust and self organization. Why Enables cooperation beyond the state.
Market economy 7 criteria, 14 indicators
  1. Level of socioeconomic development
    1. Socioeconomic barriers Measures poverty and inequality that exclude participation. Why Structural exclusion limits opportunity.
  2. Organization of the market and competition
    1. Market organization Measures open entry, free pricing, non discrimination. Why Predictable rules enable competition.
    2. Competition policy Measures antitrust framework and enforcement. Why Prevents monopolistic distortions.
    3. Liberalization of foreign trade Measures tariff and non tariff openness. Why Integration improves efficiency and choice.
    4. Banking system Measures supervision and financial stability. Why Sound finance underpins investment.
  3. Monetary and fiscal stability
    1. Monetary stability Measures credibility of anti inflation policy. Why Reduces uncertainty in transactions.
    2. Fiscal stability Measures sustainability of public finances. Why Preserves policy space and confidence.
  4. Private property
    1. Property rights Measures clarity and enforcement of rights. Why Security of ownership motivates investment.
    2. Private enterprise Measures fair treatment of private firms and hard budget constraints. Why Encourages entrepreneurship and discipline.
  5. Welfare regime
    1. Social safety nets Measures coverage and effectiveness of protection. Why Shields vulnerable groups against shocks.
    2. Equal opportunity Measures access to education, jobs, and services without discrimination. Why Inclusion supports sustainable growth.
  6. Economic performance
    1. Output strength Measures growth, employment, investment, and external balance. Why Summarizes macro outcomes.
  7. Sustainability
    1. Environmental policy Measures conservation, climate action, and resource management. Why Protects long run prosperity.
    2. Education and R&D policy Measures human capital and innovation policy. Why Drives productivity and competitiveness.
Governance 5 criteria, 17 indicators plus Level of Difficulty context
  1. Level of difficulty
    1. Structural constraints Measures geography, infrastructure, disasters, resource limits. Why Sets baseline difficulty for governing.
    2. Civil society traditions Measures associational density and engagement legacies. Why Affects participation capacity.
    3. Conflict intensity Measures incidence and severity of violent conflict. Why Violence impedes governance and reform.
  2. Steering capability
    1. Prioritization Measures clarity and consistency of strategic goals. Why Guides action under constraints.
    2. Implementation Measures execution of policy and reform. Why Delivers outcomes, not just plans.
    3. Policy learning Measures adaptation, evaluation, and evidence use. Why Improves fit to changing conditions.
  3. Resource efficiency
    1. Efficient use of assets Measures fiscal, administrative, and human resource efficiency. Why Maximizes scarce capacity.
    2. Policy coordination Measures coherence across ministries and levels. Why Reduces duplication and contradictions.
    3. Anti corruption policy Measures prevention, enforcement, and integrity systems. Why Protects resources and trust.
  4. Consensus building
    1. Consensus on goals Measures elite commitment to democracy and market economy. Why Aligns reform direction.
    2. Anti democratic actors Measures how leadership addresses spoilers. Why Limits rollback risks.
    3. Cleavage and conflict management Measures mediation of ethnic, religious, regional divides. Why Prevents polarization and violence.
    4. Civil society participation Measures inclusion of CSOs in policy making. Why Improves legitimacy and information.
    5. Reconciliation Measures acknowledgement of past injustice and healing steps. Why Builds social cohesion.
  5. International cooperation
    1. Effective use of support Measures alignment with and absorption of external assistance. Why Multiplies domestic capacity.
    2. Credibility Measures reliability and rule consistent behavior with partners. Why Sustains cooperation and investment.
    3. Regional cooperation Measures constructive engagement with neighbors and regional bodies. Why Addresses cross border challenges.

How to read BTI scores in this app

  • Scores run from 10 high to 1 low and are comparable across countries and time.
  • Status Index reflects the average of political and economic transformation blocks. Governance Index reflects leadership performance in context.
  • Use filters to select regions, countries, and years then export a curated CSV for analysis.