Political Compass Test
This free political compass test places you on the classic two-axis grid — economic left vs right and authoritarian vs libertarian — using 24 balanced statements. You get your exact coordinates, quadrant, closest ideologies and a shareable card. Nothing you answer is stored.
Economic -2.2 · Social -3.2 (−10 to +10). Example result.
The four quadrants
Economic -7 · Social +6.5 (−10 to +10).
Authoritarian Left
A state-led economy combined with strong government and order.
Economic +7 · Social +6.5 (−10 to +10).
Authoritarian Right
Private markets combined with strong authority, order and security.
Economic -6.5 · Social -7 (−10 to +10).
Libertarian Left
Equality and shared ownership combined with strong personal freedom.
Economic +7 · Social -7 (−10 to +10).
Libertarian Right
Free markets combined with a minimal state and maximum liberty.
What the compass measures
- Rule (Democracy vs Authority): Leaders should be chosen, criticized and replaced by the people, regularly and freely. — or — capable, stable leadership matters more than frequent votes or public approval.
- Liberty (Freedom vs Security): Privacy, free speech and personal choice come first, even when they carry risks. — or — safety and public order justify giving the state more tools to watch and enforce.
- Ownership (Collective vs Private): Wealth and key industries should be shared, taxed and run more democratically. — or — private property and private enterprise are the engine of prosperity.
- Markets (Planned vs Free market): Governments should steer prices, jobs and investment toward public goals. — or — prices and competition allocate resources better than any planner can.
Two axes are not enough
The compass ignores foreign policy, immigration, religion, tradition and technology — where many real disagreements live. Two people in the same quadrant can still disagree on almost everything else. The 12 Axes test scores all of those separately and also gives you a compass.
FAQ
What is a political compass test?
A political compass test places you on two axes instead of one: an economic axis (left = more collective ownership and planning, right = more private ownership and free markets) and a social axis (authoritarian = more state power and order, libertarian = more personal freedom and democratic checks).
How is this compass test scored?
You answer 24 statements — six each on ownership, markets, democratic rule and civil liberty — from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Each axis is balanced (three statements point each way). The economic score averages ownership and markets; the social score averages rule and liberty, scaled from −10 to +10.
Is this the official Political Compass?
No. This is an independent, free compass test with its own questions. It uses the same well-known two-axis idea, and you can extend it to 12 axes with the full test.
Why does my result say Centrist?
If both scores are within 1.5 points of zero you're labelled Centrist; if only one is, you get a partial label like "Libertarian Centre" or "Centrist Left".
What do the four quadrants mean?
Authoritarian Left: state-led economy with strong government. Authoritarian Right: markets with strong order and authority. Libertarian Left: equality and shared ownership with strong personal freedom. Libertarian Right: free markets and minimal state.
Can I compare my compass with friends?
Yes. Your result page has a challenge link: a friend takes the same 24 questions and sees both dots on one compass plus your overlap on each axis.