The Economist Democracy Index

Last updated

The 2024 Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index map
.mw-parser-output .col-begin{border-collapse:collapse;padding:0;color:inherit;width:100%;border:0;margin:0}.mw-parser-output .col-begin-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .col-break{vertical-align:top;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .col-break-2{width:50%}.mw-parser-output .col-break-3{width:33.3%}.mw-parser-output .col-break-4{width:25%}.mw-parser-output .col-break-5{width:20%}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .col-begin,.mw-parser-output .col-begin>tbody,.mw-parser-output .col-begin>tbody>tr,.mw-parser-output .col-begin>tbody>tr>td{display:block!important;width:100%!important}.mw-parser-output .col-break{padding-left:0!important}}
Full democracies
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
9.00-10.00
8.00-8.99
Flawed democracies
7.00-7.99
6.00-6.99
Hybrid regimes
5.00-5.99
4.00-4.99
Authoritarian regimes
3.00-3.99
2.00-2.99
1.00-1.99
0.00-0.99
No data Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index 2024.svg
The 2024 Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index map

The Democracy Index published by the Economist Group is an index measuring the quality of democracy across the world. This quantitative and comparative assessment is centrally concerned with democratic rights and democratic institutions. The methodology for assessing democracy used in this democracy index is according to Economist Intelligence Unit which is part of the Economist Group, a UK-based private company, which publishes the weekly newspaper The Economist. The index is based on 60 indicators grouped into five categories, measuring pluralism, civil liberties, and political culture. In addition to a numeric score and a ranking, the index categorizes each country into one of four regime types: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, and authoritarian regimes. The first Democracy Index report was published in 2006. Reports were published every two years until 2010 and annually thereafter. The index includes 167 countries and territories, of which 165 are sovereign states and 164 are UN member states. Other democracy indices with similar assessments of the state of democracy [1] include V-Dem Democracy indices or Bertelsmann Transformation Index.

Contents

Methodology

As described in the report, the Democracy Index produces a weighted average based on the answers to 60 questions, or indicators, each one with either two or three permitted answers. Most answers are experts' assessments. Some answers are provided by public-opinion surveys from the respective countries. In the case of countries for which survey results are missing, survey results for similar countries and expert assessments are used in order to fill in gaps. [2]

The questions are grouped into five categories:

Each answer is converted to a score, either 0 or 1, or for the three-answer questions, 0, 0.5 or 1. With the exceptions mentioned below, within each category, the scores are added, multiplied by ten, and divided by the total number of questions within the category. There are a few modifying dependencies, which are explained much more precisely than the main rule procedures. In a few cases, an answer yielding zero for one question voids another question; e.g., if the elections for the national legislature and head of government are not considered free (question 1), then the next question, "Are elections... fair?", is not considered, but automatically scored zero. Likewise, there are a few questions considered so important that a low score on them yields a penalty on the total score sum for their respective categories, namely:

  1. "Whether national elections are free and fair";
  2. "The security of voters";
  3. "The influence of foreign powers on government";
  4. "The capability of the civil servants to implement policies".

The five category indices, which are listed in the report, are then averaged to find the overall score for a given country. Finally, the score, rounded to two decimals, decides the regime-type classification of the country.

The report discusses other indices of democracy, as defined, e.g., by Freedom House, and argues for some of the choices made by the team from the Economist Intelligence Unit. In this comparison, a higher emphasis is placed on the public opinion and attitudes, as measured by surveys, but on the other hand, economic living-standards are not weighted as one criterion of democracy (as seemingly some other investigators have done). [3] [4]

The report is widely cited in the international press as well as in peer-reviewed academic journals. [5]

Definitions

By regime type

The following table indicates the number of nations and the percentage of world population for each type of regime. Some microstates are not considered in the calculation.

Year 2024 [7]
Type of regimeScoreCountriesProportion of
world population (%)
Number(%)wBy typesSubtotal
Full democracies [a]
  9.00–10.00
  8.00–8.99
2515.0%6.6%45%
Flawed democracies [b]
  7.00–7.99
  6.00–6.99
4627.5%38.4%
Hybrid regimes [c]
  5.00–5.99
  4.00–4.99
3621.6%15.7%54.9%
Authoritarian regimes [d]
  3.00–3.99
  2.00–2.99
  1.00–1.99
  0.00–0.99
6035.9%39.2%

List by region

The following table lists the average of each country scored by geographic region, as defined by the Economist Democracy Index.

The following table lists the number of countries in each of the four democracy classifications.

List by country

The following table shows each nation's score over the years. The regions are assigned by the Economist Intelligence Unit, and may differ from conventional classifications (for example, Turkey is grouped in Western Europe).

Region2024 rankCountryRegime type20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020082006
North America14Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Full democracy8.698.698.888.879.249.229.159.159.159.089.089.089.089.089.089.079.07
28Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flawed democracy7.857.857.857.857.927.967.967.987.988.058.118.118.118.118.188.228.22
Western Europe19Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Full democracy8.288.288.208.078.168.298.298.428.418.548.548.488.628.498.498.498.69
34Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Flawed democracy7.647.647.647.517.517.647.787.787.777.937.938.058.058.058.058.168.15
40Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Flawed democracy7.387.387.387.437.567.597.597.597.657.537.407.297.297.297.297.707.60
7Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Full democracy9.289.289.289.099.159.229.229.229.209.119.119.389.529.529.529.529.52
6Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Full democracy9.309.309.299.279.209.259.149.039.039.039.039.039.069.069.199.259.25
26Flag of France.svg  France Flawed democracy7.998.078.077.997.998.127.807.807.927.928.047.927.887.777.778.078.07
13Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Full democracy8.738.808.808.678.678.688.688.618.638.648.648.318.348.348.388.828.82
25Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Full democracy8.078.147.977.567.397.437.297.297.237.457.457.657.657.657.928.138.13
4Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Full democracy9.389.459.529.189.379.589.589.589.509.589.589.659.659.659.659.659.71
8Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Full democracy9.199.199.139.009.059.249.159.159.158.858.728.688.568.568.799.019.01
37Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Flawed democracy7.587.697.697.687.747.527.717.987.987.987.857.857.747.747.837.987.73
10Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Full democracy8.888.818.818.688.688.818.818.818.818.888.888.888.888.888.889.109.10
27Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Flawed democracy7.937.937.707.577.687.958.218.158.398.398.398.288.288.288.288.398.39
9Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Full democracy9.009.009.008.888.969.018.898.898.808.928.928.848.998.998.999.539.66
1Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Full democracy9.819.819.819.759.819.879.879.879.939.939.939.939.939.809.809.689.55
23Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Full democracy8.087.757.957.827.908.037.847.847.867.797.797.657.927.818.028.058.16
21Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Full democracy8.138.078.077.948.128.298.088.088.308.308.058.028.028.028.168.458.34
3Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Full democracy9.399.399.399.269.269.399.399.399.399.459.739.739.739.509.509.889.88
5Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Full democracy9.329.149.148.908.839.039.039.039.099.099.099.099.099.099.099.159.02
103Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Hybrid regime4.264.334.354.354.484.094.374.885.045.125.125.635.765.735.735.695.70
17Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Full democracy8.348.288.288.108.548.528.538.538.368.318.318.318.218.168.168.158.08
Eastern Europe and Central Asia66Flag of Albania.svg  Albania Flawed democracy6.206.286.416.116.085.895.985.985.915.915.675.675.675.815.865.915.91
82Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia Hybrid regime5.355.425.635.495.355.544.794.113.884.004.134.024.094.094.094.094.15
126Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan Authoritarian2.802.802.872.682.682.752.652.652.652.712.833.063.153.153.153.193.31
152Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus Authoritarian1.991.991.992.412.592.483.133.133.543.623.693.043.043.163.343.343.34
88Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina Hybrid regime5.065.005.005.044.844.864.984.874.874.834.785.025.115.245.325.705.78
61Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Flawed democracy6.346.416.536.646.717.037.037.037.017.146.736.836.726.786.847.027.10
56Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Flawed democracy6.506.506.506.506.506.576.576.636.756.936.936.936.936.736.817.047.04
23Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Full democracy8.087.977.977.747.677.697.697.627.827.947.948.068.198.198.198.198.17
21Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Full democracy8.137.967.967.847.847.907.977.797.857.857.747.617.617.617.687.687.74
94Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Hybrid regime4.705.205.205.125.315.425.505.935.935.885.825.955.534.744.594.624.90
54Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Flawed democracy6.516.726.646.506.566.636.636.646.726.846.906.966.967.047.217.447.53
118Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan Authoritarian3.083.083.083.083.142.942.943.063.063.063.173.062.953.243.303.453.62
111Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan Authoritarian3.523.703.623.624.214.895.115.114.935.335.244.694.694.344.314.054.08
33Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Flawed democracy7.667.387.377.317.247.497.387.257.317.377.487.057.057.057.057.237.37
36Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Flawed democracy7.597.317.317.187.137.507.507.417.477.547.547.547.247.247.247.367.43
71Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Flawed democracy6.046.236.236.105.785.755.855.946.016.356.326.326.326.326.336.506.50
50Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro Flawed democracy6.736.676.456.025.775.655.745.695.726.015.945.946.056.156.276.436.57
62Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia Flawed democracy6.286.036.106.035.895.975.875.575.236.026.256.166.166.166.166.216.33
39Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Flawed democracy7.407.187.046.806.856.626.676.676.837.097.477.127.127.127.057.307.30
72Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Hybrid regime5.996.456.456.436.406.496.386.446.626.686.686.546.546.546.607.067.06
150Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Authoritarian2.032.222.283.243.313.112.943.173.243.313.393.593.743.924.264.485.02
64Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Flawed democracy6.266.336.336.366.226.416.416.416.576.716.716.676.336.336.336.496.62
42Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Flawed democracy7.217.077.077.036.977.177.107.167.297.297.357.357.357.357.357.337.40
30Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Flawed democracy7.827.757.757.547.547.507.507.507.517.577.577.887.887.767.697.967.96
159Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan Authoritarian1.831.941.941.941.941.931.931.931.891.952.372.512.512.512.512.452.45
161Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan Authoritarian1.661.661.661.661.721.721.721.721.831.831.831.721.721.721.721.721.83
92Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Hybrid regime4.905.065.425.575.815.905.695.695.705.705.425.845.915.946.306.946.94
145Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan Authoritarian2.102.122.122.122.122.012.011.951.951.952.451.721.721.741.741.741.85
Latin America and the Carib­bean54Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Flawed democracy6.516.626.856.816.957.027.026.966.967.026.846.846.846.846.846.636.63
103Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia Hybrid regime4.264.204.514.655.084.845.705.495.635.755.795.795.845.845.926.155.98
57Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Flawed democracy6.496.686.786.866.926.866.976.866.906.967.387.127.127.127.127.387.38
29Flag of Chile.svg  Chile Flawed democracy7.837.988.227.928.288.087.977.847.787.847.807.807.547.547.677.897.89
60Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Flawed democracy6.356.556.726.487.047.136.966.676.676.626.556.556.636.636.556.546.40
18Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica Full democracy8.298.298.298.078.168.138.077.887.887.968.038.038.108.108.048.048.04
135Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba Authoritarian2.582.652.652.592.842.843.003.313.463.523.523.523.523.523.523.523.52
52Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Flawed democracy6.626.446.396.456.326.546.546.666.676.676.676.746.496.206.206.206.13
85Flag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador Hybrid regime5.245.415.695.716.136.336.276.025.815.875.875.875.785.725.775.645.64
95Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador Hybrid regime4.614.715.065.725.906.155.966.436.646.646.536.536.476.476.476.406.22
97Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala Hybrid regime4.554.474.684.624.975.265.605.865.925.925.815.815.885.886.056.076.07
69Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana Flawed democracy6.116.266.346.256.016.156.676.466.256.055.916.056.056.056.056.126.15
131Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Authoritarian2.742.812.813.484.224.574.914.034.023.943.823.943.964.004.004.194.19
90Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras Hybrid regime4.984.985.155.105.365.425.635.725.925.845.845.845.845.845.766.186.25
49Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Flawed democracy6.747.067.137.137.136.967.027.297.397.397.397.397.397.137.217.217.34
84Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Hybrid regime5.325.145.255.576.076.096.196.416.476.556.686.916.906.936.936.786.67
147Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Authoritarian2.092.262.502.693.603.553.634.664.815.265.325.465.565.565.736.075.68
47Flag of Panama.svg  Panama Flawed democracy6.846.916.916.857.187.057.057.087.137.197.087.087.087.087.157.357.35
75Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay Hybrid regime5.926.005.895.866.186.246.246.316.276.336.266.266.266.406.406.406.16
78Flag of Peru.svg  Peru Hybrid regime5.695.815.926.096.536.606.606.496.656.586.546.546.476.596.406.316.11
48Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname Flawed democracy6.796.886.956.826.826.986.986.766.776.776.776.776.656.656.656.586.52
45Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago Flawed democracy7.097.167.167.167.167.167.167.047.107.106.996.996.997.167.167.217.18
15Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay Full democracy8.678.668.918.858.618.388.388.128.178.178.178.178.178.178.108.087.96
142Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela Authoritarian2.252.312.232.112.762.883.163.874.685.005.075.075.155.085.185.345.42
Asia and Austral­asia167Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan Authoritarian0.250.260.320.322.852.852.972.552.552.772.772.482.482.482.483.023.06
11Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Full democracy8.858.668.718.908.969.099.099.099.019.019.019.139.229.229.229.099.09
100Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh Hybrid regime4.445.875.995.995.995.885.575.435.735.735.785.865.865.865.875.526.11
79Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan Hybrid regime5.655.545.545.715.715.305.305.084.934.934.874.824.654.574.684.302.62
123Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia Authoritarian2.943.053.182.903.103.533.593.634.274.274.784.604.964.874.874.874.77
145Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Authoritarian2.112.121.942.212.272.263.323.103.183.143.003.003.003.143.143.042.97
81Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Hybrid regime5.395.555.555.615.725.855.855.855.645.695.613.613.673.673.625.115.66
87Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong Hybrid regime5.095.245.285.605.576.026.156.316.426.506.466.426.425.925.925.856.03
41Flag of India.svg  India Flawed democracy7.297.187.046.916.616.907.237.237.817.747.927.697.527.307.287.807.68
59Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia Flawed democracy6.446.536.716.716.306.486.396.396.977.036.956.826.766.536.536.346.41
16Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Full democracy8.488.408.338.158.137.997.997.887.997.968.088.088.088.088.088.258.15
160Flag of Laos.svg  Laos Authoritarian1.711.711.771.771.772.142.372.372.372.212.212.212.322.102.102.102.10
44Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia Flawed democracy7.117.297.307.247.197.166.886.546.546.436.496.496.416.196.196.365.98
53Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia Flawed democracy6.536.486.356.426.486.506.506.506.626.626.626.516.356.236.366.606.60
166Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar Authoritarian0.960.850.741.023.043.553.833.834.204.143.052.762.351.771.771.771.77
96Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal Hybrid regime4.604.604.494.415.225.285.185.184.864.774.774.774.164.244.244.053.42
2Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Full democracy9.619.619.619.379.259.269.269.269.269.269.269.269.269.269.269.199.01
165Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Authoritarian1.081.081.081.081.081.081.081.081.081.081.081.081.081.081.080.861.03
124Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Authoritarian2.843.254.134.314.314.254.174.264.334.404.644.644.574.554.554.463.92
73Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Hybrid regime5.976.035.976.106.106.036.036.036.036.036.036.366.326.326.546.546.54
51Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Flawed democracy6.636.666.736.626.566.646.716.716.946.846.776.416.306.126.126.126.48
68Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore Flawed democracy6.186.186.226.236.036.026.386.326.386.146.035.925.885.895.895.895.89
32Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Flawed democracy7.758.098.038.168.018.008.008.007.927.978.068.068.138.068.118.017.88
67Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka Flawed democracy6.196.176.476.146.146.276.196.486.486.425.695.695.756.586.646.616.58
12Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan Full democracy8.788.928.998.998.947.737.737.737.797.837.657.577.577.467.527.827.82
63Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Flawed democracy6.276.356.676.046.046.324.634.634.925.095.396.256.556.556.556.815.67
46Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste Flawed democracy7.037.067.067.067.067.197.197.197.247.247.247.247.167.227.227.226.41
133Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam Authoritarian2.622.622.732.942.943.083.083.083.383.533.413.292.892.962.942.532.75
Middle East and North Africa110Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Authoritarian3.553.663.663.773.774.013.503.563.563.953.833.833.833.443.443.323.17
138Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain Authoritarian2.452.522.522.522.492.552.712.712.792.792.872.872.532.923.493.383.53
128Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Authoritarian2.792.932.932.932.933.063.363.363.313.183.163.274.563.953.073.893.90
154Flag of Iran.svg  Iran Authoritarian1.961.961.961.952.202.382.452.452.342.161.981.981.981.981.942.832.93
126Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Authoritarian2.802.883.133.513.623.744.064.094.084.084.234.104.104.034.004.004.01
31Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Flawed democracy7.807.807.937.977.847.867.797.797.857.777.637.537.537.537.487.487.28
115Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan Authoritarian3.283.043.173.493.623.933.933.873.963.863.763.763.763.893.743.933.92
130Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Authoritarian2.783.503.833.913.803.933.853.853.853.853.783.783.783.743.883.393.09
109Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Authoritarian3.563.563.643.844.164.364.634.724.864.865.125.055.055.325.825.625.82
140Flag of Libya.svg  Libya Authoritarian2.311.782.061.951.952.022.192.322.252.253.804.825.153.551.942.001.84
91Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco Hybrid regime4.975.045.045.045.045.104.994.874.774.664.004.074.073.833.793.883.90
120Flag of Oman.svg  Oman Authoritarian3.053.123.123.003.003.063.043.043.043.043.153.263.263.262.862.982.77
112Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine Authoritarian3.443.473.863.943.833.894.394.464.494.574.724.804.804.975.445.836.01
117Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar Authoritarian3.173.653.653.653.243.193.193.193.183.183.183.183.183.183.092.922.78
148Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Authoritarian2.082.082.082.082.081.931.931.931.931.931.821.821.711.771.841.901.92
162Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan Authoritarian1.461.762.472.472.542.702.152.152.372.372.542.542.382.382.422.812.90
163Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg  Syria Authoritarian1.321.431.431.431.431.431.431.431.431.431.741.861.631.992.312.182.36
93Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia Hybrid regime4.715.515.515.996.596.726.416.326.406.726.315.765.675.532.792.963.06
119Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates Authoritarian3.073.012.902.902.702.762.762.692.752.752.642.522.582.582.522.602.42
155Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen Authoritarian1.951.951.951.951.951.951.952.072.072.242.792.793.122.572.642.952.98
Sub-Saharan Africa107Flag of Angola.svg  Angola Hybrid regime4.054.183.963.373.663.723.623.623.403.353.353.353.353.323.323.352.41
100Flag of Benin.svg  Benin Hybrid regime4.444.684.284.194.585.095.745.615.675.725.655.876.006.066.176.066.16
35Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana Flawed democracy7.637.737.737.737.627.817.817.817.877.877.877.987.857.637.637.477.60
137Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso Authoritarian2.552.733.083.843.734.044.754.754.704.704.094.153.523.593.593.603.72
144Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi Authoritarian2.132.132.132.132.142.152.332.332.402.493.333.413.604.014.014.514.51
37Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde Flawed democracy7.587.657.657.657.657.787.887.887.947.817.817.927.927.927.947.817.43
136Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Authoritarian2.562.562.562.562.772.853.283.613.463.663.413.413.443.413.413.463.27
164Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic Authoritarian1.181.181.351.431.321.321.521.521.611.571.491.491.991.821.821.861.61
158Flag of Chad.svg  Chad Authoritarian1.891.671.671.671.551.611.611.501.501.501.501.501.621.621.521.521.65
124Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros Authoritarian2.843.043.203.203.093.153.713.713.713.713.523.523.523.523.413.583.90
128Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo Authoritarian2.792.792.792.793.113.113.313.252.912.912.892.892.892.892.892.943.19
105Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast Hybrid regime4.224.224.224.224.114.054.153.933.813.313.533.253.253.083.023.273.38
156Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo Authoritarian1.921.681.481.401.131.131.491.611.932.111.751.831.922.152.152.282.76
132Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti Authoritarian2.702.702.742.742.712.772.872.762.832.902.992.962.742.682.202.372.37
156Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea Authoritarian1.921.921.921.921.921.921.921.811.701.771.661.771.831.771.842.192.09
153Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea Authoritarian1.971.972.032.032.152.372.372.372.372.372.442.402.402.342.312.312.31
134Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini Authoritarian2.602.783.013.083.083.143.033.033.033.093.093.203.203.262.903.042.93
116Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Authoritarian3.243.373.173.303.383.443.353.423.603.833.723.833.723.793.684.524.72
143Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon Authoritarian2.182.183.403.403.543.613.613.613.743.763.763.763.563.483.293.002.72
99Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia Hybrid regime4.474.474.474.414.494.334.314.062.912.973.053.313.313.383.384.194.39
65Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Flawed democracy6.246.306.436.506.506.636.636.696.756.866.336.336.026.026.025.355.35
149Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea Authoritarian2.042.212.322.283.083.143.143.143.143.143.012.842.792.792.792.092.02
150Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau Authoritarian2.032.452.562.752.632.631.981.981.981.931.931.261.431.991.991.992.00
89Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Hybrid regime5.055.055.055.055.055.185.115.115.335.335.135.134.714.714.714.795.08
70Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho Flawed democracy6.066.066.196.306.306.546.646.646.596.596.666.666.666.336.026.296.48
80Flag of Liberia 23px.svg  Liberia Hybrid regime5.575.575.435.435.325.455.355.235.314.954.954.954.955.075.075.255.22
83Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar Hybrid regime5.335.265.705.705.705.645.225.115.074.854.424.323.933.933.945.575.82
76Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi Hybrid regime5.855.855.915.745.745.505.495.495.555.555.666.006.085.845.845.134.97
139Flag of Mali.svg  Mali Authoritarian2.402.583.233.483.934.925.415.645.705.705.795.905.126.366.015.875.99
108Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania Authoritarian3.964.144.034.033.923.923.823.823.963.964.174.174.174.173.863.913.12
20Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius Full democracy8.238.148.148.088.148.228.228.228.288.278.178.178.178.048.048.048.04
113Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique Authoritarian3.383.513.513.513.513.653.854.024.024.604.664.774.884.904.905.495.28
58Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia Flawed democracy6.486.526.526.526.526.436.256.316.316.316.246.246.246.246.236.486.54
141Flag of Niger.svg  Niger Authoritarian2.262.373.733.223.293.293.763.763.964.624.024.084.164.163.383.413.54
106Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Hybrid regime4.164.234.234.114.104.124.444.444.503.853.763.773.773.833.473.533.52
114Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Authoritarian3.343.303.103.103.103.163.353.193.073.073.253.383.363.253.253.713.82
74Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal Hybrid regime5.935.485.725.535.675.816.156.156.216.086.156.156.095.515.275.375.37
102Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone Hybrid regime4.324.325.034.974.864.864.664.664.554.554.564.644.714.514.514.113.57
43Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Flawed democracy7.167.057.057.057.057.247.247.247.417.567.827.907.797.797.797.917.91
86Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania Hybrid regime5.205.355.105.105.105.165.415.475.765.585.775.775.885.645.645.285.18
121Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo Authoritarian2.992.992.992.802.803.303.103.053.323.413.453.453.453.453.452.431.75
98Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda Hybrid regime4.494.494.554.484.945.025.205.095.265.225.225.225.165.135.055.035.14
77Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia Hybrid regime5.735.805.805.724.865.095.615.685.996.286.396.266.266.195.685.255.25
122Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Authoritarian2.983.042.922.923.163.163.163.163.053.052.782.672.672.682.642.532.62

Components

The following table shows the five parameters that made up the score of each nation in 2024 and the changes that had occurred since 2023. [8]

Year 2024
RankΔ RankCountryRegime typeOverall scoreΔ ScoreElec­toral pro­cess
and plura­lism
Func­tioning
of govern­ment
Poli­tical
partici­pation
Poli­tical
cul­ture
Civil
liber­ties
Full democracies
1Steady2.svgFlag of Norway.svg  Norway Full democracy9.81Steady2.svg10.009.6410.0010.009.41
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Full democracy9.61Steady2.svg10.009.2910.008.7510.00
3Increase2.svg 1Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Full democracy9.39Steady2.svg9.589.648.3310.009.41
4Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Full democracy9.38Decrease2.svg 0.0710.008.938.899.389.71
5Increase2.svg 3Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Full democracy9.32Increase2.svg 0.189.589.298.3310.009.41
6Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Full democracy9.30Steady2.svg10.009.647.789.389.71
7Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Full democracy9.28Steady2.svg10.009.298.339.389.41
8Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Full democracy9.19Steady2.svg10.008.218.3310.009.41
9Steady2.svgFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Full democracy9.00Steady2.svg9.588.938.338.759.41
10Increase2.svg 1Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Full democracy8.88Increase2.svg 0.0710.009.296.678.759.71
11Increase2.svg 3Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Full democracy8.85Increase2.svg 0.1910.008.577.228.759.71
12Decrease2.svg 2Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan Full democracy8.78Decrease2.svg 0.1410.008.577.788.139.41
13Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Full democracy8.73Decrease2.svg 0.079.588.218.338.139.41
14Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Full democracy8.69Steady2.svg10.008.218.897.508.82
15Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay Full democracy8.67Increase2.svg 0.0110.009.297.786.889.41
16Steady2.svgFlag of Japan.svg  Japan Full democracy8.48Increase2.svg 0.089.588.936.678.139.12
17Increase2.svg 1Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Full democracy8.34Increase2.svg 0.069.587.508.336.889.41
18Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica Full democracy8.29Steady2.svg9.587.507.786.889.71
19Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Full democracy8.28Steady2.svg9.587.508.896.888.53
20Steady2.svgFlag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius Full democracy8.23Increase2.svg 0.099.587.866.118.758.82
21Increase2.svg 6Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Full democracy8.13Increase2.svg 0.1710.008.576.676.888.53
22Increase2.svg 2Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Full democracy8.13Increase2.svg 0.069.587.507.227.508.82
23Increase2.svg 3Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Full democracy8.08Increase2.svg 0.119.586.437.787.509.12
24Increase2.svg 8Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Full democracy8.08Increase2.svg 0.339.587.146.118.758.82
25Decrease2.svg 5Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Full democracy8.07Decrease2.svg 0.0710.006.797.227.508.82
Flawed democracies
26Decrease2.svg 3Flag of France.svg  France Flawed democracy7.99Decrease2.svg 0.089.587.507.786.888.24
27Increase2.svg 1Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Flawed democracy7.93Steady2.svg9.177.146.678.138.53
28Increase2.svg 1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Flawed democracy7.85Steady2.svg9.176.438.896.258.53
29Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Chile.svg  Chile Flawed democracy7.83Decrease2.svg 0.159.587.866.675.639.41
30Increase2.svg 1Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Flawed democracy7.82Increase2.svg 0.079.587.507.226.258.53
31Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Flawed democracy7.80Steady2.svg9.587.509.446.885.59
32Decrease2.svg 10Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea Flawed democracy7.75Decrease2.svg 0.349.587.507.225.638.82
33Increase2.svg 4Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Flawed democracy7.66Increase2.svg 0.2810.007.146.676.258.24
34Increase2.svg 2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Flawed democracy7.64Steady2.svg9.588.215.006.888.53
35Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana Flawed democracy7.63Decrease2.svg 0.109.586.436.117.508.53
36Increase2.svg 3Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Flawed democracy7.59Increase2.svg 0.2810.007.146.675.638.53
37Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde Flawed democracy7.58Decrease2.svg 0.079.176.646.676.888.53
38Decrease2.svg 3Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Flawed democracy7.58Decrease2.svg 0.119.587.147.226.887.06
39Increase2.svg 2Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Flawed democracy7.40Increase2.svg 0.2210.006.436.676.257.65
40Decrease2.svg 3Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Flawed democracy7.38Steady2.svg9.175.366.676.888.82
41Steady2.svgFlag of India.svg  India Flawed democracy7.29Increase2.svg 0.118.677.507.226.886.18
42Increase2.svg 2Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Flawed democracy7.21Increase2.svg 0.1410.006.076.115.638.24
43Increase2.svg 4Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Flawed democracy7.16Increase2.svg 0.119.176.797.785.007.06
44Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg  Malaysia Flawed democracy7.11Decrease2.svg 0.189.587.146.676.255.88
45Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago Flawed democracy7.09Decrease2.svg 0.079.586.796.115.637.35
46Decrease2.svg 1Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste Flawed democracy7.03Decrease2.svg 0.039.586.075.566.887.06
47Increase2.svg 1Flag of Panama.svg  Panama Flawed democracy6.84Decrease2.svg 0.079.585.717.223.757.94
48Increase2.svg 1Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname Flawed democracy6.79Decrease2.svg 0.099.585.366.675.007.35
49Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Flawed democracy6.74Decrease2.svg 0.328.756.435.005.008.53
50Increase2.svg 2Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro Flawed democracy6.73Increase2.svg 0.068.757.146.673.757.35
51Increase2.svg 2Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Flawed democracy6.63Decrease2.svg 0.038.754.648.334.387.06
52Increase2.svg 9Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Flawed democracy6.62Increase2.svg 0.189.175.007.224.387.35
53Increase2.svg 6Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia Flawed democracy6.53Increase2.svg 0.058.755.716.675.635.88
54Steady2.svgFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina Flawed democracy6.51Decrease2.svg 0.119.175.006.113.758.53
55Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Flawed democracy6.51Decrease2.svg 0.218.755.714.446.886.76
56Increase2.svg 2Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Flawed democracy6.50Steady2.svg9.176.076.114.386.76
57Decrease2.svg 6Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil Flawed democracy6.49Decrease2.svg 0.199.585.006.115.006.76
58Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia Flawed democracy6.48Decrease2.svg 0.047.425.366.675.007.94
59Decrease2.svg 3Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia Flawed democracy6.44Decrease2.svg 0.097.926.797.225.005.29
60Decrease2.svg 5Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Flawed democracy6.35Decrease2.svg 0.209.175.716.113.137.65
61Increase2.svg 1Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Flawed democracy6.34Decrease2.svg 0.078.755.365.564.387.65
62Increase2.svg 10Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia Flawed democracy6.28Increase2.svg 0.258.756.076.113.137.35
63Steady2.svgFlag of Thailand.svg  Thailand Flawed democracy6.27Decrease2.svg 0.086.505.008.335.635.88
64Steady2.svgFlag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Flawed democracy6.26Decrease2.svg 0.077.835.716.673.757.35
65Steady2.svgFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Flawed democracy6.24Decrease2.svg 0.068.334.646.116.255.88
66Steady2.svgFlag of Albania.svg  Albania Flawed democracy6.20Decrease2.svg 0.087.005.715.006.257.06
67Increase2.svg 3Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka Flawed democracy6.19Increase2.svg 0.027.004.297.226.256.18
68Increase2.svg 1Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore Flawed democracy6.18Steady2.svg5.337.144.447.506.47
69Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana Flawed democracy6.11Decrease2.svg 0.156.926.076.115.006.47
70Increase2.svg 1Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho Flawed democracy6.06Steady2.svg9.173.795.565.636.18
71Decrease2.svg 3Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Flawed democracy6.04Decrease2.svg 0.196.505.367.224.386.76
Hybrid regimes
72Decrease2.svg 12Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Hybrid regime5.99Decrease2.svg 0.468.255.365.563.757.06
73Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Hybrid regime5.97Decrease2.svg 0.066.926.073.895.637.35
74Increase2.svg 9Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal Hybrid regime5.93Increase2.svg 0.457.425.364.446.256.18
75Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay Hybrid regime5.92Decrease2.svg 0.088.335.366.671.887.35
76Steady2.svgFlag of Malawi.svg  Malawi Hybrid regime5.85Steady2.svg7.004.295.566.256.18
77Increase2.svg 1Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia Hybrid regime5.73Decrease2.svg 0.077.923.295.006.885.59
78Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Peru.svg  Peru Hybrid regime5.69Decrease2.svg 0.128.755.715.002.506.47
79Increase2.svg 2Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan Hybrid regime5.65Increase2.svg 0.118.755.933.895.004.71
80Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Liberia 23px.svg  Liberia Hybrid regime5.57Steady2.svg7.832.716.115.635.59
81Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji Hybrid regime5.39Decrease2.svg 0.166.585.004.445.635.29
82Increase2.svg 2Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia Hybrid regime5.35Decrease2.svg 0.077.924.296.113.135.29
83Increase2.svg 4Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar Hybrid regime5.33Increase2.svg 0.076.583.936.115.634.41
84Increase2.svg 6Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Hybrid regime5.32Increase2.svg 0.186.925.007.221.885.59
85Steady2.svgFlag of Ecuador.svg  Ecuador Hybrid regime5.24Decrease2.svg 0.178.755.005.561.885.00
86Steady2.svgFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania Hybrid regime5.20Decrease2.svg 0.154.425.005.006.884.71
87Increase2.svg 1Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong Hybrid regime5.09Decrease2.svg 0.152.754.003.896.887.94
88Increase2.svg 6Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina Hybrid regime5.06Increase2.svg 0.067.003.645.003.755.88
89Increase2.svg 3Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Hybrid regime5.05Steady2.svg3.505.366.675.634.12
90Increase2.svg 5Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras Hybrid regime4.98Steady2.svg8.753.934.442.505.29
91Increase2.svg 2Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco Hybrid regime4.97Decrease2.svg 0.055.254.295.565.634.12
92Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine Hybrid regime4.90Decrease2.svg 0.165.172.717.225.004.41
93Decrease2.svg 11Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia Hybrid regime4.71Decrease2.svg 0.803.423.935.565.635.00
94Decrease2.svg 5Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Hybrid regime4.70Decrease2.svg 0.505.673.215.563.755.59
95Increase2.svg 1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador Hybrid regime4.61Decrease2.svg 0.106.173.215.563.135.00
96Increase2.svg 2Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal Hybrid regime4.60Steady2.svg4.835.365.002.505.29
97Increase2.svg 3Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala Hybrid regime4.55Increase2.svg 0.086.083.935.001.885.88
98Increase2.svg 1Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda Hybrid regime4.49Steady2.svg3.423.573.896.884.71
99Increase2.svg 1Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia Hybrid regime4.47Steady2.svg4.424.293.895.634.12
100Decrease2.svg 25Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh Hybrid regime4.44Decrease2.svg 1.436.082.575.005.003.53
101Decrease2.svg 3Flag of Benin.svg  Benin Hybrid regime4.44Decrease2.svg 0.241.755.364.446.254.41
102Increase2.svg 1Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone Hybrid regime4.32Steady2.svg4.832.863.895.005.00
103Increase2.svg 3Flag of Bolivia.svg  Bolivia Hybrid regime4.26Increase2.svg 0.064.333.935.561.885.59
104Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey Hybrid regime4.26Decrease2.svg 0.073.504.646.115.002.06
105Steady2.svgFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast Hybrid regime4.22Steady2.svg4.332.864.445.633.82
106Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Hybrid regime4.16Decrease2.svg 0.075.173.573.893.754.41
107Steady2.svgFlag of Angola.svg  Angola Hybrid regime4.05Decrease2.svg 0.134.502.865.565.002.35
Authoritarian regimes
108Steady2.svgFlag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania Authoritarian regime3.96Decrease2.svg 0.183.503.215.563.134.41
109Increase2.svg 3Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon Authoritarian regime3.56Steady2.svg3.080.796.673.134.12
110Steady2.svgFlag of Algeria.svg  Algeria Authoritarian regime3.55Decrease2.svg 0.113.082.503.335.003.82
111Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan Authoritarian regime3.52Decrease2.svg 0.183.421.863.893.135.29
112Increase2.svg 3Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine Authoritarian regime3.44Decrease2.svg 0.031.580.008.333.753.53
113Steady2.svgFlag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique Authoritarian regime3.38Decrease2.svg 0.131.671.435.565.003.24
114Increase2.svg 3Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda Authoritarian regime3.34Increase2.svg 0.041.424.293.335.002.65
115Increase2.svg 7Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan Authoritarian regime3.28Increase2.svg 0.243.082.864.442.503.53
116Steady2.svgFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Authoritarian regime3.24Decrease2.svg 0.130.422.866.115.631.18
117Decrease2.svg 6Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar Authoritarian regime3.17Decrease2.svg 0.480.003.932.785.633.53
118Increase2.svg 2Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan Authoritarian regime3.08Decrease2.svg 0.030.503.215.003.752.94
119Increase2.svg 6Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates Authoritarian regime3.07Increase2.svg 0.060.004.292.785.632.65
120Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Oman.svg  Oman Authoritarian regime3.05Decrease2.svg 0.070.083.572.785.003.82
121Increase2.svg 5Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo Authoritarian regime2.99Steady2.svg0.922.143.335.632.94
122Steady2.svgFlag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Authoritarian regime2.98Decrease2.svg 0.060.002.504.445.002.94
123Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia Authoritarian regime2.94Decrease2.svg 0.110.002.365.005.002.35
124Decrease2.svg 2Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros Authoritarian regime2.84Decrease2.svg 0.200.832.213.893.753.53
125Decrease2.svg 6Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Authoritarian regime2.84Decrease2.svg 0.410.834.292.782.503.82
126Increase2.svg 4Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan Authoritarian regime2.80Steady2.svg0.502.503.335.002.65
127Increase2.svg 2Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq Authoritarian regime2.80Decrease2.svg 0.084.830.006.111.881.18
128Increase2.svg 3Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo Authoritarian regime2.79Steady2.svg0.002.504.443.753.24
129Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt Authoritarian regime2.79Decrease2.svg 0.140.422.863.895.001.76
130Decrease2.svg 16Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait Authoritarian regime2.78Decrease2.svg 0.720.923.212.783.753.24
131Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti Authoritarian regime2.74Decrease2.svg 0.070.000.292.785.635.00
132Increase2.svg 2Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti Authoritarian regime2.70Steady2.svg0.001.643.895.632.35
133Increase2.svg 3Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam Authoritarian regime2.62Steady2.svg0.003.932.783.752.65
134Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini Authoritarian regime2.60Decrease2.svg 0.180.001.642.785.632.94
135Steady2.svgFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba Authoritarian regime2.58Decrease2.svg 0.070.002.863.333.752.94
136Increase2.svg 2Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Authoritarian regime2.56Steady2.svg0.332.143.894.382.06
137Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso Authoritarian regime2.55Decrease2.svg 0.180.002.143.333.753.53
138Increase2.svg 1Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain Authoritarian regime2.45Decrease2.svg 0.070.422.363.334.381.76
139Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Mali.svg  Mali Authoritarian regime2.40Decrease2.svg 0.180.000.005.004.382.65
140Increase2.svg 17Flag of Libya.svg  Libya Authoritarian regime2.31Increase2.svg 0.531.250.003.893.752.65
141Steady2.svgFlag of Niger.svg  Niger Authoritarian regime2.26Decrease2.svg 0.110.331.141.673.754.41
142Steady2.svgFlag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela Authoritarian regime2.25Decrease2.svg 0.060.001.075.003.132.06
143Increase2.svg 3Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon Authoritarian regime2.18Steady2.svg0.831.142.223.752.94
144Increase2.svg 3Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi Authoritarian regime2.13Steady2.svg0.000.003.895.001.76
145Increase2.svg 3Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Authoritarian regime2.11Decrease2.svg 0.010.003.213.333.130.88
146Increase2.svg 2Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan Authoritarian regime2.10Decrease2.svg 0.020.001.862.785.000.88
147Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Authoritarian regime2.09Decrease2.svg 0.170.002.142.783.751.76
148Steady2.svgFlag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia Authoritarian regime2.08Steady2.svg0.003.572.223.131.47
149Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea Authoritarian regime2.04Decrease2.svg 0.170.000.433.334.382.06
150Decrease2.svg 10Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau Authoritarian regime2.03Decrease2.svg 0.422.170.002.783.132.06
151Decrease2.svg 6Flag of Russia.svg  Russia Authoritarian regime2.03Decrease2.svg 0.190.002.142.223.752.06
152Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus Authoritarian regime1.99Steady2.svg0.000.793.334.381.47
153Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea Authoritarian regime1.97Steady2.svg0.002.140.566.880.29
154Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran Authoritarian regime1.96Steady2.svg0.002.503.332.501.47
155Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen Authoritarian regime1.95Steady2.svg0.000.003.895.000.88
156Increase2.svg 4Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  Democratic Republic of the Congo Authoritarian regime1.92Increase2.svg 0.242.080.432.783.131.18
157Steady2.svgFlag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea Authoritarian regime1.92Steady2.svg0.000.433.334.381.47
158Increase2.svg 3Flag of Chad.svg  Chad Authoritarian regime1.89Increase2.svg 0.220.000.003.333.752.35
159Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan Authoritarian regime1.83Decrease2.svg 0.110.002.211.674.380.88
160Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Laos.svg  Laos Authoritarian regime1.71Steady2.svg0.002.861.673.750.29
161Increase2.svg 1Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan Authoritarian regime1.66Steady2.svg0.000.792.225.000.29
162Decrease2.svg 4Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan Authoritarian regime1.46Decrease2.svg 0.300.000.001.115.630.59
163Steady2.svgFlag of the Syrian revolution.svg  Syria Authoritarian regime1.32Decrease2.svg 0.110.000.002.224.380.00
164Steady2.svgFlag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic Authoritarian regime1.18Steady2.svg0.000.001.671.882.35
165Steady2.svgFlag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Authoritarian regime1.08Steady2.svg0.002.501.671.250.00
166Steady2.svgFlag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar Authoritarian regime0.96Increase2.svg 0.110.000.001.673.130.00
167Steady2.svgFlag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan Authoritarian regime0.26Decrease2.svg 0.010.000.000.001.250.00


Unincluded countries

Below is a list of every UN member state that is currently not included in the Democracy Index. [9] [10]

Recent changes

In 2016, the United States was downgraded from a full democracy to a flawed democracy; [11] its score, which had been declining for some years, crossed the threshold from 8.05 in 2015 to 7.98 in 2016. The report stated that this was caused by myriad factors dating back to at least the late 1960s which have eroded Americans' trust in governmental institutions. [12] [13] Nigeria was also upgraded from an authoritarian regime to a hybrid regime.

The 2017 Democracy Index registered, at the time, the worst year for global democracy since 2010–11. Asia was the region with the largest decline since 2016. Venezuela was downgraded from a hybrid regime to an authoritarian regime. In China, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), further entrenched his power by writing his contribution to the CCP's ideology, dubbed Xi Jinping Thought, into the party's constitution. Moldova was downgraded from a flawed democracy to a hybrid regime as a result of problematic elections. By contrast, Armenia was re-upgraded from an authoritarian regime to a hybrid regime as a result of constitutional changes that shifted power from the presidency to parliament. [14] In 2017, the Gambia was upgraded again from an authoritarian regime to a hybrid regime after Yahya Jammeh, who was president from 1996 to 2017, was defeated by Adama Barrow, an opposition candidate in the 2016 presidential elections.

In 2019, France, Portugal and Chile were upgraded from flawed democracies to full democracies. In fact, this was not a new experience for the former two, which suffered from the eurozone crisis many years before. By contrast, Malta was downgraded from a full democracy to a flawed democracy. Thailand and Albania were upgraded from hybrid regimes to flawed democracies. [15] Algeria was upgraded again from an authoritarian regime to a hybrid regime.

In 2020, Taiwan was upgraded from flawed democracy to full democracy following judicial reforms, [16] and soared to 11th (8.94) position from its previous position at 33rd (7.73), surpassing Switzerland, which ranked 12th. Japan and South Korea were also upgraded again to full democracies, while France and Portugal were once again relegated to flawed democracies. Hong Kong was downgraded from a flawed democracy to a hybrid regime. Algeria was downgraded again from a hybrid regime to an authoritarian regime. The Economist Intelligence Unit noted that democracy "was dealt a major blow in 2020". [17] Almost 70% of countries covered by the Democracy Index recorded a decline in their overall score, as most of them imposed lockdowns and other restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to some arresting journalists and citizens accused of spreading COVID-19 misinformation. The global average score fell to its lowest level since the index began in 2006.

In 2021, both the global and regional average scores continued downward trends, with the exception of the Central and Eastern Europe region. Spain and Chile were downgraded from full democracies to flawed democracies, while Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, and Tunisia were downgraded from flawed democracies to hybrid regimes. Haiti, Lebanon, and Kyrgyzstan were downgraded from hybrid regimes to authoritarian regimes. In addition, Moldova, Montenegro, and North Macedonia were upgraded from hybrid regimes to flawed democracies, whereas Mauritania was upgraded from authoritarian to hybrid regime. For the first time, two countries displaced North Korea as the lowest-ranked states in the Democracy Index – in Myanmar, the elected government was overthrown in a military coup, and protests were suppressed by the junta, which ultimately resulted in its score going down by 2.02 points; Afghanistan, as a result of the 2021 Taliban offensive and subsequent takeover of government, registered the lowest score of any state ever recorded on the Democracy Index at 0.32.

In 2022, the global average score stagnated, with the lifting of COVID-related restrictions being largely canceled out by other negative developments globally.

In 2023, the global average score deteriorated further, with most declines occurring in authoritarian and hybrid regimes, with the former becoming more entrenched and the latter struggling to democratize. The threshold for each color has also been changed from greater than the integer to greater than or equal to. [18]

In 2024, the global average once again trended downwards, largely due to continued and expanded crackdowns in dissent in authoritarian regimes. The average score for democracies remained the same, despite 2024 being a major election year. One of the most notable declines was South Korea's decline from a full democracy to a flawed democracy, which was majorly a result of President Yoon-Suk Yeol's Declaration of Martial Law in December 2024.

Criticism

Investment analyst Peter Tasker has criticised the Democracy Index for lacking transparency and accountability beyond the numbers. To generate the index, the Economist Intelligence Unit has a scoring system in which various experts are asked to answer 60 questions and assign each reply a number, with the weighted average deciding the ranking. However, the final report does not indicate what kinds of experts, nor their number, nor whether the experts are employees of the Economist Intelligence Unit or independent scholars, nor the nationalities of the experts. [19]

See also

Notes

  1. (2006–2021)
      9.01–10.00
      8.01–9.00
  2. (2006–2021)
      7.01–8.00
      6.01–7.00
  3. (2006–2021)
      5.01–6.00
      4.01–5.00
  4. (2006–2021)
      3.01–4.00
      2.01–3.00
      1.01–2.00
      0.00–1.00

References

  1. Geissel, Brigitte; Kneuer, Marianne; Lauth, Hans-Joachim (2016). "Measuring the quality of democracy: Introduction". International Political Science Review. 37 (5). Sage Publications: 571–579. doi:10.1177/0192512116669141. ISSN   0192-5121. JSTOR   26556872. S2CID   151808737 . Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  2. Democracy Index 2023 - Age of conflict. The Economist Intelligence Unit. 15 February 2024. pp. 65–77. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  3. "Democracy Index 2010: Democracy in retreat" (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit. 6 December 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  4. "Democracy Index 2006" (PDF). The World in 2007. 15 November 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  5. Manaev, Oleg; Manayeva, Natalie; Dzmitry, Yuran (1 December 2011). "More State than Nation: Lukashenko's Belarus". Journal of International Affairs. 65 (1): 93–113. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Democracy Index 2015: Democracy in an age of anxiety" (PDF). The Economist Intelligence Unit. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  7. "Democracy Index 2024" . EIU.com . Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  8. "Democracy Index 2024 - What's wrong with representative democracy?" (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit . 2025.
  9. "Democracy Index 2023: Age of conflict" (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit . 2024. p. 3.
  10. "Member States". UN. United Nations. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  11. Karlis, Nicole (31 January 2018). "New report classifies US as a "flawed democracy" - Partisanship and Trump were to blame for the US's dismal ranking in the Economist's annual Democracy Index report". Salon . Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  12. Eshe Nelson (25 January 2017). "The US has been downgraded to a "flawed democracy," but not just because of Trump". Quartz. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  13. "Declining trust in government is denting democracy". The Economist . 25 January 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  14. "Democracy Index 2017: Free speech under attack" . eiu.com. The Economist Intelligence Unit. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  15. "Democracy Index 2019 A year of democratic setbacks and popular protest" . EIU.com . Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  16. "Taiwan most democratic country in East Asia: The Economist". 3 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  17. "Democracy Index 2020: In sickness and in health?" . EIU.com . Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  18. "The Economist Group - EIU's 2023 Democracy Index: Conflict and polarisation drive a new low for global democracy".
  19. Tasker, Peter (25 February 2016). "Peter Tasker: The flawed 'science' behind democracy rankings". Nikkei Asia . Archived from the original on 2019-02-23. Retrieved 2019-02-22.