How Democratic Are Countries Around the World?
Key Takeaways:
- Authoritarian regimes outnumber full democracies by more than two to one, with 61 versus 26 countries.
- Norway ranks as the world’s most democratic country, while Canada climbed into the global top 10.
- The U.S. fell six places to 34th globally, reaching its lowest Democracy Index score on record.
After eight consecutive years of decline, global democracy scores edged upward in 2025, but the modest improvement masks significant changes across individual countries.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index evaluates 167 countries and territories based on elections, government functioning, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties. The latest results reveal where democratic institutions are strengthening and where they remain under pressure.
Which Countries Are the Most Democratic?
The following table ranks countries by their 2025 Democracy Index scores, according to the EIU.
| Rank | Country | Score (2025) | EIU category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 9.81 | Full democracy |
| 2 | New Zealand | 9.62 | Full democracy |
| 3 | Denmark | 9.42 | Full democracy |
| 4 | Iceland | 9.38 | Full democracy |
| 5 | Finland | 9.37 | Full democracy |
| 6 | Sweden | 9.35 | Full democracy |
| 7 | Ireland | 9.33 | Full democracy |
| 8 | Switzerland | 9.32 | Full democracy |
| 9 | Canada | 9.08 | Full democracy |
| 10 | Luxembourg | 9.08 | Full democracy |
| 11 | Netherlands | 8.93 | Full democracy |
| 12 | Uruguay | 8.92 | Full democracy |
| 13 | Australia | 8.85 | Full democracy |
| 14 | Japan | 8.85 | Full democracy |
| 15 | Taiwan | 8.78 | Full democracy |
| 16 | Germany | 8.73 | Full democracy |
| 17 | Austria | 8.42 | Full democracy |
| 18 | United Kingdom | 8.34 | Full democracy |
| 19 | Costa Rica | 8.29 | Full democracy |
| 20 | Portugal | 8.28 | Full democracy |
| 21 | Mauritius | 8.23 | Full democracy |
| 22 | Spain | 8.20 | Full democracy |
| 23 | Czechia | 8.15 | Full democracy |
| 24 | Estonia | 8.07 | Full democracy |
| 25 | Greece | 8.07 | Full democracy |
| 26 | France | 8.05 | Full democracy |
| 27 | Chile | 7.97 | Flawed democracy |
| 28 | Malta | 7.93 | Flawed democracy |
| 29 | Slovenia | 7.82 | Flawed democracy |
| 30 | Israel | 7.80 | Flawed democracy |
| 31 | Belgium | 7.77 | Flawed democracy |
| 32 | South Korea | 7.75 | Flawed democracy |
| 33 | Latvia | 7.73 | Flawed democracy |
| 34 | Poland | 7.65 | Flawed democracy |
| 35 | United States | 7.65 | Flawed democracy |
| 36 | Botswana | 7.63 | Flawed democracy |
| 37 | Cape Verde | 7.58 | Flawed democracy |
| 38 | Italy | 7.58 | Flawed democracy |
| 39 | Lithuania | 7.55 | Flawed democracy |
| 40 | Cyprus | 7.45 | Flawed democracy |
| 41 | South Africa | 7.16 | Flawed democracy |
| 42 | Malaysia | 7.11 | Flawed democracy |
| 43 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7.09 | Flawed democracy |
| 44 | Panama | 7.04 | Flawed democracy |
| 45 | Suriname | 7.03 | Flawed democracy |
| 46 | Timor-Leste | 6.97 | Flawed democracy |
| 47 | India | 6.96 | Flawed democracy |
| 48 | Slovakia | 6.94 | Flawed democracy |
| 49 | Argentina | 6.89 | Flawed democracy |
| 50 | Brazil | 6.76 | Flawed democracy |
| 51 | Dominican Republic | 6.75 | Flawed democracy |
| 52 | Jamaica | 6.74 | Flawed democracy |
| 53 | Montenegro | 6.73 | Flawed democracy |
| 54 | Thailand | 6.59 | Flawed democracy |
| 55 | Hungary | 6.58 | Flawed democracy |
| 56 | Sri Lanka | 6.57 | Flawed democracy |
| 57 | Croatia | 6.50 | Flawed democracy |
| 58 | Mongolia | 6.50 | Flawed democracy |
| 59 | Namibia | 6.48 | Flawed democracy |
| 60 | Indonesia | 6.37 | Flawed democracy |
| 61 | Bulgaria | 6.34 | Flawed democracy |
| 62 | Philippines | 6.31 | Flawed democracy |
| 63 | Serbia | 6.30 | Flawed democracy |
| 64 | North Macedonia | 6.28 | Flawed democracy |
| 65 | Ghana | 6.24 | Flawed democracy |
| 66 | Lesotho | 6.23 | Flawed democracy |
| 67 | Albania | 6.20 | Flawed democracy |
| 68 | Singapore | 6.18 | Flawed democracy |
| 69 | Romania | 6.11 | Flawed democracy |
| 70 | Malawi | 6.10 | Flawed democracy |
| 71 | Guyana | 6.09 | Flawed democracy |
| 72 | Senegal | 6.05 | Flawed democracy |
| 73 | Colombia | 6.04 | Flawed democracy |
| 74 | Paraguay | 6.04 | Flawed democracy |
| 75 | Papua New Guinea | 5.90 | Hybrid regime |
| 76 | Peru | 5.88 | Hybrid regime |
| 77 | Moldova | 5.86 | Hybrid regime |
| 78 | Zambia | 5.82 | Hybrid regime |
| 79 | Bhutan | 5.65 | Hybrid regime |
| 80 | Liberia | 5.57 | Hybrid regime |
| 81 | Mexico | 5.40 | Hybrid regime |
| 82 | Fiji | 5.39 | Hybrid regime |
| 83 | Bolivia | 5.38 | Hybrid regime |
| 84 | Armenia | 5.35 | Hybrid regime |
| 85 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5.23 | Hybrid regime |
| 86 | Ecuador | 5.20 | Hybrid regime |
| 87 | Tanzania | 5.13 | Hybrid regime |
| 88 | Madagascar | 5.06 | Hybrid regime |
| 89 | Kenya | 5.05 | Hybrid regime |
| 90 | Hong Kong | 5.03 | Hybrid regime |
| 91 | Morocco | 4.97 | Hybrid regime |
| 92 | Honduras | 4.87 | Hybrid regime |
| 93 | Ukraine | 4.79 | Hybrid regime |
| 94 | Guatemala | 4.65 | Hybrid regime |
| 95 | Tunisia | 4.65 | Hybrid regime |
| 96 | El Salvador | 4.57 | Hybrid regime |
| 97 | Gambia | 4.47 | Hybrid regime |
| 98 | Sierra Leone | 4.44 | Hybrid regime |
| 99 | Georgia | 4.36 | Hybrid regime |
| 100 | Uganda | 4.31 | Hybrid regime |
| 101 | Bangladesh | 4.27 | Hybrid regime |
| 102 | Benin | 4.26 | Hybrid regime |
| 103 | Turkey | 4.26 | Hybrid regime |
| 104 | Ivory Coast | 4.24 | Hybrid regime |
| 105 | Nigeria | 4.10 | Hybrid regime |
| 106 | Nepal | 4.01 | Hybrid regime |
| 107 | Angola | 3.94 | Authoritarian |
| 108 | Mauritania | 3.84 | Authoritarian |
| 109 | Lebanon | 3.81 | Authoritarian |
| 110 | Algeria | 3.55 | Authoritarian |
| 111 | Gabon | 3.49 | Authoritarian |
| 112 | Palestine | 3.44 | Authoritarian |
| 113 | Mozambique | 3.38 | Authoritarian |
| 114 | Rwanda | 3.34 | Authoritarian |
| 115 | Jordan | 3.28 | Authoritarian |
| 116 | Kyrgyzstan | 3.27 | Authoritarian |
| 117 | United Arab Emirates | 3.18 | Authoritarian |
| 118 | Qatar | 3.17 | Authoritarian |
| 119 | Ethiopia | 3.13 | Authoritarian |
| 120 | Iraq | 3.13 | Authoritarian |
| 121 | Oman | 3.05 | Authoritarian |
| 122 | Zimbabwe | 2.98 | Authoritarian |
| 123 | Kazakhstan | 2.91 | Authoritarian |
| 124 | Togo | 2.88 | Authoritarian |
| 125 | Comoros | 2.81 | Authoritarian |
| 126 | Haiti | 2.81 | Authoritarian |
| 127 | Azerbaijan | 2.80 | Authoritarian |
| 128 | Egypt | 2.79 | Authoritarian |
| 129 | Republic of the Congo | 2.79 | Authoritarian |
| 130 | Kuwait | 2.78 | Authoritarian |
| 131 | Cambodia | 2.70 | Authoritarian |
| 132 | Djibouti | 2.70 | Authoritarian |
| 133 | Vietnam | 2.62 | Authoritarian |
| 134 | Eswatini | 2.60 | Authoritarian |
| 135 | Cuba | 2.58 | Authoritarian |
| 136 | Cameroon | 2.56 | Authoritarian |
| 137 | Burkina Faso | 2.55 | Authoritarian |
| 138 | Bahrain | 2.45 | Authoritarian |
| 139 | Pakistan | 2.44 | Authoritarian |
| 140 | Mali | 2.40 | Authoritarian |
| 141 | Libya | 2.31 | Authoritarian |
| 142 | China | 2.24 | Authoritarian |
| 143 | Guinea | 2.15 | Authoritarian |
| 144 | Burundi | 2.13 | Authoritarian |
| 145 | Venezuela | 2.13 | Authoritarian |
| 146 | Uzbekistan | 2.10 | Authoritarian |
| 147 | Saudi Arabia | 2.08 | Authoritarian |
| 148 | Russia | 2.03 | Authoritarian |
| 149 | Belarus | 1.99 | Authoritarian |
| 150 | Eritrea | 1.97 | Authoritarian |
| 151 | Nicaragua | 1.97 | Authoritarian |
| 152 | Iran | 1.96 | Authoritarian |
| 153 | Niger | 1.95 | Authoritarian |
| 154 | Yemen | 1.95 | Authoritarian |
| 155 | Tajikistan | 1.94 | Authoritarian |
| 156 | DR Congo | 1.92 | Authoritarian |
| 157 | Equatorial Guinea | 1.92 | Authoritarian |
| 158 | Chad | 1.76 | Authoritarian |
| 159 | Laos | 1.71 | Authoritarian |
| 160 | Turkmenistan | 1.54 | Authoritarian |
| 161 | Sudan | 1.46 | Authoritarian |
| 162 | Guinea-Bissau | 1.37 | Authoritarian |
| 163 | Syria | 1.37 | Authoritarian |
| 164 | Central African Republic | 1.18 | Authoritarian |
| 165 | North Korea | 1.08 | Authoritarian |
| 166 | Myanmar | 0.96 | Authoritarian |
| 167 | Afghanistan | 0.25 | Authoritarian |
Nordic countries dominate the top of the rankings, with Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland all placing among the world’s six highest-scoring democracies. New Zealand ranks second globally, while Canada and Luxembourg round out the top 10.
At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan scores just 0.25 out of 10. Overall, only 15.6% of countries and territories qualify as full democracies, compared with 36.5% classified as authoritarian.
The global average edged upward from 5.17 to 5.19. However, Freedom House recorded its 20th consecutive year of declining global freedom, highlighting continued threats to civil liberties.
Which Countries Experienced the Biggest Democratic Declines?
The table below shows the 10 largest score decreases between 2024 and 2025.
| Rank | Country | Score 2024 | Score 2025 | Change (index points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guinea-Bissau | 2.03 | 1.37 | -0.66 |
| 2 | Nepal | 4.60 | 4.01 | -0.59 |
| 3 | Pakistan | 2.84 | 2.44 | -0.40 |
| 4 | Georgia | 4.70 | 4.36 | -0.34 |
| 5 | India | 7.29 | 6.96 | -0.33 |
| 6 | Philippines | 6.63 | 6.31 | -0.32 |
| 7 | Colombia | 6.35 | 6.04 | -0.31 |
| 8 | Niger | 2.26 | 1.95 | -0.31 |
| 9 | Madagascar | 5.33 | 5.06 | -0.27 |
| 10 | Slovakia | 7.21 | 6.94 | -0.27 |
Guinea-Bissau recorded the steepest decline (-0.66), followed by Nepal (-0.59) and Pakistan (-0.40). India also fell by 0.33 points, bringing its score below 7.0, while the Philippines and Colombia registered notable declines.
Guinea-Bissau’s sharp deterioration followed a November 2025 military coup that disrupted elections and undermined civilian rule. Nepal’s political upheaval and Pakistan’s continuing military influence also exposed institutional weaknesses, while restrictions on political opposition and civil liberties contributed to broader democratic backsliding.
Where Did Democracy Improve the Most?
The following table highlights the 10 largest improvements recorded by the EIU.
| Rank | Country | Score 2024 | Score 2025 | Change (index points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabon | 2.18 | 3.49 | +1.31 |
| 2 | Bolivia | 4.26 | 5.38 | +1.12 |
| 3 | Canada | 8.69 | 9.08 | +0.39 |
| 4 | Argentina | 6.51 | 6.89 | +0.38 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 6.19 | 6.57 | +0.38 |
| 6 | Japan | 8.48 | 8.85 | +0.37 |
| 7 | Iraq | 2.80 | 3.13 | +0.33 |
| 8 | Thailand | 6.27 | 6.59 | +0.32 |
| 9 | Brazil | 6.49 | 6.76 | +0.27 |
| 10 | Lebanon | 3.56 | 3.81 | +0.25 |
Gabon recorded the largest gain (+1.31), followed by Bolivia (+1.12). Canada also improved by 0.39 points, climbing into the global top 10. Nevertheless, Gabon remains classified as authoritarian despite its substantial improvement.
Gabon’s gains followed its April 2025 presidential election, which marked a transition away from direct military rule, although significant democratic constraints remain. Bolivia’s improvement reflected competitive elections and a peaceful transfer of power, demonstrating how political transitions can strengthen democratic institutions even after prolonged instability.
Why Is American Democracy Declining?
The United States dropped six places to 34th globally, with its Democracy Index score falling from 7.85 to 7.65, its lowest level since the index began in 2006, according to Pew Research Center.
The decline puts the U.S. well behind neighboring Canada, which scored 9.08. The two countries now sit in different categories: Canada is classified as a full democracy, while the U.S. remains a flawed democracy.
The deterioration reflects concerns about executive power, weakened institutional checks, and civil liberties. The V-Dem Institute also identifies significant democratic backsliding in America, raising questions about Washington’s ability to champion democratic institutions internationally.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
For another perspective on democratic institutions, explore Satisfaction with Democracy Declined in High-Income Nations on Voronoi.