Democracy has regressed in major countries around the world

Democracy is declining in more countries than it is advancing./ Photo: dpa

(SAP News - Teeravoot Sion) The ranking of “Global State of Democracy 2025”, published by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), said a new world order in the democratic countries around the world has consistently fallen last year 2024, analysed democratic performance in 173 countries.

The report said, 94 countries - just over the half of those surveyed -showed the criteria of democratic performance decline at least one score between 2019 to 2024, just one third of all surveyed countries made progress.

The Secretary General of IDEA Kevin Casas-Zamora said “the current state of democracy in the world is concerning.”

The report said the decline of some ranking compared with 2019, had many considered factors such as the holding of credible elections, access to justice and having an effective parliament.  

Africa accounted for the largest share of the global decline with 33%, followed by Europe with 25%, of which the lowest democratic ranking belongs to the West Africa region.

Europe remains the highest democratic rank

A woman strikes a police officer with a bamboo stick on Aug 28 as police push students back during a protest outside the parliament building against lawmakers' demands for higher allowances in Jakarta./ Photo: AFP

The report notes that Botswana and South Africa are a good sample of consistent progression, because of the credible election and preserving the ranking in 2024.

Denmark still holds the top of all rankings, which is the highest of liberal democracy, categorising explored in the study: Representation, rule of law, participant and rights.

These rankings are dominated by European nations such as Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Luxembourg, with Costa Rica, Chile, and Australia also scrolling well.

Does democracy in the US sink?

Former President Donald Trump speaks during his penultimate campaign rally the day before the 2024 election in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Nov. 4./ Photo: AFP via Getty Images

The report only released data from before US President Donald Trump took office in January.

This stresses that IDEA has documented instances in which the Trump administration has “eroded and abolished institutions and social norms which support the US democracy, causing the US’ ranking to fall from 32th to 35th.

Casas-Zamoro said some of the things that we saw during the elections since the end of last year and early of 2025 is concerning because things happening in the US have the potential to be global, but it does not bode well for global democracy.”

SOURCE: DW News

Copywriter: Siam Associated Press (SAP) Editorial Department
Pictures: Some illustrations come from the Internet. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete it.
Source of material: official media /online news