Democracy worldwide has weakened, with most countries showing declines in key democratic measures and press freedom experiencing its most significant fall in half a century, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
The Global State of Democracy 2025 report highlights a worrying trend: 54 percent of countries fell in at least one major democratic indicator in 2024 compared to five years earlier. Categories including Rights, Rule of Law, and Representation—which cover press freedom, judicial independence, and credible elections—all suffered broad declines.
International support for democracy has also waned, with reductions in foreign aid, including from the United States, further challenging efforts to strengthen democratic institutions.
Key global findings
Last year marked the global elections super-cycle, with 1.6 billion people casting votes. Despite this, the Credible Elections indicator fell to its lowest point in three decades, affecting a fifth of all countries surveyed.
From 2019 to 2024, 94 countries—representing more than half of those assessed—experienced declines in at least one aspect of democracy. Freedom of the Press saw a decline in 25 percent of 173 countries, the largest drop recorded since 1975. Credible Elections and Effective Parliament also fell broadly, impacting 35 and 32 countries respectively.
Rule of Law remains the weakest-performing category, with 41 percent of countries in the low-performance band, and 32 countries showing further deterioration over five years.
Meanwhile, about one in five countries reported declines in Freedom of Expression, Economic Equality, and Access to Justice, with Africa and Europe accounting for the largest share.
Despite these setbacks, some positive developments were noted. Botswana and South Africa made gains in credible elections, Jordan improved parliamentary fairness, and Chile enhanced freedom of expression. Brazil and Poland also recorded improvements across several democratic measures.
Democracy and the global diaspora
With 304 million people living outside their country of birth, International IDEA emphasizes the importance of out-of-country voting. While turnout among diaspora voters averaged 55 percent in 2024, this form of participation can strengthen democracy both at home and abroad.
Most diaspora voters remain on their home continent, with nearly 60 percent of African migrants settling within Africa. Countries like Ukraine illustrate how diaspora participation may be crucial for election legitimacy.
Regional trends
Africa saw declines in over a third of countries, especially in West Africa, though Botswana and South Africa advanced. West Asia remains largely non-democratic, but Jordan improved parliamentary representation.
Europe faced declines in civil liberties and credible elections, particularly in Eastern Europe, including Belarus, Georgia, and Russia. Press freedom fell sharply in Italy and Slovakia, yet Europe remains the highest-performing region overall.
In the Americas, more countries declined than improved, notably in Representation and press freedom, including El Salvador, Haiti, and Nicaragua. Asia and the Pacific experienced mostly small declines or stability, with Credible Elections and Access to Justice seeing the largest drops, though Fiji recorded notable improvements.
Conclusion
The report underscores a global “perfect storm” for democracy, with autocratic resurgence, social change, and declining press freedom. Strengthening democratic institutions, protecting rights, and supporting diaspora engagement are critical for resilience in the years ahead.
