The Economist Democracy Index

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The Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index map for 2020

The Democracy Index is an index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research division of the Economist Group, a UK-based private company which publishes the weekly newspaper The Economist. The index is self-described as intending to measure the state of democracy in 167 countries, of which 166 are sovereign states and 164 are UN member states.

The index is based on 60 indicators grouped in five different categories, measuring pluralism, civil liberties and political culture. In addition to a numeric score and a ranking, the index categorises each country into one of four regime types: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes.

The Economist has published reports with updated versions of the Democracy Index for 2006,[1] 2008,[2] 2010,[3] 2011,[4] 2012,[5] 2013,[6] 2014,[7] 2015,[8] 2016,[9] 2017,[10] 2018,[11] 2019,[12] and 2020.[13]

Methodology

As described in the report,[5] the democracy index is a weighted average based on the answers of 60 questions, 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.

The questions are grouped into five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. 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][1]

The report is widely cited in the international press as well as in peer reviewed academic journals.[14]

Definitions

Full democracies are nations where civil liberties and fundamental political freedoms are not only respected but also reinforced by a political culture conducive to the thriving of democratic principles. These nations have a valid system of governmental checks and balances, an independent judiciary whose decisions are enforced, governments that function adequately, and diverse and independent media. These nations have only limited problems in democratic functioning.[8]

Flawed democracies are nations where elections are fair and free and basic civil liberties are honoured but may have issues (e.g. media freedom infringement and minor suppression of political opposition and critics). These nations have significant faults in other democratic aspects, including underdeveloped political culture, low levels of participation in politics, and issues in the functioning of governance.[8]

Hybrid regimes are nations with regular electoral frauds, preventing them from being fair and free democracies. These nations commonly have governments that apply pressure on political opposition, non-independent judiciaries, widespread corruption, harassment and pressure placed on the media, anaemic rule of law, and more pronounced faults than flawed democracies in the realms of underdeveloped political culture, low levels of participation in politics, and issues in the functioning of governance.[8]

Authoritarian regimes are nations where political pluralism is nonexistent or severely limited. These nations are often absolute monarchies or dictatorships, may have some conventional institutions of democracy but with meagre significance, infringements and abuses of civil liberties are commonplace, elections (if they take place) are not fair and free, the media is often state-owned or controlled by groups associated with the ruling regime, the judiciary is not independent, and censorship and suppression of governmental criticism are commonplace.[8]

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 2020[13]
Type of regime Colors Score Countries Countries (%) World population (%)
Full democracies 8.01–10 23 13.8% 8.4%
Flawed democracies 6.01–8 52 31.1% 41.0%
Hybrid regimes 4.01–6 35 21.0% 15.0%
Authoritarian regimes 0–4 57 34.1% 35.6%

By region

The following table lists the average score for each geographic area.

Rank Region Coun­tries 2006 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
1 North America 2 8.64 8.64 8.63 8.59 8.59 8.59 8.59 8.56 8.56 8.56 8.56 8.59 8.58
2 Western Europe 21 8.60 8.61 8.45 8.40 8.44 8.41 8.41 8.42 8.40 8.38 8.35 8.35 8.29
3 Latin America and the Caribbean 24 6.37 6.43 6.37 6.35 6.36 6.38 6.36 6.37 6.33 6.26 6.24 6.13 6.09
4 Asia and Australasia 28 5.44 5.58 5.53 5.51 5.56 5.61 5.70 5.74 5.74 5.63 5.67 5.67 5.62
5 Central and Eastern Europe 28 5.76 5.67 5.55 5.50 5.51 5.53 5.58 5.55 5.43 5.40 5.42 5.42 5.36
6 Sub-Saharan Africa 44 4.24 4.28 4.23 4.32 4.33 4.36 4.34 4.38 4.37 4.35 4.36 4.26 4.16
7 Middle East and North Africa 20 3.54 3.48 3.52 3.62 3.73 3.68 3.65 3.58 3.56 3.54 3.54 3.53 3.44
  World 167 5.52 5.55 5.46 5.49 5.52 5.53 5.55 5.55 5.52 5.48 5.48 5.44 5.37

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

Year 2020
Rank Region Countries Authoritarian Hybrid regime Flawed democracy Full democracy Average score
1 North America 2 0 0 1 1 8.58
2 Western Europe 21 0 1 7 13 8.29
3 Latin America and the Caribbean 24 3 5 13 3 6.09
4 Asia and Australasia 28 7 6 10 5 5.62
5 Central and Eastern Europe 28 7 8 13 0 5.36
6 Sub-Saharan Africa 44 24 13 6 1 4.16
7 Middle East and North Africa 20 16 2 2 0 3.44
World 167 57 35 52 23 5.37

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).

Region 2020 Rank Country Regime type 2006 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
North America 5  Canada Full democracy 9.07 9.07 9.08 9.08 9.08 9.08 9.08 9.08 9.15 9.15 9.15 9.22 9.24
25  United States Flawed democracy 8.22 8.22 8.18 8.11 8.11 8.11 8.11 8.05 7.98 7.98 7.96 7.96 7.92
Western Europe 18  Austria Full democracy 8.69 8.49 8.49 8.49 8.62 8.48 8.54 8.54 8.41 8.42 8.29 8.29 8.16
36  Belgium Flawed democracy 8.15 8.16 8.05 8.05 8.05 8.05 7.93 7.93 7.77 7.78 7.78 7.64 7.51
34  Cyprus Flawed democracy 7.60 7.70 7.29 7.29 7.29 7.29 7.40 7.53 7.65 7.59 7.59 7.59 7.56
7  Denmark Full democracy 9.52 9.52 9.52 9.52 9.52 9.38 9.11 9.11 9.20 9.22 9.22 9.22 9.15
6  Finland Full democracy 9.25 9.25 9.19 9.06 9.06 9.03 9.03 9.03 9.03 9.03 9.14 9.25 9.20
24  France Flawed democracy 8.07 8.07 7.77 7.77 7.88 7.92 8.04 7.92 7.92 7.80 7.80 8.12 7.99
14  Germany Full democracy 8.82 8.82 8.38 8.34 8.34 8.31 8.64 8.64 8.63 8.61 8.68 8.68 8.67
37  Greece Flawed democracy 8.13 8.13 7.92 7.65 7.65 7.65 7.45 7.45 7.23 7.29 7.29 7.43 7.39
2  Iceland Full democracy 9.71 9.65 9.65 9.65 9.65 9.65 9.58 9.58 9.50 9.58 9.58 9.58 9.37
8  Ireland Full democracy 9.01 9.01 8.79 8.56 8.56 8.68 8.72 8.85 9.15 9.15 9.15 9.24 9.05
29  Italy Flawed democracy 7.73 7.98 7.83 7.74 7.74 7.85 7.85 7.98 7.98 7.98 7.71 7.52 7.74
13  Luxembourg Full democracy 9.10 9.10 8.88 8.88 8.88 8.88 8.88 8.88 8.81 8.81 8.81 8.81 8.68
30  Malta Flawed democracy 8.39 8.39 8.28 8.28 8.28 8.28 8.39 8.39 8.39 8.15 8.21 7.95 7.68
9  Netherlands Full democracy 9.66 9.53 8.99 8.99 8.99 8.84 8.92 8.92 8.80 8.89 8.89 9.01 8.96
1  Norway Full democracy 9.55 9.68 9.80 9.80 9.93 9.93 9.93 9.93 9.93 9.87 9.87 9.87 9.81
26  Portugal Flawed democracy 8.16 8.05 8.02 7.81 7.92 7.65 7.79 7.79 7.86 7.84 7.84 8.03 7.90
22  Spain Full democracy 8.34 8.45 8.16 8.02 8.02 8.02 8.05 8.30 8.30 8.08 8.08 8.29 8.12
3  Sweden Full democracy 9.88 9.88 9.50 9.50 9.73 9.73 9.73 9.45 9.39 9.39 9.39 9.39 9.26
12  Switzerland Full democracy 9.02 9.15 9.09 9.09 9.09 9.09 9.09 9.09 9.09 9.03 9.03 9.03 8.83
104  Turkey Hybrid regime 5.70 5.69 5.73 5.73 5.76 5.63 5.12 5.12 5.04 4.88 4.37 4.09 4.48
16  United Kingdom Full democracy 8.08 8.15 8.16 8.16 8.21 8.31 8.31 8.31 8.36 8.53 8.53 8.52 8.54
Central and Eastern Europe 71  Albania Flawed democracy 5.91 5.91 5.86 5.81 5.67 5.67 5.67 5.91 5.91 5.98 5.98 5.89 6.08
89  Armenia Hybrid regime 4.15 4.09 4.09 4.09 4.09 4.02 4.13 4.00 3.88 4.11 4.79 5.54 5.35
146  Azerbaijan Authoritarian 3.31 3.19 3.15 3.15 3.15 3.06 2.83 2.71 2.65 2.65 2.65 2.75 2.68
148  Belarus Authoritarian 3.34 3.34 3.34 3.16 3.04 3.04 3.69 3.62 3.54 3.13 3.13 2.48 2.59
101  Bosnia and Herzegovina Hybrid regime 5.78 5.70 5.32 5.24 5.11 5.02 4.78 4.83 4.87 4.87 4.98 4.86 4.84
52  Bulgaria Flawed democracy 7.10 7.02 6.84 6.78 6.72 6.83 6.73 7.14 7.01 7.03 7.03 7.03 6.71
59  Croatia Flawed democracy 7.04 7.04 6.81 6.73 6.93 6.93 6.93 6.93 6.75 6.63 6.57 6.57 6.50
31  Czech Republic Flawed democracy 8.17 8.19 8.19 8.19 8.19 8.06 7.94 7.94 7.82 7.62 7.69 7.69 7.67
27  Estonia Flawed democracy 7.74 7.68 7.68 7.61 7.61 7.61 7.74 7.85 7.85 7.79 7.97 7.90 7.84
91  Georgia Hybrid regime 4.90 4.62 4.59 4.74 5.53 5.95 5.82 5.88 5.93 5.93 5.50 5.42 5.31
55  Hungary Flawed democracy 7.53 7.44 7.21 7.04 6.96 6.96 6.90 6.84 6.72 6.64 6.63 6.63 6.56
128  Kazakhstan Authoritarian 3.62 3.45 3.30 3.24 2.95 3.06 3.17 3.06 3.06 3.06 2.94 2.94 3.14
107  Kyrgyzstan Hybrid regime 4.08 4.05 4.31 4.34 4.69 4.69 5.24 5.33 4.93 5.11 5.11 4.89 4.21
38  Latvia Flawed democracy 7.37 7.23 7.05 7.05 7.05 7.05 7.48 7.37 7.31 7.25 7.38 7.49 7.24
42  Lithuania Flawed democracy 7.43 7.36 7.24 7.24 7.24 7.54 7.54 7.54 7.47 7.41 7.50 7.50 7.13
80  Moldova Hybrid regime 6.50 6.50 6.33 6.32 6.32 6.32 6.32 6.35 6.01 5.94 5.85 5.75 5.78
81  Montenegro Hybrid regime 6.57 6.43 6.27 6.15 6.05 5.94 5.94 6.01 5.72 5.69 5.74 5.65 5.77
78  North Macedonia Hybrid regime 6.33 6.21 6.16 6.16 6.16 6.16 6.25 6.02 5.23 5.57 5.87 5.97 5.89
50  Poland Flawed democracy 7.30 7.30 7.05 7.12 7.12 7.12 7.47 7.09 6.83 6.67 6.67 6.62 6.85
62  Romania Flawed democracy 7.06 7.06 6.60 6.54 6.54 6.54 6.68 6.68 6.62 6.44 6.38 6.49 6.40
124  Russia Authoritarian 5.02 4.48 4.26 3.92 3.74 3.59 3.39 3.31 3.24 3.17 2.94 3.11 3.31
66  Serbia Flawed democracy 6.62 6.49 6.33 6.33 6.33 6.67 6.71 6.71 6.57 6.41 6.41 6.41 6.22
47  Slovakia Flawed democracy 7.40 7.33 7.35 7.35 7.35 7.35 7.35 7.29 7.29 7.16 7.10 7.17 6.97
35  Slovenia Flawed democracy 7.96 7.96 7.69 7.76 7.88 7.88 7.57 7.57 7.51 7.50 7.50 7.50 7.54
159  Tajikistan Authoritarian 2.45 2.45 2.51 2.51 2.51 2.51 2.37 1.95 1.89 1.93 1.93 1.93 1.94
162  Turkmenistan Authoritarian 1.83 1.72 1.72 1.72 1.72 1.72 1.83 1.83 1.83 1.72 1.72 1.72 1.72
79  Ukraine Hybrid regime 6.94 6.94 6.30 5.94 5.91 5.84 5.42 5.70 5.70 5.69 5.69 5.90 5.81
155  Uzbekistan Authoritarian 1.85 1.74 1.74 1.74 1.72 1.72 2.45 1.95 1.95 1.95 2.01 2.01 2.12
Latin America and the Caribbean 48  Argentina Flawed democracy 6.63 6.63 6.84 6.84 6.84 6.84 6.84 7.02 6.96 6.96 7.02 7.02 6.95
94  Bolivia Hybrid regime 5.98 6.15 5.92 5.84 5.84 5.79 5.79 5.75 5.63 5.49 5.70 4.84 5.08
49  Brazil Flawed democracy 7.38 7.38 7.12 7.12 7.12 7.12 7.38 6.96 6.90 6.86 6.97 6.86 6.92
17  Chile Full democracy 7.89 7.89 7.67 7.54 7.54 7.80 7.80 7.84 7.78 7.84 7.97 8.08 8.28
46  Colombia Flawed democracy 6.40 6.54 6.55 6.63 6.63 6.55 6.55 6.62 6.67 6.67 6.96 7.13 7.04
18  Costa Rica Full democracy 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.10 8.10 8.03 8.03 7.96 7.88 7.88 8.07 8.13 8.16
140  Cuba Authoritarian 3.52 3.52 3.52 3.52 3.52 3.52 3.52 3.52 3.46 3.31 3.00 2.84 2.84
63  Dominican Republic Flawed democracy 6.13 6.20 6.20 6.20 6.49 6.74 6.67 6.67 6.67 6.66 6.54 6.54 6.32
69  Ecuador Flawed democracy 5.64 5.64 5.77 5.72 5.78 5.87 5.87 5.87 5.81 6.02 6.27 6.33 6.13
77  El Salvador Hybrid regime 6.22 6.40 6.47 6.47 6.47 6.53 6.53 6.64 6.64 6.43 5.96 6.15 5.90
97  Guatemala Hybrid regime 6.07 6.07 6.05 5.88 5.88 5.81 5.81 5.92 5.92 5.86 5.60 5.26 4.97
75  Guyana Flawed democracy 6.15 6.12 6.05 6.05 6.05 6.05 5.91 6.05 6.25 6.46 6.67 6.15 6.01
106  Haiti Hybrid regime 4.19 4.19 4.00 4.00 3.96 3.94 3.82 3.94 4.02 4.03 4.91 4.57 4.22
88  Honduras Hybrid regime 6.25 6.18 5.76 5.84 5.84 5.84 5.84 5.84 5.92 5.72 5.63 5.42 5.36
42  Jamaica Flawed democracy 7.34 7.21 7.21 7.13 7.39 7.39 7.39 7.39 7.39 7.29 7.02 6.96 7.13
72  Mexico Flawed democracy 6.67 6.78 6.93 6.93 6.90 6.91 6.68 6.55 6.47 6.41 6.19 6.09 6.07
120  Nicaragua Authoritarian 5.68 6.07 5.73 5.56 5.56 5.46 5.32 5.26 4.81 4.66 3.63 3.55 3.60
40  Panama Flawed democracy 7.35 7.35 7.15 7.08 7.08 7.08 7.08 7.19 7.13 7.08 7.05 7.05 7.18
67  Paraguay Flawed democracy 6.16 6.40 6.40 6.40 6.26 6.26 6.26 6.33 6.27 6.31 6.24 6.24 6.18
57  Peru Flawed democracy 6.11 6.31 6.40 6.59 6.47 6.54 6.54 6.58 6.65 6.49 6.60 6.60 6.53
51  Suriname Flawed democracy 6.52 6.58 6.65 6.65 6.65 6.77 6.77 6.77 6.77 6.76 6.98 6.98 6.82
41  Trinidad and Tobago Flawed democracy 7.18 7.21 7.16 7.16 6.99 6.99 6.99 7.10 7.10 7.04 7.16 7.16 7.16
15  Uruguay Full democracy 7.96 8.08 8.10 8.17 8.17 8.17 8.17 8.17 8.17 8.12 8.38 8.38 8.61
143  Venezuela Authoritarian 5.42 5.34 5.18 5.08 5.15 5.07 5.07 5.00 4.68 3.87 3.16 2.88 2.76
Asia and Australasia 139  Afghanistan Authoritarian 3.06 3.02 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.77 2.77 2.55 2.55 2.97 2.85 2.85
9  Australia Full democracy 9.09 9.09 9.22 9.22 9.22 9.13 9.01 9.01 9.01 9.09 9.09 9.09 8.96
76  Bangladesh Hybrid regime 6.11 5.52 5.87 5.86 5.86 5.86 5.78 5.73 5.73 5.43 5.57 5.88 5.99
84  Bhutan Hybrid regime 2.62 4.30 4.68 4.57 4.65 4.82 4.87 4.93 4.93 5.08 5.30 5.30 5.71
130  Cambodia Authoritarian 4.77 4.87 4.87 4.87 4.96 4.60 4.78 4.27 4.27 3.63 3.59 3.53 3.10
151  China Authoritarian 2.97 3.04 3.14 3.14 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.14 3.18 3.10 3.32 2.26 2.27
83  Fiji Hybrid regime 5.66 5.11 3.62 3.67 3.67 3.61 5.61 5.69 5.64 5.85 5.85 5.85 5.72
87  Hong Kong Hybrid regime 6.03 5.85 5.92 5.92 6.42 6.42 6.46 6.50 6.42 6.31 6.15 6.02 5.57
53  India Flawed democracy 7.68 7.80 7.28 7.30 7.52 7.69 7.92 7.74 7.81 7.23 7.23 6.90 6.61
64  Indonesia Flawed democracy 6.41 6.34 6.53 6.53 6.76 6.82 6.95 7.03 6.97 6.39 6.39 6.48 6.30
21  Japan Full democracy 8.15 8.25 8.08 8.08 8.08 8.08 8.08 7.96 7.99 7.88 7.99 7.99 8.13
161  Laos Authoritarian 2.10 2.10 2.10 2.10 2.32 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.37 2.37 2.37 2.14 1.77
39  Malaysia Flawed democracy 5.98 6.36 6.19 6.19 6.41 6.49 6.49 6.43 6.54 6.54 6.88 7.16 7.19
61  Mongolia Flawed democracy 6.60 6.60 6.36 6.23 6.35 6.51 6.62 6.62 6.62 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.48
135  Myanmar Authoritarian 1.77 1.77 1.77 1.77 2.35 2.76 3.05 4.14 4.20 3.83 3.83 3.55 3.04
92  Nepal Hybrid regime 3.42 4.05 4.24 4.24 4.16 4.77 4.77 4.77 4.86 5.18 5.18 5.28 5.22
4  New Zealand Full democracy 9.01 9.19 9.26 9.26 9.26 9.26 9.26 9.26 9.26 9.26 9.26 9.26 9.25
167  North Korea Authoritarian 1.03 0.86 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08
105  Pakistan Hybrid regime 3.92 4.46 4.55 4.55 4.57 4.64 4.64 4.40 4.33 4.26 4.17 4.25 4.31
70  Papua New Guinea Flawed democracy 6.54 6.54 6.54 6.32 6.32 6.36 6.03 6.03 6.03 6.03 6.03 6.03 6.10
55  Philippines Flawed democracy 6.48 6.12 6.12 6.12 6.30 6.41 6.77 6.84 6.94 6.71 6.71 6.64 6.56
74  Singapore Flawed democracy 5.89 5.89 5.89 5.89 5.88 5.92 6.03 6.14 6.38 6.32 6.38 6.02 6.03
23  South Korea Full democracy 7.88 8.01 8.11 8.06 8.13 8.06 8.06 7.97 7.92 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.01
68  Sri Lanka Flawed democracy 6.58 6.61 6.64 6.58 5.75 5.69 5.69 6.42 6.48 6.48 6.19 6.27 6.14
11  Taiwan Full democracy 7.82 7.82 7.52 7.46 7.57 7.57 7.65 7.83 7.79 7.73 7.73 7.73 8.94
73  Thailand Flawed democracy 5.67 6.81 6.55 6.55 6.55 6.25 5.39 5.09 4.92 4.63 4.63 6.32 6.04
44  Timor-Leste Flawed democracy 6.41 7.22 7.22 7.22 7.16 7.24 7.24 7.24 7.24 7.19 7.19 7.19 7.06
137  Vietnam Authoritarian 2.75 2.53 2.94 2.96 2.89 3.29 3.41 3.53 3.38 3.08 3.08 3.08 2.94
Middle East and North Africa 115  Algeria Authoritarian 3.17 3.32 3.44 3.44 3.83 3.83 3.83 3.95 3.56 3.56 3.50 4.01 3.77
150  Bahrain Authoritarian 3.53 3.38 3.49 2.92 2.53 2.87 2.87 2.79 2.79 2.71 2.71 2.55 2.49
138  Egypt Authoritarian 3.90 3.89 3.07 3.95 4.56 3.27 3.16 3.18 3.31 3.36 3.36 3.06 2.93
152  Iran Authoritarian 2.93 2.83 1.94 1.98 1.98 1.98 1.98 2.16 2.34 2.45 2.45 2.38 2.20
118  Iraq Authoritarian 4.01 4.00 4.00 4.03 4.10 4.10 4.23 4.08 4.08 4.09 4.06 3.74 3.62
27  Israel Flawed democracy 7.28 7.48 7.48 7.53 7.53 7.53 7.63 7.77 7.85 7.79 7.79 7.86 7.84
118  Jordan Authoritarian 3.92 3.93 3.74 3.89 3.76 3.76 3.76 3.86 3.96 3.87 3.93 3.93 3.62
114  Kuwait Authoritarian 3.09 3.39 3.88 3.74 3.78 3.78 3.78 3.85 3.85 3.85 3.85 3.93 3.80
108  Lebanon Hybrid regime 5.82 5.62 5.82 5.32 5.05 5.05 5.12 4.86 4.86 4.72 4.63 4.36 4.16
157  Libya Authoritarian 1.84 2.00 1.94 3.55 5.15 4.82 3.80 2.25 2.25 2.32 2.19 2.02 1.95
96  Morocco Hybrid regime 3.90 3.88 3.79 3.83 4.07 4.07 4.00 4.66 4.77 4.87 4.99 5.10 5.04
136  Oman Authoritarian 2.77 2.98 2.86 3.26 3.26 3.26 3.15 3.04 3.04 3.04 3.04 3.06 3.00
113  Palestine Authoritarian 6.01 5.83 5.44 4.97 4.80 4.80 4.72 4.57 4.49 4.46 4.39 3.89 3.83
126  Qatar Authoritarian 2.78 2.92 3.09 3.18 3.18 3.18 3.18 3.18 3.18 3.19 3.19 3.19 3.24
156  Saudi Arabia Authoritarian 1.92 1.90 1.84 1.77 1.71 1.82 1.82 1.93 1.93 1.93 1.93 1.93 2.08
149  Sudan Authoritarian 2.90 2.81 2.42 2.38 2.38 2.54 2.54 2.37 2.37 2.15 2.15 2.70 2.54
164  Syria Authoritarian 2.36 2.18 2.31 1.99 1.63 1.86 1.74 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.43
54  Tunisia Flawed democracy 3.06 2.96 2.79 5.53 5.67 5.76 6.31 6.72 6.40 6.32 6.41 6.72 6.59
145  United Arab Emirates Authoritarian 2.42 2.60 2.52 2.58 2.58 2.52 2.64 2.75 2.75 2.69 2.76 2.76 2.70
157  Yemen Authoritarian 2.98 2.95 2.64 2.57 3.12 2.79 2.79 2.24 2.07 2.07 1.95 1.95 1.95
Sub-Saharan Africa 117  Angola Authoritarian 2.41 3.35 3.32 3.32 3.35 3.35 3.35 3.35 3.40 3.62 3.62 3.72 3.66
102  Benin Hybrid regime 6.16 6.06 6.17 6.06 6.00 5.87 5.65 5.72 5.67 5.61 5.74 5.09 5.09
33  Botswana Flawed democracy 7.60 7.47 7.63 7.63 7.85 7.98 7.87 7.87 7.87 7.81 7.81 7.81 7.62
116  Burkina Faso Authoritarian 3.72 3.60 3.59 3.59 3.52 4.15 4.09 4.70 4.70 4.75 4.75 4.04 3.73
154  Burundi Authoritarian 4.51 4.51 4.01 4.01 3.60 3.41 3.33 2.49 2.40 2.33 2.33 2.15 2.14
32  Cape Verde Flawed democracy 7.43 7.81 7.94 7.92 7.92 7.92 7.81 7.81 7.94 7.88 7.88 7.78 7.65
142  Cameroon Authoritarian 3.27 3.46 3.41 3.41 3.44 3.41 3.41 3.66 3.46 3.61 3.28 2.85 2.77
165  Central African Republic Authoritarian 1.61 1.86 1.82 1.82 1.99 1.49 1.49 1.57 1.61 1.52 1.52 1.32 1.32
163  Chad Authoritarian 1.65 1.52 1.52 1.62 1.62 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.61 1.61 1.55
132  Comoros Authoritarian 3.90 3.58 3.41 3.52 3.52 3.52 3.52 3.71 3.71 3.71 3.71 3.15 3.09
129  Republic of the Congo Authoritarian 3.19 2.94 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.91 2.91 3.25 3.31 3.11 3.11
109  Ivory Coast Hybrid regime 3.38 3.27 3.02 3.08 3.25 3.25 3.53 3.31 3.81 3.93 4.15 4.05 4.11
166  Democratic Republic of the Congo Authoritarian 2.76 2.28 2.15 2.15 1.92 1.83 1.75 2.11 1.93 1.61 1.49 1.13 1.13
144  Djibouti Authoritarian 2.37 2.37 2.20 2.68 2.74 2.96 2.99 2.90 2.83 2.76 2.87 2.77 2.71
160  Equatorial Guinea Authoritarian 2.09 2.19 1.84 1.77 1.83 1.77 1.66 1.77 1.70 1.81 1.92 1.92 1.92
153  Eritrea Authoritarian 2.31 2.31 2.31 2.34 2.40 2.40 2.44 2.37 2.37 2.37 2.37 2.37 2.15
133  Eswatini Authoritarian 2.93 3.04 2.90 3.26 3.20 3.20 3.09 3.09 3.03 3.03 3.03 3.14 3.08
123  Ethiopia Authoritarian 4.72 4.52 3.68 3.79 3.72 3.83 3.72 3.83 3.60 3.42 3.35 3.44 3.38
121  Gabon Authoritarian 2.72 3.00 3.29 3.48 3.56 3.76 3.76 3.76 3.74 3.61 3.61 3.61 3.54
104  Gambia Hybrid regime 4.39 4.19 3.38 3.38 3.31 3.31 3.05 2.97 2.91 4.06 4.31 4.33 4.49
59  Ghana Flawed democracy 5.35 5.35 6.02 6.02 6.02 6.33 6.33 6.86 6.75 6.69 6.63 6.63 6.50
133  Guinea Authoritarian 2.02 2.09 2.79 2.79 2.79 2.84 3.01 3.14 3.14 3.14 3.14 3.14 3.08
147  Guinea-Bissau Authoritarian 2.00 1.99 1.99 1.99 1.43 1.26 1.93 1.93 1.98 1.98 1.98 2.63 2.63
95  Kenya Hybrid regime 5.08 4.79 4.71 4.71 4.71 5.13 5.13 5.33 5.33 5.11 5.11 5.18 5.05
64  Lesotho Flawed democracy 6.48 6.29 6.02 6.33 6.66 6.66 6.66 6.59 6.59 6.64 6.64 6.54 6.30
90  Liberia Hybrid regime 5.22 5.25 5.07 5.07 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 5.31 5.23 5.35 5.45 5.32
85  Madagascar Hybrid regime 5.82 5.57 3.94 3.93 3.93 4.32 4.42 4.85 5.07 5.11 5.22 5.64 5.70
82  Malawi Hybrid regime 4.97 5.13 5.84 5.84 6.08 6.00 5.66 5.55 5.55 5.49 5.49 5.50 5.74
111  Mali Authoritarian 5.99 5.87 6.01 6.36 5.12 5.90 5.79 5.70 5.70 5.64 5.41 4.92 3.93
112  Mauritania Authoritarian 3.12 3.91 3.86 4.17 4.17 4.17 4.17 3.96 3.96 3.82 3.82 3.92 3.92
20  Mauritius Full democracy 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.04 8.17 8.17 8.17 8.27 8.28 8.22 8.22 8.22 8.14
122  Mozambique Authoritarian 5.28 5.49 4.90 4.90 4.88 4.77 4.66 4.60 4.02 4.02 3.85 3.65 3.51
58  Namibia Flawed democracy 6.54 6.48 6.23 6.24 6.24 6.24 6.24 6.31 6.31 6.31 6.25 6.43 6.52
125  Niger Authoritarian 3.54 3.41 3.38 4.16 4.16 4.08 4.02 4.62 3.96 3.76 3.76 3.29 3.29
110  Nigeria Hybrid regime 3.52 3.53 3.47 3.83 3.77 3.77 3.76 3.85 4.50 4.44 4.44 4.12 4.10
130  Rwanda Authoritarian 3.82 3.71 3.25 3.25 3.36 3.38 3.25 3.07 3.07 3.19 3.35 3.16 3.10
86  Senegal Hybrid regime 5.37 5.37 5.27 5.51 6.09 6.15 6.15 6.08 6.21 6.15 6.15 5.81 5.67
99  Sierra Leone Hybrid regime 3.57 4.11 4.51 4.51 4.71 4.64 4.56 4.55 4.55 4.66 4.66 4.86 4.86
45  South Africa Flawed democracy 7.91 7.91 7.79 7.79 7.79 7.90 7.82 7.56 7.41 7.24 7.24 7.24 7.05
93  Tanzania Hybrid regime 5.18 5.28 5.64 5.64 5.88 5.77 5.77 5.58 5.76 5.47 5.41 5.16 5.10
141  Togo Authoritarian 1.75 2.43 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.41 3.32 3.05 3.10 3.30 2.80
98  Uganda Hybrid regime 5.14 5.03 5.05 5.13 5.16 5.22 5.22 5.22 5.26 5.09 5.20 5.02 4.94
99  Zambia Hybrid regime 5.25 5.25 5.68 6.19 6.26 6.26 6.39 6.28 5.99 5.68 5.61 5.09 4.86
127  Zimbabwe Authoritarian 2.62 2.53 2.64 2.68 2.67 2.67 2.78 3.05 3.05 3.16 3.16 3.16 3.16

Score changes

The following table shows the original 2006 score and the changes in each new report. Changes of regime type are marked with background color.

Country 2006 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
 
North America
 Canada 9.07 Steady Increase 0.01 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Increase 0.07 Increase 0.02
 United States 8.22 Steady Decrease 0.04 Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.02 Steady Decrease 0.04
Western Europe
 Austria 8.69 Decrease 0.20 Steady Steady Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.14 Increase 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.13 Increase 0.01 Decrease 0.13 Steady Decrease 0.13
 Belgium 8.15 Increase 0.01 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Decrease 0.16 Increase 0.01 Steady Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.13
 Cyprus 7.60 Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.41 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Increase 0.13 Increase 0.12 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Decrease 0.03
 Denmark 9.52 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.27 Steady Increase 0.09 Increase 0.02 Steady Steady Decrease 0.07
 Finland 9.25 Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.13 Steady Decrease 0.03 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.05
 France 8.07 Steady Decrease 0.30 Steady Increase 0.11 Increase 0.04 Increase 0.12 Decrease 0.12 Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Increase 0.32 Decrease 0.13
 Germany 8.82 Steady Decrease 0.44 Decrease 0.04 Steady Decrease 0.03 Increase 0.33 Steady Decrease 0.01 Decrease 0.02 Increase 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.01
 Greece 8.13 Steady Decrease 0.21 Decrease 0.27 Steady Steady Decrease 0.20 Steady Decrease 0.22 Increase 0.06 Steady Increase 0.14 Decrease 0.04
 Iceland 9.71 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.08 Steady Steady Decrease 0.21
 Ireland 9.01 Steady Decrease 0.22 Decrease 0.23 Steady Increase 0.12 Increase 0.04 Increase 0.13 Increase 0.30 Steady Steady Increase 0.09 Decrease 0.19
 Italy 7.73 Increase 0.25 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 0.09 Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Increase 0.13 Steady Steady Decrease 0.27 Decrease 0.19 Increase 0.22
 Luxembourg 9.10 Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.13
 Malta 8.39 Steady Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.24 Increase 0.06 Decrease 0.26 Decrease 0.27
 Netherlands 9.66 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.54 Steady Steady Decrease 0.15 Increase 0.08 Steady Decrease 0.12 Increase 0.09 Steady Increase 0.12 Decrease 0.05
 Norway 9.55 Increase 0.13 Increase 0.12 Steady Increase 0.13 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Decrease 0.06
 Portugal 8.16 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.03 Decrease 0.21 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.27 Increase 0.14 Steady Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.02 Steady Increase 0.19 Decrease 0.13
 Spain 8.34 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.29 Decrease 0.14 Steady Steady Increase 0.03 Increase 0.25 Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Increase 0.21 Decrease 0.17
 Sweden 9.88 Steady Decrease 0.38 Steady Increase 0.23 Steady Steady Decrease 0.28 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.13
 Switzerland 9.02 Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Decrease 0.20
 Turkey 5.70 Decrease 0.01 Increase 0.04 Steady Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.51 Steady Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.16 Decrease 0.51 Decrease 0.28 Increase 0.39
 United Kingdom 8.08 Increase 0.07 Increase 0.01 Steady Increase 0.05 Increase 0.10 Steady Steady Increase 0.05 Increase 0.17 Steady Decrease 0.01 Increase 0.02
Central and Eastern Europe
 Albania 5.91 Steady Decrease 0.05 Decrease 0.05 Decrease 0.14 Steady Steady Increase 0.24 Steady Increase 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.09 Increase 0.19
 Armenia 4.15 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.12 Increase 0.23 Increase 0.68 Increase 0.75 Decrease 0.19
 Azerbaijan 3.31 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.04 Steady Steady Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.07
 Belarus 3.34 Steady Steady Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.12 Steady Increase 0.65 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.41 Steady Decrease 0.65 Increase 0.11
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.78 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.38 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.24 Increase 0.05 Increase 0.04 Steady Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.02
 Bulgaria 7.10 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.10 Increase 0.41 Decrease 0.13 Increase 0.02 Steady Steady Decrease 0.32
 Croatia 7.04 Steady Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.20 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.07
 Czech Republic 8.17 Increase 0.02 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.12 Steady Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.20 Increase 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.02
 Estonia 7.74 Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Increase 0.13 Increase 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.18 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.06
 Georgia 4.90 Decrease 0.28 Decrease 0.03 Increase 0.15 Increase 0.79 Increase 0.42 Decrease 0.13 Increase 0.06 Increase 0.05 Steady Decrease 0.43 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.11
 Hungary 7.53 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.17 Decrease 0.08 Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.01 Steady Decrease 0.07
 Kazakhstan 3.62 Decrease 0.17 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.29 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Increase 0.20
 Kyrgyzstan 4.08 Decrease 0.03 Increase 0.26 Increase 0.03 Increase 0.35 Steady Increase 0.55 Increase 0.09 Decrease 0.40 Increase 0.18 Steady Decrease 0.22 Decrease 0.67
 Latvia 7.37 Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.18 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.43 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.13 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.25
 Lithuania 7.43 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Increase 0.30 Steady Steady Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.09 Steady Decrease 0.37
 Moldova 6.50 Steady Decrease 0.17 Decrease 0.01 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.34 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.10 Increase 0.03
 Montenegro 6.57 Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.16 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.11 Steady Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.29 Decrease 0.03 Increase 0.05 Decrease 0.09 Increase 0.12
 North Macedonia 6.33 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.05 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.09 Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.79 Increase 0.34 Increase 0.30 Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.08
 Poland 7.30 Steady Decrease 0.25 Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Increase 0.35 Decrease 0.38 Decrease 0.26 Decrease 0.16 Steady Decrease 0.05 Increase 0.23
 Romania 7.06 Steady Decrease 0.46 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Increase 0.14 Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.09
 Russia 5.02 Decrease 0.54 Decrease 0.22 Decrease 0.34 Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 0.20 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.23 Increase 0.17 Increase 0.20
 Serbia 6.62 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.16 Steady Steady Increase 0.34 Increase 0.04 Steady Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.16 Steady Steady Decrease 0.19
 Slovakia 7.40 Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.02 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.20
 Slovenia 7.96 Steady Decrease 0.27 Increase 0.07 Increase 0.12 Steady Decrease 0.31 Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.01 Steady Steady Increase 0.04
 Tajikistan 2.45 Steady Increase 0.06 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.42 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.04 Steady Steady Increase 0.01
 Turkmenistan 1.83 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Steady
 Ukraine 6.94 Steady Decrease 0.64 Decrease 0.36 Decrease 0.03 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.42 Increase 0.28 Steady Decrease 0.01 Steady Increase 0.21 Decrease 0.09
 Uzbekistan 1.85 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.02 Steady Increase 0.73 Decrease 0.50 Steady Steady Increase 0.06 Steady Increase 0.11
Latin America and the Caribbean
 Argentina 6.63 Steady Increase 0.21 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.18 Decrease 0.06 Steady Increase 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.07
 Bolivia 5.98 Increase 0.17 Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.08 Steady Decrease 0.05 Steady Decrease 0.04 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.14 Increase 0.21 Decrease 0.86 Increase 0.24
 Brazil 7.38 Steady Decrease 0.26 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.26 Decrease 0.42 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.04 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.11 Increase 0.04
 Chile 7.89 Steady Decrease 0.22 Decrease 0.13 Steady Increase 0.26 Steady Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.06 Increase 0.13 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.20
 Colombia 6.40 Increase 0.14 Increase 0.01 Increase 0.08 Steady Decrease 0.08 Steady Increase 0.07 Increase 0.05 Steady Increase 0.29 Increase 0.17 Decrease 0.09
 Costa Rica 8.04 Steady Steady Increase 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.08 Steady Increase 0.19 Increase 0.06 Increase 0.03
 Cuba 3.52 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 0.31 Decrease 0.16 Steady
 Dominican Republic 6.13 Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Increase 0.29 Increase 0.25 Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Decrease 0.01 Decrease 0.12 Steady Decrease 0.22
 Ecuador 5.64 Steady Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.05 Increase 0.06 Increase 0.09 Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.21 Increase 0.25 Increase 0.06 Decrease 0.20
 El Salvador 6.22 Increase 0.18 Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Increase 0.06 Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.21 Decrease 0.47 Increase 0.19 Decrease 0.25
 Guatemala 6.07 Steady Decrease 0.02 Decrease 0.17 Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.26 Decrease 0.34 Decrease 0.29
 Guyana 6.15 Decrease 0.03 Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.14 Increase 0.14 Increase 0.20 Increase 0.21 Increase 0.21 Decrease 0.52 Decrease 0.14
 Haiti 4.19 Steady Decrease 0.19 Steady Decrease 0.04 Decrease 0.02 Decrease 0.12 Increase 0.12 Increase 0.08 Increase 0.01 Increase 0.88 Decrease 0.34 Decrease 0.35
 Honduras 6.25 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.42 Increase 0.08 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.08 Decrease 0.20 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.21 Decrease 0.06
 Jamaica 7.34 Decrease 0.13 Steady Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.26 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.27 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.17
 Mexico 6.67 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.15 Steady Decrease 0.03 Increase 0.01 Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.22 Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.02
 Nicaragua 5.68 Increase 0.39 Decrease 0.34 Decrease 0.17 Steady Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.45 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 1.03 Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.05
 Panama 7.35 Steady Decrease 0.20 Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.05 Decrease 0.03 Steady Increase 0.13
 Paraguay 6.16 Increase 0.24 Steady Steady Decrease 0.14 Steady Steady Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.06
 Peru 6.11 Increase 0.20 Increase 0.09 Increase 0.19 Decrease 0.12 Increase 0.07 Steady Increase 0.04 Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.16 Increase 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.07
 Suriname 6.52 Increase 0.06 Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Increase 0.12 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.01 Increase 0.22 Steady Decrease 0.16
 Trinidad and Tobago 7.18 Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.05 Steady Decrease 0.17 Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.12 Steady Steady
 Uruguay 7.96 Increase 0.12 Increase 0.02 Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.05 Increase 0.26 Steady Increase 0.23
 Venezuela 5.42 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.16 Decrease 0.10 Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.08 Steady Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.32 Decrease 0.81 Decrease 0.71 Decrease 0.28 Decrease 0.04
Asia and Australasia
 Afghanistan 3.06 Decrease 0.04 Decrease 0.54 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.29 Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Increase 0.42 Decrease 0.12 Steady
 Australia 9.09 Steady Increase 0.13 Steady Steady Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Increase 0.08 Steady Steady Decrease 0.13
 Bangladesh 6.11 Decrease 0.59 Increase 0.35 Decrease 0.01 Steady Steady Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.05 Steady Decrease 0.30 Increase 0.14 Increase 0.31 Increase 0.11
 Bhutan 2.62 Increase 1.68 Increase 0.38 Decrease 0.11 Increase 0.08 Increase 0.17 Increase 0.05 Increase 0.06 Steady Increase 0.15 Increase 0.22 Steady Increase 0.41
 Cambodia 4.77 Increase 0.10 Steady Steady Increase 0.09 Decrease 0.36 Increase 0.18 Decrease 0.51 Steady Decrease 0.64 Decrease 0.04 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.43
 China 2.97 Increase 0.07 Increase 0.10 Steady Decrease 0.14 Steady Steady Increase 0.14 Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.22 Decrease 1.06 Increase 0.01
 Fiji 5.66 Decrease 0.55 Decrease 1.49 Increase 0.05 Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 2.00 Increase 0.08 Decrease 0.05 Increase 0.21 Steady Steady Decrease 0.13
 Hong Kong 6.03 Decrease 0.18 Increase 0.07 Steady Increase 0.50 Steady Increase 0.04 Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.16 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.45
 India 7.68 Increase 0.12 Decrease 0.52 Increase 0.02 Increase 0.22 Increase 0.17 Increase 0.23 Decrease 0.18 Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.58 Steady Decrease 0.33 Decrease 0.29
 Indonesia 6.41 Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.19 Steady Increase 0.23 Increase 0.06 Increase 0.13 Increase 0.08 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.58 Steady Increase 0.09 Decrease 0.18
 Japan 8.15 Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.17 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.12 Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.11 Increase 0.11 Steady Increase 0.14
 Laos 2.10 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.22 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Increase 0.16 Steady Steady Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.37
 Malaysia 5.98 Increase 0.38 Decrease 0.17 Steady Increase 0.22 Increase 0.08 Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.11 Steady Increase 0.34 Increase 0.28 Increase 0.03
 Mongolia 6.60 Steady Decrease 0.24 Decrease 0.13 Increase 0.12 Increase 0.16 Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Decrease 0.02
 Myanmar 1.77 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.58 Increase 0.41 Increase 0.29 Increase 1.09 Increase 0.06 Decrease 0.37 Steady Decrease 0.28 Decrease 0.51
 Nepal 3.42 Increase 0.63 Increase 0.19 Steady Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.61 Steady Steady Increase 0.09 Increase 0.32 Steady Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.06
 New Zealand 9.01 Increase 0.18 Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.01
 North Korea 1.03 Decrease 0.17 Increase 0.22 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady
 Pakistan 3.92 Increase 0.54 Increase 0.09 Steady Increase 0.02 Increase 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.24 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.09 Increase 0.08 Increase 0.06
 Papua New Guinea 6.54 Steady Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.33 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.07
 Philippines 6.48 Decrease 0.36 Steady Steady Increase 0.18 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.36 Increase 0.07 Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.23 Steady Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.08
 Singapore 5.89 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.01 Increase 0.04 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.24 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.06 Decrease 0.36 Increase 0.01
 South Korea 7.88 Increase 0.13 Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.05 Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.05 Increase 0.08 Steady Steady Increase 0.01
 Sri Lanka 6.58 Increase 0.03 Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.83 Decrease 0.06 Steady Increase 0.73 Increase 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.29 Increase 0.08 Decrease 0.13
 Taiwan 7.82 Steady Decrease 0.30 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.11 Steady Increase 0.08 Increase 0.18 Decrease 0.04 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Increase 1.21
 Thailand 5.67 Increase 1.14 Decrease 0.26 Steady Steady Decrease 0.30 Decrease 0.86 Decrease 0.30 Decrease 0.17 Decrease 0.29 Steady Increase 1.69 Decrease 0.28
 Timor-Leste 6.41 Increase 0.81 Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.08 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.05 Steady Steady Decrease 0.13
 Vietnam 2.75 Decrease 0.22 Increase 0.41 Increase 0.02 Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.40 Increase 0.12 Increase 0.12 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 0.30 Steady Steady Decrease 0.14
Middle East and North Africa
 Algeria 3.17 Increase 0.15 Increase 0.12 Steady Increase 0.39 Steady Steady Increase 0.12 Decrease 0.39 Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.51 Decrease 0.24
 Bahrain 3.53 Decrease 0.15 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.57 Decrease 0.39 Increase 0.34 Steady Decrease 0.08 Steady Decrease 0.08 Steady Decrease 0.16 Decrease 0.06
 Egypt 3.90 Decrease 0.01 Decrease 0.82 Increase 0.88 Increase 0.61 Decrease 1.29 Decrease 0.11 Increase 0.02 Increase 0.13 Increase 0.05 Steady Decrease 0.30 Decrease 0.13
 Iran 2.93 Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.89 Increase 0.04 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.18 Increase 0.18 Increase 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.18
 Iraq 4.01 Decrease 0.01 Steady Increase 0.03 Increase 0.07 Steady Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.15 Steady Increase 0.01 Decrease 0.03 Decrease 0.32 Decrease 0.12
 Israel 7.28 Increase 0.20 Steady Increase 0.05 Steady Steady Increase 0.10 Increase 0.14 Increase 0.08 Decrease 0.06 Steady Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.02
 Jordan 3.92 Increase 0.01 Decrease 0.19 Increase 0.15 Decrease 0.13 Steady Steady Increase 0.10 Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.09 Increase 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.31
 Kuwait 3.09 Increase 0.30 Increase 0.49 Decrease 0.14 Increase 0.04 Steady Steady Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.08 Decrease 0.13
 Lebanon 5.82 Decrease 0.20 Increase 0.20 Decrease 0.50 Decrease 0.27 Steady Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.26 Steady Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.27 Decrease 0.20
 Libya 1.84 Increase 0.16 Decrease 0.06 Increase 1.61 Increase 1.60 Decrease 0.33 Decrease 1.02 Decrease 1.55 Steady Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.17 Decrease 0.07
 Morocco 3.90 Decrease 0.02 Decrease 0.09 Increase 0.04 Increase 0.24 Steady Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.66 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.10 Increase 0.12 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.06
 Oman 2.77 Increase 0.21 Decrease 0.12 Increase 0.40 Steady Steady Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.02 Decrease 0.06
 Palestine 6.01 Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.39 Decrease 0.47 Decrease 0.17 Steady Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.03 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.50 Decrease 0.06
 Qatar 2.78 Increase 0.14 Increase 0.17 Increase 0.09 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.01 Steady Steady Increase 0.05
 Saudi Arabia 1.92 Decrease 0.02 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.11 Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.15
 Sudan 2.90 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.39 Decrease 0.04 Steady Increase 0.16 Steady Decrease 0.17 Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Increase 0.55 Decrease 0.16
 Syria 2.36 Decrease 0.18 Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.32 Decrease 0.36 Increase 0.23 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.31 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady
 Tunisia 3.06 Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.17 Increase 2.74 Increase 0.14 Increase 0.09 Increase 0.55 Increase 0.41 Decrease 0.32 Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.09 Increase 0.31 Decrease 0.13
 United Arab Emirates 2.42 Increase 0.18 Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.12 Increase 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.16
 Yemen 2.98 Decrease 0.03 Decrease 0.31 Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.55 Decrease 0.33 Steady Decrease 0.55 Decrease 0.17 Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady
Sub-Saharan Africa
 Angola 2.41 Increase 0.94 Decrease 0.03 Steady Increase 0.03 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.05 Increase 0.22 Steady Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.06
 Benin 6.16 Decrease 0.10 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.22 Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.05 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.65 Decrease 0.51
 Botswana 7.60 Decrease 0.13 Increase 0.16 Steady Increase 0.22 Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Decrease 0.19
 Burkina Faso 3.72 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.01 Steady Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.63 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.61 Steady Increase 0.05 Steady Decrease 0.71 Decrease 0.31
 Burundi 4.51 Steady Decrease 0.50 Steady Decrease 0.41 Decrease 0.19 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.84 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.01
 Cape Verde 7.43 Increase 0.38 Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.02 Steady Steady Decrease 0.11 Steady Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.13
 Cameroon 3.27 Increase 0.19 Decrease 0.05 Steady Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.03 Steady Increase 0.25 Decrease 0.20 Increase 0.15 Decrease 0.33 Decrease 0.43 Decrease 0.08
 Central African Republic 1.61 Increase 0.25 Decrease 0.04 Steady Increase 0.17 Decrease 0.50 Steady Increase 0.08 Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.09 Steady Decrease 0.20 Steady
 Chad 1.65 Decrease 0.13 Steady Increase 0.10 Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.06
 Comoros 3.90 Decrease 0.32 Decrease 0.17 Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.19 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.56 Decrease 0.06
 Republic of the Congo 3.19 Decrease 0.25 Decrease 0.05 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.02 Steady Increase 0.34 Increase 0.06 Decrease 0.20 Steady
 Ivory Coast 3.38 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.25 Increase 0.06 Increase 0.17 Steady Increase 0.28 Decrease 0.22 Increase 0.50 Increase 0.12 Increase 0.22 Decrease 0.10 Increase 0.06
 Democratic Republic of the Congo 2.76 Decrease 0.48 Decrease 0.13 Steady Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.36 Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.32 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.36 Steady
 Djibouti 2.37 Steady Decrease 0.17 Increase 0.48 Increase 0.06 Increase 0.22 Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.06
 Equatorial Guinea 2.09 Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.35 Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.06 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.11 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.11 Steady Steady
 Eritrea 2.31 Steady Steady Increase 0.03 Increase 0.06 Steady Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.22
 Eswatini 2.93 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.14 Increase 0.36 Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.06
 Ethiopia 4.72 Decrease 0.20 Decrease 0.84 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.11 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.09 Decrease 0.06
 Gabon 2.72 Increase 0.28 Increase 0.29 Increase 0.19 Increase 0.08 Increase 0.20 Steady Steady Decrease 0.02 Decrease 0.13 Steady Steady Decrease 0.07
 Gambia 4.39 Decrease 0.20 Decrease 0.81 Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.26 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.06 Increase 1.15 Increase 0.25 Increase 0.02 Increase 0.16
 Ghana 5.35 Steady Increase 0.67 Steady Steady Increase 0.31 Steady Increase 0.53 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.13
 Guinea 2.02 Increase 0.07 Increase 0.70 Steady Steady Increase 0.05 Increase 0.17 Increase 0.13 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06
 Guinea-Bissau 2.00 Decrease 0.01 Steady Steady Decrease 0.56 Decrease 0.17 Increase 0.67 Steady Increase 0.05 Steady Steady Increase 0.65 Steady
 Kenya 5.08 Decrease 0.29 Decrease 0.08 Steady Steady Increase 0.42 Steady Increase 0.20 Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.13
 Lesotho 6.48 Decrease 0.19 Decrease 0.27 Increase 0.31 Increase 0.33 Steady Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Increase 0.05 Steady Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.24
 Liberia 5.22 Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.18 Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.36 Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.12 Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.13
 Madagascar 5.82 Decrease 0.25 Decrease 1.63 Decrease 0.01 Steady Increase 0.39 Increase 0.10 Increase 0.43 Increase 0.22 Increase 0.04 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.42 Increase 0.06
 Malawi 4.97 Increase 0.16 Increase 0.71 Steady Increase 0.24 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.34 Decrease 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Increase 0.01 Increase 0.24
 Mali 5.99 Decrease 0.12 Increase 0.14 Increase 0.35 Decrease 1.24 Increase 0.78 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.09 Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.49 Decrease 0.99
 Mauritania 3.12 Increase 0.79 Decrease 0.05 Increase 0.31 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.21 Steady Decrease 0.14 Steady Increase 0.10 Steady
 Mauritius 8.04 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.13 Steady Steady Increase 0.10 Increase 0.01 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Decrease 0.08
 Mozambique 5.28 Increase 0.21 Decrease 0.59 Steady Decrease 0.02 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.58 Steady Decrease 0.17 Decrease 0.20 Decrease 0.14
 Namibia 6.54 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.25 Increase 0.01 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.18 Increase 0.09
 Niger 3.54 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.03 Increase 0.78 Steady Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.60 Decrease 0.66 Decrease 0.20 Steady Decrease 0.47 Steady
 Nigeria 3.52 Increase 0.01 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.36 Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.01 Increase 0.09 Increase 0.65 Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.32 Decrease 0.02
 Rwanda 3.82 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.46 Steady Increase 0.11 Increase 0.02 Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.18 Steady Increase 0.12 Increase 0.16 Decrease 0.19 Decrease 0.06
 Senegal 5.37 Steady Decrease 0.10 Increase 0.24 Increase 0.58 Increase 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.34 Decrease 0.18
 Sierra Leone 3.57 Increase 0.54 Increase 0.40 Steady Increase 0.20 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.01 Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Increase 0.20 Steady
 South Africa 7.91 Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.26 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 0.17 Steady Steady Decrease 0.19
 Tanzania 5.18 Increase 0.10 Increase 0.36 Steady Increase 0.24 Decrease 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.19 Increase 0.18 Decrease 0.29 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.25 Decrease 0.06
 Togo 1.75 Increase 0.68 Increase 1.02 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.04 Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.27 Increase 0.05 Increase 0.20 Decrease 0.50
 Uganda 5.14 Decrease 0.11 Increase 0.02 Increase 0.08 Increase 0.03 Increase 0.06 Steady Steady Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.17 Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.08
 Zambia 5.25 Steady Increase 0.43 Increase 0.51 Increase 0.07 Steady Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.29 Decrease 0.31 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.52 Decrease 0.23
 Zimbabwe 2.62 Decrease 0.09 Increase 0.11 Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.01 Steady Increase 0.11 Increase 0.27 Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Steady

Components

The following table shows the five parameters that made up the score of each nation in 2020 and the changes that had occurred since 2019.

Year 2020
Rank Δ Rank Country Regime type Elec­toral pro­cess and plura­lism Func­tioning of govern­ment Poli­tical partici­pation Poli­tical cul­ture Civil liber­ties Overall score Δ Score
Full democracies
1 Steady  Norway Full democracy 10.00 9.64 10.00 10.00 9.41 9.81 Decrease 0.06
2 Steady  Iceland Full democracy 10.00 8.57 8.89 10.00 9.41 9.37 Decrease 0.21
3 Steady  Sweden Full democracy 9.58 9.29 8.33 10.00 9.12 9.26 Decrease 0.13
4 Steady  New Zealand Full democracy 10.00 8.93 8.89 8.75 9.71 9.25 Decrease 0.01
5 Increase 2  Canada Full democracy 9.58 8.93 8.89 9.38 9.41 9.24 Increase 0.02
6 Decrease 1  Finland Full democracy 10.00 8.93 8.89 8.75 9.41 9.20 Decrease 0.05
7 Steady  Denmark Full democracy 10.00 8.93 8.33 9.38 9.12 9.15 Decrease 0.07
8 Decrease 2  Ireland Full democracy 10.00 7.86 8.33 9.38 9.71 9.05 Decrease 0.19
9 Steady  Australia Full democracy 10.00 8.57 7.78 8.75 9.71 8.96 Decrease 0.13
9 Increase 2  Netherlands Full democracy 9.58 9.29 8.33 8.75 8.82 8.96 Decrease 0.05
11 Increase 20  Taiwan Full democracy 10.00 9.64 7.22 8.13 9.71 8.94 Increase 1.21
12 Decrease 2  Switzerland Full democracy 9.58 8.57 7.78 9.38 8.82 8.83 Decrease 0.20
13 Decrease 1  Luxembourg Full democracy 10.00 8.57 6.67 8.75 9.71 8.68 Decrease 0.13
14 Decrease 1  Germany Full democracy 9.58 8.21 8.33 8.13 9.12 8.67 Decrease 0.01
15 Steady  Uruguay Full democracy 10.00 8.57 6.67 8.13 9.71 8.61 Increase 0.23
16 Decrease 2  United Kingdom Full democracy 10.00 7.50 8.89 7.50 8.82 8.54 Increase 0.02
17 Increase 4  Chile Full democracy 9.58 8.21 6.67 8.13 8.82 8.28 Increase 0.20
18 Decrease 2  Austria Full democracy 9.58 7.50 8.33 6.88 8.53 8.16 Decrease 0.13
18 Increase 1  Costa Rica Full democracy 9.58 6.79 7.22 7.50 9.71 8.16 Increase 0.03
20 Decrease 2  Mauritius Full democracy 9.17 7.86 6.11 8.75 8.82 8.14 Decrease 0.08
21 Increase 3  Japan Full democracy 8.75 8.57 6.67 8.13 8.53 8.13 Increase 0.14
22 Decrease 6  Spain Full democracy 9.58 7.14 7.22 8.13 8.53 8.12 Decrease 0.17
23 Steady  South Korea Full democracy 9.17 8.21 7.22 7.50 7.94 8.01 Increase 0.01
Flawed democracies
24 Decrease 4  France Flawed democracy 9.58 7.50 7.78 6.88 8.24 7.99 Decrease 0.13
25 Steady  United States Flawed democracy 9.17 6.79 8.89 6.25 8.53 7.92 Decrease 0.04
26 Decrease 4  Portugal Flawed democracy 9.58 7.50 6.11 7.50 8.82 7.90 Decrease 0.13
27 Steady  Estonia Flawed democracy 9.58 7.86 6.67 6.88 8.24 7.84 Decrease 0.06
27 Increase 1  Israel Flawed democracy 9.17 7.50 9.44 7.50 5.59 7.84 Decrease 0.02
29 Increase 6  Italy Flawed democracy 9.58 6.43 7.22 7.50 7.94 7.74 Increase 0.22
30 Decrease 4  Malta Flawed democracy 9.17 6.79 6.11 8.13 8.24 7.68 Decrease 0.27
31 Increase 1  Czech Republic Flawed democracy 9.58 6.07 6.67 7.50 8.53 7.67 Decrease 0.02
32 Decrease 2  Cape Verde Flawed democracy 9.17 7.00 6.67 6.88 8.53 7.65 Decrease 0.13
33 Decrease 4  Botswana Flawed democracy 9.17 6.79 6.11 7.50 8.53 7.62 Decrease 0.19
34 Steady  Cyprus Flawed democracy 9.17 5.36 7.22 7.50 8.53 7.56 Decrease 0.03
35 Increase 1  Slovenia Flawed democracy 9.58 6.43 7.22 6.25 8.24 7.54 Increase 0.04
36 Decrease 3  Belgium Flawed democracy 9.58 7.86 5.00 6.88 8.24 7.51 Decrease 0.13
37 Increase 2  Greece Flawed democracy 9.58 5.21 6.11 7.50 8.53 7.39 Decrease 0.04
38 Steady  Latvia Flawed democracy 9.58 6.07 6.67 5.63 8.24 7.24 Decrease 0.25
39 Increase 4  Malaysia Flawed democracy 9.58 7.86 6.67 6.25 5.59 7.19 Increase 0.03
40 Increase 6  Panama Flawed democracy 9.58 6.43 7.22 5.00 7.65 7.18 Increase 0.13
41 Increase 2  Trinidad and Tobago Flawed democracy 9.58 7.14 6.11 5.63 7.35 7.16 Steady
42 Increase 8  Jamaica Flawed democracy 8.75 7.14 5.00 6.25 8.53 7.13 Increase 0.17
42 Decrease 6  Lithuania Flawed democracy 9.58 6.07 5.56 5.63 8.82 7.13 Decrease 0.37
44 Decrease 3  Timor-Leste Flawed democracy 9.58 5.93 5.56 6.88 7.35 7.06 Decrease 0.13
45 Decrease 5  South Africa Flawed democracy 7.42 7.14 8.33 5.00 7.35 7.05 Decrease 0.19
46 Decrease 1  Colombia Flawed democracy 9.17 6.43 6.67 5.00 7.94 7.04 Decrease 0.09
47 Decrease 5  Slovakia Flawed democracy 9.58 6.43 5.56 5.63 7.65 6.97 Decrease 0.20
48 Steady  Argentina Flawed democracy 9.17 5.36 6.67 5.63 7.94 6.95 Decrease 0.07
49 Increase 3  Brazil Flawed democracy 9.58 5.36 6.11 5.63 7.94 6.92 Increase 0.04
50 Increase 7  Poland Flawed democracy 9.17 5.71 6.67 5.63 7.06 6.85 Increase 0.23
51 Decrease 2  Suriname Flawed democracy 9.58 6.07 6.11 5.00 7.35 6.82 Decrease 0.16
52 Decrease 5  Bulgaria Flawed democracy 9.17 5.71 7.22 4.38 7.06 6.71 Decrease 0.32
53 Decrease 2  India Flawed democracy 8.67 7.14 6.67 5.00 5.59 6.61 Decrease 0.29
54 Decrease 1  Tunisia Flawed democracy 9.17 5.36 7.22 5.63 5.59 6.59 Decrease 0.13
55 Decrease 1  Philippines Flawed democracy 9.17 5.00 7.78 4.38 6.47 6.56 Decrease 0.08
55 Steady  Hungary Flawed democracy 8.33 6.43 5.00 6.25 6.76 6.56 Decrease 0.07
57 Increase 1  Peru Flawed democracy 8.75 5.36 5.56 5.63 7.35 6.53 Decrease 0.07
58 Increase 7  Namibia Flawed democracy 7.00 5.36 6.67 5.63 7.94 6.52 Increase 0.09
59 Steady  Croatia Flawed democracy 9.17 6.07 6.11 4.38 6.76 6.50 Decrease 0.07
59 Decrease 4  Ghana Flawed democracy 8.33 5.36 6.67 6.25 5.88 6.50 Decrease 0.13
61 Increase 1  Mongolia Flawed democracy 8.75 5.71 5.56 5.63 6.76 6.48 Decrease 0.02
62 Increase 1  Romania Flawed democracy 9.17 5.36 6.67 3.75 7.06 6.40 Decrease 0.09
63 Decrease 3  Dominican Republic Flawed democracy 9.17 4.29 6.11 5.00 7.06 6.32 Decrease 0.22
64 Decrease 4  Lesotho Flawed democracy 9.17 4.14 6.11 5.63 6.47 6.30 Decrease 0.24
64 Steady  Indonesia Flawed democracy 7.92 7.50 6.11 4.38 5.59 6.30 Decrease 0.18
66 Steady  Serbia Flawed democracy 8.25 5.36 6.67 3.75 7.06 6.22 Decrease 0.19
67 Increase 3  Paraguay Flawed democracy 8.75 5.71 5.00 4.38 7.06 6.18 Decrease 0.06
68 Increase 1  Sri Lanka Flawed democracy 7.00 5.71 5.56 6.25 6.18 6.14 Decrease 0.13
69 Decrease 2  Ecuador Flawed democracy 8.75 5.00 6.67 3.75 6.47 6.13 Decrease 0.20
70 Increase 4  Papua New Guinea Flawed democracy 6.92 6.07 3.33 6.25 7.94 6.10 Increase 0.07
71 Increase 8  Albania Flawed democracy 7.00 5.36 4.44 6.25 7.35 6.08 Increase 0.19
72 Increase 1  Mexico Flawed democracy 7.83 5.71 7.78 3.13 5.88 6.07 Decrease 0.02
73 Decrease 5  Thailand Flawed democracy 7.00 5.00 6.67 6.25 5.29 6.04 Decrease 0.28
74 Increase 1  Singapore Flawed democracy 4.83 7.86 4.44 6.25 6.76 6.03 Increase 0.01
75 Decrease 4  Guyana Flawed democracy 6.50 5.36 6.11 5.00 7.06 6.01 Decrease 0.14
Hybrid regimes
76 Increase 4  Bangladesh Hybrid regime 7.42 6.07 6.11 5.63 4.71 5.99 Increase 0.11
77 Decrease 6  El Salvador Hybrid regime 9.17 4.29 6.11 3.75 6.18 5.90 Decrease 0.25
78 Decrease 1  North Macedonia Hybrid regime 7.42 5.71 6.11 3.13 7.06 5.89 Decrease 0.08
79 Decrease 1  Ukraine Hybrid regime 8.25 2.71 7.22 5.00 5.88 5.81 Decrease 0.09
80 Increase 3  Moldova Hybrid regime 7.00 4.64 6.11 4.38 6.76 5.78 Increase 0.03
81 Increase 3  Montenegro Hybrid regime 7.42 5.71 6.11 3.13 6.47 5.77 Increase 0.12
82 Increase 5  Malawi Hybrid regime 7.00 4.29 5.00 6.25 6.18 5.74 Increase 0.24
83 Decrease 2  Fiji Hybrid regime 6.58 5.00 6.11 5.63 5.29 5.72 Decrease 0.13
84 Increase 7  Bhutan Hybrid regime 8.75 6.79 3.33 5.00 4.71 5.71 Increase 0.41
85 Steady  Madagascar Hybrid regime 7.92 3.57 6.67 5.63 4.71 5.70 Increase 0.06
86 Decrease 4  Senegal Hybrid regime 6.08 5.71 4.44 6.25 5.88 5.67 Decrease 0.18
87 Decrease 12  Hong Kong Hybrid regime 3.17 3.64 5.00 7.50 8.53 5.57 Decrease 0.45
88 Increase 1  Honduras Hybrid regime 7.83 4.29 4.44 4.38 5.88 5.36 Decrease 0.06
89 Decrease 3  Armenia Hybrid regime 7.50 5.00 6.11 3.13 5.00 5.35 Decrease 0.19
90 Decrease 2  Liberia Hybrid regime 7.42 2.71 5.56 5.63 5.29 5.32 Decrease 0.13
91 Decrease 2  Georgia Hybrid regime 7.83 3.57 6.11 3.75 5.29 5.31 Decrease 0.11
92 Steady  Nepal Hybrid regime 4.83 5.36 5.00 5.63 5.29 5.22 Decrease 0.06
93 Increase 2  Tanzania Hybrid regime 4.83 5.00 5.00 6.25 4.41 5.10 Decrease 0.06
94 Increase 10  Bolivia Hybrid regime 6.08 3.57 6.11 3.75 5.88 5.08 Increase 0.24
95 Decrease 1  Kenya Hybrid regime 3.50 5.36 6.67 5.63 4.12 5.05 Decrease 0.13
96 Steady  Morocco Hybrid regime 5.25 4.64 5.56 5.63 4.12 5.04 Decrease 0.06
97 Decrease 4  Guatemala Hybrid regime 6.92 3.93 5.00 3.13 5.88 4.97 Decrease 0.29
98 Increase 1  Uganda Hybrid regime 4.33 3.21 5.00 6.88 5.29 4.94 Decrease 0.08
99 Decrease 2  Zambia Hybrid regime 4.75 2.93 3.89 6.88 5.88 4.86 Decrease 0.23
99 Increase 3  Sierra Leone Hybrid regime 6.58 2.86 3.33 6.25 5.29 4.86 Steady
101 Increase 1  Bosnia and Herzegovina Hybrid regime 7.00 2.93 5.56 3.13 5.59 4.84 Decrease 0.02
102 Decrease 5  Benin Hybrid regime 3.33 5.36 3.89 5.63 4.71 4.58 Decrease 0.51
103 Increase 4  Gambia Hybrid regime 4.00 4.29 4.44 5.63 4.12 4.49 Increase 0.16
104 Increase 6  Turkey Hybrid regime 3.50 5.36 5.56 5.63 2.35 4.48 Increase 0.39
105 Increase 3  Pakistan Hybrid regime 5.67 5.36 3.33 2.50 4.71 4.31 Increase 0.06
106 Decrease 1  Haiti Hybrid regime 4.75 1.71 2.78 6.25 5.59 4.22 Decrease 0.35
107 Decrease 6  Kyrgyzstan Hybrid regime 4.75 2.93 5.56 3.13 4.71 4.21 Decrease 0.67
108 Decrease 2  Lebanon Hybrid regime 3.50 1.50 6.67 5.00 4.12 4.16 Decrease 0.20
109 Increase 2  Ivory Coast Hybrid regime 4.33 2.86 3.89 5.63 3.82 4.11 Increase 0.06
110 Decrease 1  Nigeria Hybrid regime 5.17 3.57 3.89 3.75 4.12 4.10 Decrease 0.02
Authoritarian regimes
111 Decrease 11  Mali Authoritarian 5.17 0.00 4.44 5.63 4.41 3.93 Decrease 0.99
112 Increase 4  Mauritania Authoritarian 3.50 3.57 5.00 3.13 4.41 3.92 Steady
113 Increase 4  Palestine Authoritarian 3.33 0.14 7.78 4.38 3.53 3.83 Decrease 0.06
114 Steady  Kuwait Authoritarian 3.58 3.93 3.89 4.38 3.24 3.80 Decrease 0.13
115 Decrease 2  Algeria Authoritarian 3.08 2.50 4.44 5.00 3.82 3.77 Decrease 0.24
116 Decrease 4  Burkina Faso Authoritarian 3.00 2.36 4.44 5.00 3.82 3.73 Decrease 0.31
117 Increase 2  Angola Authoritarian 2.25 2.86 5.56 5.00 2.65 3.66 Decrease 0.06
118 Steady  Iraq Authoritarian 5.25 0.00 6.67 5.00 1.18 3.62 Decrease 0.12
118 Decrease 4  Jordan Authoritarian 2.67 3.93 3.89 4.38 3.24 3.62 Decrease 0.31
120 Increase 2  Nicaragua Authoritarian 0.42 2.86 5.00 5.63 4.12 3.60 Increase 0.05
121 Steady  Gabon Authoritarian 2.58 1.86 4.44 5.00 3.82 3.54 Decrease 0.07
122 Decrease 2  Mozambique Authoritarian 2.58 1.43 5.00 5.00 3.53 3.51 Decrease 0.14
123 Increase 2  Ethiopia Authoritarian 0.42 3.57 5.56 5.00 2.35 3.38 Decrease 0.06
124 Increase 10  Russia Authoritarian 2.17 2.14 5.00 3.13 4.12 3.31 Increase 0.20
125 Increase 2  Niger Authoritarian 2.92 1.14 3.33 4.38 4.71 3.29 Steady
126 Increase 2  Qatar Authoritarian 0.00 4.29 2.78 5.63 3.53 3.24 Increase 0.05
127 Increase 2  Zimbabwe Authoritarian 0.00 2.50 4.44 5.63 3.24 3.16 Steady
128 Increase 11  Kazakhstan Authoritarian 0.50 3.21 5.00 3.75 3.24 3.14 Increase 0.20
129 Increase 5  Republic of the Congo Authoritarian 2.17 2.50 3.89 3.75 3.24 3.11 Steady
130 Decrease 6  Cambodia Authoritarian 0.00 3.93 3.89 5.63 2.06 3.10 Decrease 0.43
130 Decrease 1  Rwanda Authoritarian 1.42 4.29 2.78 4.38 2.65 3.10 Decrease 0.06
132 Decrease 1  Comoros Authoritarian 2.08 2.21 3.89 3.75 3.53 3.09 Decrease 0.06
133 Decrease 1  Eswatini Authoritarian 0.92 2.86 2.78 5.63 3.24 3.08 Decrease 0.06
133 Increase 4  Guinea Authoritarian 3.50 0.43 4.44 4.38 2.65 3.08 Decrease 0.06
135 Decrease 13  Myanmar Authoritarian 1.75 3.93 2.78 4.38 2.35 3.04 Decrease 0.51
136 Increase 1  Oman Authoritarian 0.08 3.93 2.78 4.38 3.82 3.00 Decrease 0.06
137 Decrease 1  Vietnam Authoritarian 0.00 2.86 3.89 5.63 2.35 2.94 Decrease 0.14
138 Decrease 1  Egypt Authoritarian 1.33 3.21 3.33 5.00 1.76 2.93 Decrease 0.13
139 Increase 2  Afghanistan Authoritarian 3.42 0.64 3.89 2.50 3.82 2.85 Steady
140 Increase 3  Cuba Authoritarian 0.00 3.57 3.33 4.38 2.94 2.84 Steady
141 Decrease 15  Togo Authoritarian 3.17 1.79 3.33 5.00 3.24 2.80 Decrease 0.50
142 Decrease 1  Cameroon Authoritarian 1.67 2.14 3.33 4.38 2.35 2.77 Decrease 0.08
143 Decrease 3  Venezuela Authoritarian 0.00 1.79 5.00 4.38 2.65 2.76 Decrease 0.04
144 Steady  Djibouti Authoritarian 0.42 1.29 3.89 5.63 2.35 2.71 Decrease 0.06
145 Steady  United Arab Emirates Authoritarian 0.00 3.93 2.22 5.00 2.65 2.70 Decrease 0.06
146 Steady  Azerbaijan Authoritarian 0.50 2.86 3.33 3.75 2.94 2.68 Decrease 0.07
147 Increase 1  Guinea-Bissau Authoritarian 4.92 0.00 2.78 3.13 2.35 2.63 Steady
148 Increase 2  Belarus Authoritarian 0.00 2.00 3.89 5.00 2.06 2.59 Increase 0.11
149 Decrease 2  Sudan Authoritarian 0.00 1.79 4.44 5.00 1.47 2.54 Decrease 0.16
150 Decrease 1  Bahrain Authoritarian 0.83 2.71 2.78 4.38 1.76 2.49 Decrease 0.06
151 Increase 2  China Authoritarian 0.00 4.29 2.78 3.13 1.18 2.27 Increase 0.01
152 Decrease 1  Iran Authoritarian 0.00 2.50 3.89 3.13 1.47 2.20 Decrease 0.18
153 Decrease 1  Eritrea Authoritarian 0.00 2.14 0.56 6.88 1.18 2.15 Decrease 0.22
154 Steady  Burundi Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 3.33 5.00 2.35 2.14 Decrease 0.01
155 Increase 2  Uzbekistan Authoritarian 0.08 1.86 2.78 5.00 0.88 2.12 Increase 0.11
156 Increase 3  Saudi Arabia Authoritarian 0.00 3.57 2.22 3.13 1.47 2.08 Increase 0.15
157 Decrease 1  Libya Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 3.33 3.75 2.65 1.95 Decrease 0.07
157 Steady  Yemen Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 3.89 5.00 0.88 1.95 Steady
159 Steady  Tajikistan Authoritarian 0.00 2.21 2.22 4.38 0.88 1.94 Increase 0.01
160 Increase 1  Equatorial Guinea Authoritarian 0.00 0.43 3.33 4.38 1.47 1.92 Steady
161 Decrease 6  Laos Authoritarian 0.00 2.86 1.67 3.75 0.59 1.77 Decrease 0.37
162 Steady  Turkmenistan Authoritarian 0.00 0.79 2.22 5.00 0.59 1.72 Steady
163 Steady  Chad Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 1.67 3.75 2.35 1.55 Decrease 0.06
164 Steady  Syria Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 2.78 4.38 0.00 1.43 Steady
165 Steady  Central African Republic Authoritarian 1.25 0.00 1.11 1.88 2.35 1.32 Steady
166 Steady  Democratic Republic of the Congo Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 1.67 3.13 0.88 1.13 Steady
167 Steady  North Korea Authoritarian 0.00 2.50 1.67 1.25 0.00 1.08 Steady

Recent changes

In 2016, the United States was downgraded from a full democracy to a flawed democracy;[15] its score, which had been declining for some years, crossed the threshold from 8.05 in 2015 to 7.98 in 2016. The report states that this was caused by a myriad of factors dating back to at least the late 1960s which have eroded Americans' trust in governmental institutions.[16][17]

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.

Australia (then ranked 8th) and Taiwan (then ranked 33rd) both legalised same-sex marriage in 2017. In China, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, further entrenched his power by writing his contribution to the Communist Party of China'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.[10]

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 democracy to full democracy. 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 was upgraded again from its status as a hybrid regime to a flawed democracy.[12] Algeria was upgraded again from an authoritarian regime to a hybrid regime.

In 2020, Taiwan was upgraded from flawed democracy to full democracy following reforms in the judiciary,[18] and soared to 11th position (just 2 positions below Australia) from its previous position at 33. Japan was also upgraded again to a full democracy, while both France and Portugal were once again relegated to flawed democracies. Algeria was downgraded again from a hybrid regime to an authoritarian regime.

Democracy was dealt a major blow in 2020. Almost 70% of countries covered by the Democracy Index recorded a decline in their overall score, as most of them imposed lockdowns 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.

Criticism

The Democracy Index has been criticised 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

References

  1. ^ a b "Democracy Index 2006" (PDF). The World in 2007. 15 November 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Democracy Index 2008" (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit. 21 October 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b "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 2011: Democracy under stress". Economist Intelligence Unit. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Democracy Index 2012: Democracy at a standstill" (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit. 14 March 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Democracy Index 2013: Democracy in limbo". The Economist Intelligence Unit. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Democracy Index 2014:Democracy and its discontents" (PDF). The Economist Intelligence Unit. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e "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.
  9. ^ "Democracy Index 2016: Revenge of the "deplorables"". eiu.com. The Economist Intelligence Unit. 25 January 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  10. ^ a b "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.
  11. ^ "Democracy Index 2018: Me Too?". The Economist Intelligence Unit. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Democracy Index 2019 A year of democratic setbacks and popular protest". EIU.com. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Democracy Index 2020: In sickness and in health?". EIU.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  14. ^ "More State than Nation: Lukashenko's Belarus | JIA SIPA". Journal of International Affairs. 65 (1): 93–113. 1 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Eshe Nelson (25 January 2017). "The US has been downgraded to a "flawed democracy," but not just because of Trump". Qz.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Declining trust in government is denting democracy". The Economist. 25 January 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  18. ^ "Taiwan most democratic country in East Asia: The Economist". Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Peter Tasker: The flawed 'science' behind democracy rankings". asia.nikkei.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-23. Retrieved 2019-02-22.

External links