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Democracy Index

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The Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index map for 2019

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 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] and 2019.[12]

Method

Part of the Politics series
Democracy
Types
Related topics
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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.[13]

Classification 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]

Democracy Index 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 2019[12]
Type of regime Colors Score Countries Countries (%) World population (%)
Full democracies 8.01–10 22 13.2% 5.7%
Flawed democracies 6.01–8 54 32.3% 42.7%
Hybrid regimes 4.01–6 37 22.2% 16.0%
Authoritarian regimes 0–4 54 32.3% 35.6%

Democracy Index 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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
  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

The following table lists the number of countries in each of the four democracy classifications in 2019.

Region Autho­ritarian Hybrid regime Flawed demo­cracy Full demo­cracy Coun­tries Average score
North America 0 0 1 1 2 8.59
Western Europe 0 1 5 15 21 8.35
Latin America and the Caribbean 3 4 14 3 24 6.13
Asia and Australasia 7 5 14 2 28 5.67
Central and Eastern Europe 7 9 12 0 28 5.42
Sub-Saharan Africa 22 15 6 1 44 4.26
Middle East and North Africa 15 3 2 0 20 3.53
World 54 37 54 22 167 5.44

Democracy Index by country

The following table shows the changes in each nation's score over the years. The regions are assigned by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

2019 Rank Country Regime type 2006 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
 
North America
7  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
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
Western Europe
16  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
33  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
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  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
5  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
20  France Full 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
13  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
39  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
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
6  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
35  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
12  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
26  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
11  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
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
22  Portugal Full 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
16  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
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
10   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
110  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
14  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
Central and Eastern Europe
79  Albania Hybrid regime 5.91 5.91 5.86 5.81 5.67 5.67 5.67 5.91 5.91 5.98 5.98 5.89
86  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
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
150  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
102  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
47  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
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
32  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
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
89  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
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
139  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
101  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
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
37  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
83  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
84  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
77  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
57  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
63  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
134  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
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
42  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
36  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
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
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
78  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
157  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
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
104  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
52  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
21  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
45  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
19  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
143  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
60  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
67  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
71  El Salvador Flawed democracy 6.22 6.40 6.47 6.47 6.47 6.53 6.53 6.64 6.64 6.43 5.96 6.15
93  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
71  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
105  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
89  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
50  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
73  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
122  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
46  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
70  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
58  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
49  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
43  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
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
140  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
Asia and Australasia
141  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
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
80  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
91  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
124  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
153  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
81  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
75  Hong Kong Flawed democracy 6.03 5.85 5.92 5.92 6.42 6.42 6.46 6.50 6.42 6.31 6.15 6.02
51  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
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
24  Japan Flawed 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
155  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
43  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
62  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
122  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
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
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
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
108  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
74  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
54  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
75  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
23  South Korea Flawed 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
69  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
31  Taiwan Flawed 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
68  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
41  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
136  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
Middle East and North Africa
113  Algeria Hybrid regime 3.17 3.32 3.44 3.44 3.83 3.83 3.83 3.95 3.56 3.56 3.50 4.01
149  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
137  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
151  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
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
28  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
114  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
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
106  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
156  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
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
137  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
117  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
128  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
159  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
147  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
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
53  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
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
158  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
Sub-Saharan Africa
119  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
97  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
29  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
112  Burkina Faso Hybrid regime 3.72 3.60 3.59 3.59 3.52 4.15 4.09 4.70 4.70 4.75 4.75 4.04
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
30  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
141  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
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
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
131  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
134  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
111  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
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
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
161  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
152  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
132  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
125  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
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
107  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
55  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
132  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
148  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
94  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
60  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
88  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
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
87  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
100  Mali Hybrid regime 5.99 5.87 6.01 6.36 5.12 5.90 5.79 5.70 5.70 5.64 5.41 4.92
116  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
18  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
120  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
65  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
127  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
109  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
129  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
82  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
102  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
40  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
95  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
126  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
99  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
97  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
129  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

Change from previous report

Country 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
 
North America
 Canada Steady Increase 0.01 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Increase 0.07
 United States Steady Decrease 0.04 Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.02 Steady
Western Europe
 Austria 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
 Belgium Increase 0.01 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Decrease 0.16 Increase 0.01 Steady Decrease 0.14
 Cyprus Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.41 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Increase 0.13 Increase 0.12 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady
 Denmark Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.27 Steady Increase 0.09 Increase 0.02 Steady Steady
 Finland Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.13 Steady Decrease 0.03 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Increase 0.11
 France 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
 Germany 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
 Greece Steady Decrease 0.21 Decrease 0.27 Steady Steady Decrease 0.20 Steady Decrease 0.22 Increase 0.06 Steady Increase 0.14
 Iceland Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.08 Steady Steady
 Ireland 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
 Italy 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
 Luxembourg Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Steady
 Malta Steady Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.24 Increase 0.06 Decrease 0.26
 Netherlands 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
 Norway Increase 0.13 Increase 0.12 Steady Increase 0.13 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady
 Portugal 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
 Spain 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
 Sweden Steady Decrease 0.38 Steady Increase 0.23 Steady Steady Decrease 0.28 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Steady
  Switzerland Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady
 Turkey 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
 United Kingdom 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
Central and Eastern Europe
 Albania Steady Decrease 0.05 Decrease 0.05 Decrease 0.14 Steady Steady Increase 0.24 Steady Increase 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.09
 Armenia 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
 Azerbaijan 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
 Belarus 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
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 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
 Bulgaria 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
 Croatia Steady Decrease 0.23 Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.20 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.18 Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.06 Steady
 Czech Republic Increase 0.02 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.12 Steady Decrease 0.12 Decrease 0.20 Increase 0.07 Steady
 Estonia 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
 Georgia 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
 Hungary 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
 Kazakhstan 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
 Kyrgyzstan 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
 Latvia 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
 Lithuania Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Increase 0.30 Steady Steady Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.09 Steady
 Moldova 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
 Montenegro 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
 North Macedonia 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
 Poland 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
 Romania 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
 Russia 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
 Serbia Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.16 Steady Steady Increase 0.34 Increase 0.04 Steady Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.16 Steady Steady
 Slovakia Decrease 0.07 Increase 0.02 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.13 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.07
 Slovenia Steady Decrease 0.27 Increase 0.07 Increase 0.12 Steady Decrease 0.31 Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.01 Steady Steady
 Tajikistan Steady Increase 0.06 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.14 Decrease 0.42 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.04 Steady Steady
 Turkmenistan Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady
 Ukraine 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
 Uzbekistan Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.02 Steady Increase 0.73 Decrease 0.50 Steady Steady Increase 0.06 Steady
Latin America and the Caribbean
 Argentina Steady Increase 0.21 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.18 Decrease 0.06 Steady Increase 0.06 Steady
 Bolivia 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
 Brazil 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
 Chile 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
 Colombia 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
 Costa Rica Steady Steady Increase 0.06 Steady Decrease 0.07 Steady Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.08 Steady Increase 0.19 Increase 0.06
 Cuba Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 0.31 Decrease 0.16
 Dominican Republic Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Increase 0.29 Increase 0.25 Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Decrease 0.01 Decrease 0.12 Steady
 Ecuador 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
 El Salvador 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
 Guatemala 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
 Guyana 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
 Haiti 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
 Honduras 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
 Jamaica Decrease 0.13 Steady Decrease 0.08 Increase 0.26 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.10 Decrease 0.27 Decrease 0.06
 Mexico 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
 Nicaragua 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
 Panama Steady Decrease 0.20 Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.05 Decrease 0.03 Steady
 Paraguay Increase 0.24 Steady Steady Decrease 0.14 Steady Steady Increase 0.07 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.07 Steady
 Peru 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
 Suriname Increase 0.06 Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Increase 0.12 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.01 Increase 0.22 Steady
 Trinidad and Tobago Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.05 Steady Decrease 0.17 Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.12 Steady
 Uruguay Increase 0.12 Increase 0.02 Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.05 Increase 0.26 Steady
 Venezuela 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
Asia and Australasia
 Afghanistan Decrease 0.04 Decrease 0.54 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.29 Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Increase 0.42 Decrease 0.12
 Australia Steady Increase 0.13 Steady Steady Decrease 0.09 Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Increase 0.08 Steady Steady
 Bangladesh 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
 Bhutan 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
 Cambodia 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
 China 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
 Fiji 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
 Hong Kong 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
 India 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
 Indonesia 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
 Japan Increase 0.10 Decrease 0.17 Steady Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.12 Increase 0.03 Decrease 0.11 Increase 0.11 Steady
 Laos Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.22 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Increase 0.16 Steady Steady Decrease 0.23
 Malaysia 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
 Mongolia Steady Decrease 0.24 Decrease 0.13 Increase 0.12 Increase 0.16 Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady
 Myanmar 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
   Nepal 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
 New Zealand Increase 0.18 Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady
 North Korea Decrease 0.17 Increase 0.22 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady
 Pakistan 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
 Papua New Guinea Steady Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.33 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady
 Philippines 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
 Singapore 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
 South Korea 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
 Sri Lanka 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
 Taiwan 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
 Thailand 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
 Timor-Leste Increase 0.81 Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.08 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.05 Steady Steady
 Vietnam 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
Middle East and North Africa
 Algeria 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
 Bahrain 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
 Egypt 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
 Iran 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
 Iraq 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
 Israel 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
 Jordan 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
 Kuwait Increase 0.30 Increase 0.49 Decrease 0.14 Increase 0.04 Steady Steady Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.08
 Lebanon 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
 Libya 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
 Morocco 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
 Oman Increase 0.21 Decrease 0.12 Increase 0.40 Steady Steady Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.02
 Palestine 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
 Qatar Increase 0.14 Increase 0.17 Increase 0.09 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.01 Steady Steady
 Saudi Arabia Decrease 0.02 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.07 Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.11 Steady Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Steady
 Sudan 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
 Syria 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
 Tunisia 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
 United Arab Emirates 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
 Yemen 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
Sub-Saharan Africa
 Angola Increase 0.94 Decrease 0.03 Steady Increase 0.03 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.05 Increase 0.22 Steady Increase 0.10
 Benin 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
 Botswana Decrease 0.13 Increase 0.16 Steady Increase 0.22 Increase 0.13 Decrease 0.11 Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady
 Burkina Faso 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
 Burundi 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
 Cape Verde 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
 Cameroon 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
 Central African Republic 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
 Chad Decrease 0.13 Steady Increase 0.10 Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Steady
 Comoros Decrease 0.32 Decrease 0.17 Increase 0.11 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.19 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.56
 Republic of the Congo Decrease 0.25 Decrease 0.05 Steady Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.02 Steady Increase 0.34 Increase 0.06 Decrease 0.20
 Ivory Coast 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
 Democratic Republic of the Congo 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
 Djibouti 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
 Equatorial Guinea 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
 Eritrea Steady Steady Increase 0.03 Increase 0.06 Steady Increase 0.04 Decrease 0.07 Steady Steady Steady Steady
 Eswatini 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
 Ethiopia 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
 Gabon 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
 Gambia 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
 Ghana Steady Increase 0.67 Steady Steady Increase 0.31 Steady Increase 0.53 Decrease 0.11 Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.06 Steady
 Guinea Increase 0.07 Increase 0.70 Steady Steady Increase 0.05 Increase 0.17 Increase 0.13 Steady Steady Steady Steady
 Guinea-Bissau Decrease 0.01 Steady Steady Decrease 0.56 Decrease 0.17 Increase 0.67 Steady Increase 0.05 Steady Steady Increase 0.65
 Kenya Decrease 0.29 Decrease 0.08 Steady Steady Increase 0.42 Steady Increase 0.20 Steady Decrease 0.22 Steady Increase 0.07
 Lesotho 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
 Liberia 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
 Madagascar 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
 Malawi 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
 Mali 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
 Mauritania Increase 0.79 Decrease 0.05 Increase 0.31 Steady Steady Steady Decrease 0.21 Steady Decrease 0.14 Steady Increase 0.10
 Mauritius Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.13 Steady Steady Increase 0.10 Increase 0.01 Decrease 0.06 Steady Steady
 Mozambique 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
 Namibia Decrease 0.06 Decrease 0.25 Increase 0.01 Steady Steady Steady Increase 0.07 Steady Steady Decrease 0.06 Increase 0.18
 Niger 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
 Nigeria 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
 Rwanda 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
 Senegal 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
 Sierra Leone 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
 South Africa Steady Decrease 0.12 Steady Steady Increase 0.11 Decrease 0.08 Decrease 0.26 Decrease 0.15 Decrease 0.17 Steady Steady
 Tanzania 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
 Togo 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
 Uganda 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
 Zambia 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
 Zimbabwe 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

Composition of Democracy Index

The following table shows the five parameters that make up the score of each nation and the changes that have occurred in the last year.

Δ Rank is the change in ranking from the previous year, Δ Score is the change in the nation's overall score from the previous year.

Year: 2019
Rank Δ Rank Country Regime type Elec­toral pro­cess and plura­lism Func­tioning of govern­ment Poli­tical partici­pation Poli­tical cul­ture Civil liber­ties Overall score Δ Score
1 Steady  Norway Full democracy 10.00 9.64 10.00 10.00 9.71 9.87 Steady
2 Steady  Iceland Full democracy 10.00 9.29 8.89 10.00 9.71 9.58 Steady
3 Steady  Sweden Full democracy 9.58 9.64 8.33 10.00 9.41 9.39 Steady
4 Steady  New Zealand Full democracy 10.00 9.29 8.89 8.13 10.00 9.26 Steady
5 Increase 3  Finland Full democracy 10.00 8.93 8.89 8.75 9.71 9.25 Increase 0.11
6 Steady  Ireland Full democracy 10.00 7.86 8.33 10.00 10.00 9.24 Increase 0.09
7 Decrease 2  Denmark Full democracy 10.00 9.29 8.33 9.38 9.12 9.22 Steady
7 Decrease 1  Canada Full democracy 9.58 9.64 7.78 9.38 9.71 9.22 Increase 0.07
9 Steady  Australia Full democracy 10.00 8.93 7.78 8.75 10.00 9.09 Steady
10 Steady   Switzerland Full democracy 9.58 9.29 7.78 9.38 9.12 9.03 Steady
11 Steady  Netherlands Full democracy 9.58 9.29 8.33 8.75 9.12 9.01 Increase 0.12
12 Steady  Luxembourg Full democracy 10.00 8.93 6.67 8.75 9.71 8.81 Steady
13 Steady  Germany Full democracy 9.58 8.57 8.33 7.50 9.41 8.68 Steady
14 Steady  United Kingdom Full democracy 9.58 7.50 8.89 7.50 9.12 8.52 Decrease 0.01
15 Steady  Uruguay Full democracy 10.00 8.57 6.11 7.50 9.71 8.38 Steady
16 Steady  Austria Full democracy 9.58 7.86 8.33 6.88 8.82 8.29 Steady
16 Increase 3  Spain Full democracy 9.58 7.14 7.78 8.13 8.82 8.29 Increase 0.11
18 Decrease 1  Mauritius Full democracy 9.17 8.21 5.56 8.75 9.41 8.22 Steady
19 Increase 1  Costa Rica Full democracy 9.58 7.50 6.67 7.50 9.41 8.13 Increase 0.06
20 Increase 9  France Full democracy 9.58 7.86 7.78 6.88 8.53 8.12 Increase 0.32
21 Increase 2  Chile Full democracy 9.58 8.57 5.00 8.13 9.12 8.08 Increase 0.11
22 Increase 5  Portugal Full democracy 9.58 7.86 6.11 7.50 9.12 8.03 Increase 0.19
23 Decrease 2  South Korea Flawed democracy 9.17 7.86 7.22 7.50 8.24 8.00 Steady
24 Decrease 2  Japan Flawed democracy 8.75 8.21 6.67 7.50 8.82 7.99 Steady
25 Steady  United States Flawed democracy 9.17 7.14 7.78 7.50 8.24 7.96 Steady
26 Decrease 8  Malta Flawed democracy 9.17 7.50 6.11 8.13 8.82 7.95 Decrease 0.26
27 Decrease 4  Estonia Flawed democracy 9.58 7.86 6.67 6.88 8.53 7.90 Decrease 0.07
28 Increase 2  Israel Flawed democracy 9.17 7.86 8.89 7.50 5.88 7.86 Increase 0.07
29 Decrease 1  Botswana Flawed democracy 9.17 7.14 6.11 7.50 9.12 7.81 Steady
30 Decrease 4  Cape Verde Flawed democracy 9.17 7.36 6.67 6.88 8.82 7.78 Decrease 0.10
31 Increase 1  Taiwan Flawed democracy 9.58 8.21 6.11 5.63 9.12 7.73 Steady
32 Increase 2  Czech Republic Flawed democracy 9.58 6.79 6.67 6.88 8.53 7.69 Steady
33 Decrease 2  Belgium Flawed democracy 9.58 8.21 5.00 6.88 8.53 7.64 Decrease 0.14
34 Increase 1  Cyprus Flawed democracy 9.17 6.43 6.67 6.88 8.82 7.59 Steady
35 Decrease 2  Italy Flawed democracy 9.58 6.07 7.78 6.25 7.94 7.52 Decrease 0.19
36 Steady  Slovenia Flawed democracy 9.58 6.79 6.67 6.25 8.24 7.50 Steady
36 Steady  Lithuania Flawed democracy 9.58 6.43 6.11 6.25 9.12 7.50 Steady
38 Steady  Latvia Flawed democracy 9.58 6.07 6.11 6.88 8.82 7.49 Increase 0.11
39 Steady  Greece Flawed democracy 9.58 4.86 6.67 7.50 8.53 7.43 Increase 0.14
40 Steady  South Africa Flawed democracy 7.42 7.50 8.33 5.00 7.94 7.24 Steady
41 Increase 1  Timor-Leste Flawed democracy 9.58 6.29 5.56 6.88 7.65 7.19 Steady
42 Increase 2  Slovakia Flawed democracy 9.58 7.14 5.56 5.63 7.94 7.17 Increase 0.07
43 Increase 9  Malaysia Flawed democracy 9.17 7.86 6.67 6.25 5.88 7.16 Increase 0.28
43 Steady  Trinidad and Tobago Flawed democracy 9.58 7.14 6.11 5.63 7.35 7.16 Steady
45 Increase 6  Colombia Flawed democracy 9.17 6.79 5.56 5.63 8.53 7.13 Increase 0.17
46 Decrease 1  Panama Flawed democracy 9.58 6.07 6.67 5.00 7.94 7.05 Steady
47 Decrease 1  Bulgaria Flawed democracy 9.17 6.43 7.22 4.38 7.94 7.03 Steady
48 Decrease 1  Argentina Flawed democracy 9.17 5.36 6.11 6.25 8.24 7.02 Steady
49 Steady  Suriname Flawed democracy 9.17 6.43 6.67 5.00 7.65 6.98 Steady
50 Decrease 3  Jamaica Flawed democracy 8.75 7.14 4.44 6.25 8.24 6.96 Decrease 0.06
51 Decrease 10  India Flawed democracy 8.67 6.79 6.67 5.63 6.76 6.90 Decrease 0.33
52 Decrease 2  Brazil Flawed democracy 9.58 5.36 6.11 5.00 8.24 6.86 Decrease 0.11
53 Increase 10  Tunisia Flawed democracy 9.17 5.71 7.22 5.63 5.88 6.72 Increase 0.31
54 Decrease 1  Philippines Flawed democracy 9.17 5.36 7.22 4.38 7.06 6.64 Decrease 0.07
55 Increase 2  Ghana Flawed democracy 8.33 5.71 6.67 6.25 6.18 6.63 Steady
55 Increase 2  Hungary Flawed democracy 8.75 6.07 5.00 6.25 7.06 6.63 Steady
57 Decrease 3  Poland Flawed democracy 9.17 6.07 6.11 4.38 7.35 6.62 Decrease 0.05
58 Increase 1  Peru Flawed democracy 9.17 5.00 5.56 5.63 7.65 6.60 Steady
59 Increase 1  Croatia Flawed democracy 9.17 6.07 5.56 5.00 7.06 6.57 Steady
60 Increase 1  Dominican Republic Flawed democracy 9.17 5.36 6.11 5.00 7.06 6.54 Steady
60 Decrease 4  Lesotho Flawed democracy 9.17 4.50 6.67 5.63 6.76 6.54 Decrease 0.10
62 Steady  Mongolia Flawed democracy 9.17 5.71 5.56 5.00 7.06 6.50 Steady
63 Increase 3  Romania Flawed democracy 9.17 5.71 5.56 4.38 7.65 6.49 Increase 0.11
64 Increase 1  Indonesia Flawed democracy 7.92 7.14 6.11 5.63 5.59 6.48 Increase 0.09
65 Increase 4  Namibia Flawed democracy 6.58 5.36 6.67 5.63 7.94 6.43 Increase 0.18
66 Decrease 3  Serbia Flawed democracy 8.25 5.36 6.11 5.00 7.35 6.41 Steady
67 Increase 1  Ecuador Flawed democracy 8.75 5.36 6.11 4.38 7.06 6.33 Increase 0.06
68 Increase 38  Thailand Flawed democracy 7.42 5.36 6.11 6.25 6.47 6.32 Increase 1.69
69 Increase 2  Sri Lanka Flawed democracy 7.00 6.07 5.56 6.25 6.47 6.27 Increase 0.08
70 Steady  Paraguay Flawed democracy 8.75 5.71 5.00 4.38 7.35 6.24 Steady
71 Increase 6  El Salvador Flawed democracy 9.17 4.64 6.11 3.75 7.06 6.15 Increase 0.19
71 Decrease 17  Guyana Flawed democracy 6.92 5.36 6.11 5.00 7.35 6.15 Decrease 0.52
73 Decrease 2  Mexico Flawed democracy 7.83 6.07 7.22 3.13 6.18 6.09 Decrease 0.10
74 Increase 1  Papua New Guinea Flawed democracy 6.92 6.07 3.89 5.63 7.65 6.03 Steady
75 Decrease 2  Hong Kong Flawed democracy 3.58 4.36 6.11 7.50 8.53 6.02 Decrease 0.13
75 Decrease 9  Singapore Flawed democracy 3.92 7.86 5.00 6.25 7.06 6.02 Decrease 0.36
77 Increase 1  North Macedonia Hybrid regime 7.00 5.36 6.67 3.75 7.06 5.97 Increase 0.10
78 Increase 6  Ukraine Hybrid regime 7.42 2.71 6.67 6.25 6.47 5.90 Increase 0.21
79 Decrease 3  Albania Hybrid regime 7.00 5.36 4.44 5.00 7.65 5.89 Decrease 0.09
80 Increase 8  Bangladesh Hybrid regime 7.83 6.07 6.11 4.38 5.00 5.88 Increase 0.31
81 Decrease 2  Fiji Hybrid regime 6.58 5.36 6.11 5.63 5.59 5.85 Steady
82 Decrease 9  Senegal Hybrid regime 6.08 6.07 4.44 6.25 6.18 5.81 Decrease 0.34
83 Decrease 4  Moldova Hybrid regime 6.58 4.64 6.11 4.38 7.06 5.75 Decrease 0.10
84 Decrease 3  Montenegro Hybrid regime 5.67 5.36 6.11 4.38 6.76 5.65 Decrease 0.09
85 Increase 10  Madagascar Hybrid regime 7.92 3.57 6.11 5.63 5.00 5.64 Increase 0.42
86 Increase 17  Armenia Hybrid regime 7.50 5.36 6.11 3.13 5.59 5.54 Increase 0.75
87 Increase 3  Malawi Hybrid regime 6.08 4.29 5.00 6.25 5.88 5.50 Increase 0.01
88 Increase 5  Liberia Hybrid regime 7.42 3.07 5.56 5.63 5.59 5.45 Increase 0.10
89 Steady  Georgia Hybrid regime 7.83 3.21 6.11 4.38 5.59 5.42 Decrease 0.08
89 Decrease 4  Honduras Hybrid regime 7.83 4.29 4.44 4.38 6.18 5.42 Decrease 0.21
91 Increase 3  Bhutan Hybrid regime 8.75 6.79 2.78 4.38 3.82 5.30 Steady
92 Increase 5    Nepal Hybrid regime 4.83 5.36 5.00 5.63 5.59 5.28 Increase 0.10
93 Decrease 6  Guatemala Hybrid regime 6.92 4.64 3.89 4.38 6.47 5.26 Decrease 0.34
94 Increase 4  Kenya Hybrid regime 3.50 5.71 6.67 5.63 4.41 5.18 Increase 0.07
95 Decrease 4  Tanzania Hybrid regime 5.75 5.00 5.00 5.63 4.41 5.16 Decrease 0.25
96 Increase 4  Morocco Hybrid regime 5.25 4.64 5.56 5.63 4.41 5.10 Increase 0.11
97 Decrease 16  Benin Hybrid regime 4.67 5.71 4.44 5.63 5.00 5.09 Decrease 0.65
97 Decrease 11  Zambia Hybrid regime 4.75 2.93 4.44 6.88 6.47 5.09 Decrease 0.52
99 Decrease 3  Uganda Hybrid regime 4.33 3.57 4.44 6.88 5.88 5.02 Decrease 0.18
100 Decrease 9  Mali Hybrid regime 6.42 3.07 3.89 5.63 5.59 4.92 Decrease 0.49
101 Decrease 3  Kyrgyzstan Hybrid regime 6.08 2.93 6.67 3.75 5.00 4.89 Decrease 0.22
102 Decrease 1  Bosnia and Herzegovina Hybrid regime 6.17 2.93 5.56 3.75 5.88 4.86 Decrease 0.12
102 Increase 3  Sierra Leone Hybrid regime 6.58 2.86 3.33 6.25 5.29 4.86 Increase 0.20
104 Decrease 21  Bolivia Hybrid regime 4.75 3.93 5.00 3.75 6.76 4.84 Decrease 0.86
105 Decrease 3  Haiti Hybrid regime 4.75 2.07 3.89 6.25 5.88 4.57 Decrease 0.34
106 Steady  Lebanon Hybrid regime 3.92 1.50 6.67 5.00 4.71 4.36 Decrease 0.27
107 Increase 4  Gambia Hybrid regime 4.00 4.29 3.33 5.63 4.41 4.33 Increase 0.02
108 Increase 4  Pakistan Hybrid regime 6.08 5.71 2.22 2.50 4.71 4.25 Increase 0.08
109 Decrease 1  Nigeria Hybrid regime 5.17 3.93 3.33 3.75 4.41 4.12 Decrease 0.32
110 Steady  Turkey Hybrid regime 3.08 5.00 5.00 5.00 2.35 4.09 Decrease 0.28
111 Increase 2  Ivory Coast Hybrid regime 4.33 2.86 3.33 5.63 4.12 4.05 Decrease 0.10
112 Decrease 8  Burkina Faso Hybrid regime 3.92 2.71 4.44 5.00 4.12 4.04 Decrease 0.71
113 Increase 13  Algeria Hybrid regime 3.08 2.86 5.00 5.00 4.12 4.01 Increase 0.51
114 Increase 1  Jordan Authoritarian 3.58 4.29 3.89 4.38 3.53 3.93 Steady
114 Increase 2  Kuwait Authoritarian 3.58 4.29 3.89 4.38 3.53 3.93 Increase 0.08
116 Increase 3  Mauritania Authoritarian 3.50 3.57 5.00 3.13 4.41 3.92 Increase 0.10
117 Decrease 8  Palestine Authoritarian 3.33 0.14 7.78 4.38 3.82 3.89 Decrease 0.50
118 Decrease 4  Iraq Authoritarian 5.25 0.00 6.67 5.00 1.76 3.74 Decrease 0.32
119 Increase 4  Angola Authoritarian 2.25 2.86 5.56 5.00 2.94 3.72 Increase 0.10
120 Decrease 4  Mozambique Authoritarian 2.58 2.14 5.00 5.00 3.53 3.65 Decrease 0.20
121 Increase 3  Gabon Authoritarian 2.58 2.21 4.44 5.00 3.82 3.61 Steady
122 Decrease 4  Myanmar Authoritarian 3.08 3.93 2.78 5.63 2.35 3.55 Decrease 0.28
122 Steady  Nicaragua Authoritarian 1.25 2.86 3.89 5.63 4.12 3.55 Decrease 0.08
124 Decrease 1  Cambodia Authoritarian 0.83 4.64 3.33 5.63 3.24 3.53 Decrease 0.06
125 Increase 3  Ethiopia Authoritarian 0.42 3.57 5.56 5.00 2.65 3.44 Increase 0.09
126 Increase 12  Togo Authoritarian 3.17 1.79 3.33 5.00 3.24 3.30 Increase 0.20
127 Decrease 7  Niger Authoritarian 2.92 1.14 3.33 4.38 4.71 3.29 Decrease 0.47
128 Increase 5  Qatar Authoritarian 0.00 4.29 2.22 5.63 3.82 3.19 Steady
129 Decrease 1  Rwanda Authoritarian 1.42 4.29 2.78 4.38 2.94 3.16 Decrease 0.19
129 Increase 5  Zimbabwe Authoritarian 0.00 2.50 4.44 5.63 3.24 3.16 Steady
131 Decrease 10  Comoros Authoritarian 2.08 2.21 3.89 3.75 3.82 3.15 Decrease 0.56
132 Increase 9  Eswatini Authoritarian 0.92 2.86 2.78 5.63 3.53 3.14 Increase 0.11
132 Increase 4  Guinea Authoritarian 3.50 0.43 4.44 4.38 2.94 3.14 Steady
134 Decrease 3  Republic of the Congo Authoritarian 2.17 2.50 3.89 3.75 3.24 3.11 Decrease 0.20
134 Increase 10  Russia Authoritarian 2.17 1.79 5.00 2.50 4.12 3.11 Increase 0.17
136 Increase 3  Vietnam Authoritarian 0.00 3.21 3.89 5.63 2.65 3.08 Steady
137 Decrease 10  Egypt Authoritarian 2.67 3.21 3.33 3.75 2.35 3.06 Decrease 0.30
137 Increase 3  Oman Authoritarian 0.08 3.93 2.78 4.38 4.12 3.06 Increase 0.02
139 Increase 5  Kazakhstan Authoritarian 0.50 2.14 4.44 4.38 3.24 2.94 Steady
140 Decrease 6  Venezuela Authoritarian 0.00 1.79 5.00 4.38 3.24 2.88 Decrease 0.28
141 Increase 2  Afghanistan Authoritarian 3.42 0.64 3.89 2.50 3.82 2.85 Decrease 0.12
141 Decrease 9  Cameroon Authoritarian 1.67 2.50 3.33 4.38 2.35 2.85 Decrease 0.43
143 Decrease 1  Cuba Authoritarian 0.00 3.57 3.33 4.38 2.94 2.84 Decrease 0.16
144 Increase 2  Djibouti Authoritarian 0.42 1.29 3.89 5.63 2.65 2.77 Decrease 0.10
145 Increase 2  United Arab Emirates Authoritarian 0.00 3.93 2.22 5.00 2.65 2.76 Steady
146 Increase 3  Azerbaijan Authoritarian 0.50 3.21 2.78 3.75 3.53 2.75 Increase 0.10
147 Increase 8  Sudan Authoritarian 0.00 1.79 5.56 5.00 1.18 2.70 Increase 0.55
148 Increase 9  Guinea-Bissau Authoritarian 4.92 0.00 2.78 3.13 2.35 2.63 Increase 0.65
149 Decrease 1  Bahrain Authoritarian 0.83 2.71 2.78 4.38 2.06 2.55 Decrease 0.16
150 Decrease 13  Belarus Authoritarian 0.92 2.00 2.78 4.38 2.35 2.48 Decrease 0.65
151 Decrease 1  Iran Authoritarian 0.00 2.86 4.44 3.13 1.47 2.38 Decrease 0.07
152 Decrease 1  Eritrea Authoritarian 0.00 2.14 1.67 6.88 1.18 2.37 Steady
153 Decrease 23  China Authoritarian 0.00 4.29 3.33 2.50 1.18 2.26 Decrease 1.06
154 Decrease 1  Burundi Authoritarian 0.00 0.07 3.33 5.00 2.35 2.15 Decrease 0.18
155 Decrease 4  Laos Authoritarian 0.00 2.86 1.67 5.00 1.18 2.14 Decrease 0.23
156 Decrease 2  Libya Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 2.78 4.38 2.94 2.02 Decrease 0.17
157 Decrease 1  Uzbekistan Authoritarian 0.08 1.86 2.22 5.00 0.88 2.01 Steady
158 Steady  Yemen Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 3.89 5.00 0.88 1.95 Steady
159 Steady  Saudi Arabia Authoritarian 0.00 2.86 2.22 3.13 1.47 1.93 Steady
159 Steady  Tajikistan Authoritarian 0.08 0.79 1.67 6.25 0.88 1.93 Steady
161 Steady  Equatorial Guinea Authoritarian 0.00 0.43 3.33 4.38 1.47 1.92 Steady
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 2.65 1.61 Steady
164 Increase 2  Syria Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 2.78 4.38 0.00 1.43 Steady
165 Decrease 1  Central African Republic Authoritarian 1.25 0.00 1.11 1.88 2.35 1.32 Decrease 0.20
166 Decrease 1  Democratic Republic of the Congo Authoritarian 0.00 0.00 1.67 3.13 0.88 1.13 Decrease 0.20
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;[14] 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.[15][16]

The 2017 Democracy index registered 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 (ranked 8th) and Taiwan (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 Chinese Communist Party'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 re-upgraded 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 is a re-upgrade 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 re-upgraded from a hybrid regime to a flawed democracy.[12] Algeria was re-upgraded from an authoritarian regime to a hybrid regime.

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.[17]

See also

Notes

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 c "Democracy Index 2019 A year of democratic setbacks and popular protest". EIU.com. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Declining trust in government is denting democracy". The Economist. 25 January 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  17. ^ "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

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