The ongoing assessment of democracy health around the world provides critical insights into the state of global freedom and governance. Recent findings from leading indices, such as the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Democracy Index and Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), paint a complex picture of both resilience and concerning declines in democratic standards across various regions.
The EIU’s 2024 Democracy Index highlights a continuing global democratic malaise. Only a minority of countries showed improvements in their scores, while a far larger number experienced declines. The overall global index score fell to 5.17 (out of 10), marking its lowest point since the index began in 2006. This trend underscores a persistent challenge to democracy health worldwide.
A significant finding is the shrinking number of “full democracies.” According to the EIU’s 2024 report, only 25 nations now qualify as full democracies, down from previous years. This means a mere 6.6% of the world’s population lives under a full democracy, while a staggering 72% (as per V-Dem’s 2025 report) now reside in autocracies, the highest since 1978.
The V-Dem Democracy Report 2025 further emphasizes this decline, noting that the level of democracy for the average world citizen is back to 1985 levels. It identifies a “third wave of autocratization” that is still rising, with nearly 40% of the world population living in autocratizing countries. This widespread democratic backsliding is a major concern for democracy health.
Key indicators of this decline include alarming losses in freedom of expression, worsening in 44 countries by 2024 (V-Dem). Clean elections are also declining in 25 countries, freedom of association in 22, and the rule of law in 18 countries. These regressions highlight a systemic erosion of core democratic principles in various parts of the globe.
Geographically, Eastern Europe, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa are experiencing particularly steep declines in democracy health. Western Europe, while generally stable, also saw a slight fall in its average score. This suggests that democratic challenges are not confined to specific regions but are a more pervasive global phenomenon.