The state of
In early 2020, the Economist Intelligence Unit produced the 12th edition of the Democracy Index. The report concluded that global democracy is in its most fragile state since the first edition in 2006. Then, in 2021 & 2022 the numbers became even worse.
This is the story of freedom (or lack of) in the 24 full democracies, 59 authoritarian states and the 84 nations and regions that find themselves somewhere in between the two.
All scores are out of ten, unless otherwise noted.
5.29
Global average score, the lowest it's been since 2006
⚖︎
Where are we struggling?
With only an average score of 4.70, the world struggles the most with maintaining functional governments. Furthermore, 10 countries lack any sort of functional government.
"It is clear that there is a growing deficit of trust between people and political establishments, and rising threats to the social contract."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, October 2019
🗳🗳🗳
Top 30
Leading the way towards freedom.
🙅🏻♀️🙅🏽♀️🙅🏿♀️
Bottom 30
Still have a long way to go.
🌏🌎🌍
Every country
(Not including microstates)
Asia Pacific
Averages 5.62 overall.
Central & East Europe
Averages 5.36 overall.
Latin America
Averages 6.09 overall.
Middle East & North Africa
Averages 3.44 overall.
North America
Averages 8.58 overall.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Averages 4.16 overall.
Western Europe
Averages 8.29 overall.