Archive · 15 Sep 2026
International IDEA Reports 11-Year Global Democratic Decline
International IDEA studied democracy in 174 countries.
It found that democracy has weakened around the world for 11 years in a row.
The United States received especially low assessments compared with its performance over the past 50 years.
The report said courts, elections, free speech, news media and access to justice have faced problems.
Rule of law was the weakest area globally.
In 71 countries, rule of law was rated low, and 29 countries became worse in that area.
Some countries also showed progress.
Australia took steps on anti-racism and children’s online privacy, while protests helped change leaders in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
The report said these improvements may be fragile and difficult to turn into lasting reforms.
International IDEA says 2025 marked the 11th consecutive year of global democratic decline.
Democratic indicators in the United States reached their lowest levels in five decades, according to the report.
Judicial independence, credible elections, expression, press freedom and access to justice deteriorated broadly.
Rule of law was the weakest-performing democratic area, with 71 countries classified as low-performing.
Australia, Syria, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka were cited for selected signs of democratic progress.
- Who
- International IDEA assessed democracy across 174 countries, highlighting developments in the United States and several other countries.
- What
- The organization reported an 11-year global decline in democratic performance and a five-decade low for several United States indicators.
- When
- The report identifies 2025 as the 11th consecutive year of global democratic decline.
- Where
- The findings cover 174 countries worldwide, including the United States, Australia, Syria, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
- Why
- The report attributes the deterioration to weakening rule of law, judicial independence, elections, civic freedoms and access to justice.
Democratic Deterioration
Signs of Democratic Renewal
Global direction
Democratic Deterioration
International IDEA found that more countries experienced democratic deterioration than improvement, continuing an 11-year decline.
Signs of Democratic Renewal
The report identified selected improvements and said public mobilization and civil society helped support democratic renewal.
Institutional change
Democratic Deterioration
The report said judicial independence, credible elections, freedom of expression, press freedom and access to justice have weakened.
Signs of Democratic Renewal
Australia introduced or pursued measures involving civil society, anti-racism and children’s online privacy, while Syria showed improvements in rights, rule of law and participation.
Public mobilization
Democratic Deterioration
The report warned that civic space is narrowing and that turning popular mobilization into lasting institutional reform remains difficult.
Signs of Democratic Renewal
Youth-led protests in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka succeeded in unseating long-serving leaders.
- Assessing organization
- International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, also known as International IDEA
- Countries assessed
- 174
- Continuous global decline
- 11 consecutive years through 2025
- United States assessment
- Several democratic indicators reached their lowest levels in five decades
- Weakest global area
- Rule of law
- Low-performing rule-of-law countries
- 71 countries, or 41 percent of those assessed
- Countries with further rule-of-law deterioration
- 29 countries