EIU Democracy Index shows global stabilization after eight-year decline

The 2025 Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Democracy Index indicates a stabilization in global democracy levels after eight consecutive years of decline. The global average score rose slightly from 5.17 to 5.19, with nearly 75 percent of countries either improving their scores or maintaining current levels.

Scandinavian nations, including Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, and Sweden, continue to lead the index, with New Zealand also ranking among the top tier. However, the United States has seen a continued decline, dropping to 34th or 35th place and remaining categorized as a ‘flawed democracy’ due to deteriorating civil liberties and intense political polarization.

In the Balkan region, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains classified as a ‘hybrid regime,’ struggling with weak institutions, corruption, and incomplete rule of law. At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and North Korea remain the worst-rated countries due to a lack of civil liberties and electoral pluralism. While global trends show slight recovery, only 6.6 percent of the world's population lives in full democracies, while 39 percent live under authoritarian regimes.