Global democracy declines as 74% of population lives under autocracy

Reports from the V-Dem Institute and Freedom House indicate a significant global decline in democracy. According to V-Dem, approximately 74% of the world's population—roughly six billion people—now live under autocratic regimes, while only 7% reside in liberal democracies.

For the average global citizen, democracy levels have reportedly regressed to those seen in 1978. Freedom House noted that 2025 marks the twentieth consecutive year of decline in global freedom. The data shows that the proportion of the population living in democracies has fallen from 50% to 26% over the last two decades.

Experts suggest the nature of the threat to democracy has shifted. Rather than traditional military coups, democratic erosion is increasingly driven by elected leaders who use their mandates to alter rules for their own advantage. This trend is reflected in the loss of institutional effectiveness and a growing gap between populations and political elites.