# Global trend of democratic decline and autocratization

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-trend-of-democratic-decline-and-autocratization
> Updated: 2026-10-13T22:14:04.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

A 2026 report from the V-Dem Institute indicates a global trend toward autocratization, noting that 44 countries are experiencing democratic decline while only 12 to 18 are democratizing. This decline affects 41% of the world’s population and 39% of global GDP.

Specific regional shifts include the United States losing its classification as a liberal democracy due to pressures on the press and universities, and constitutional revisions in El Salvador allowing for indefinite reelection. In Brazil, political developments are centered on an election runoff between Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula da Silva. Other notable trends include the rise of nationalist parties in Germany and France, and the consolidation of power by military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The situation is characterized by a convergence of crises, where political leaders may utilize fear to consolidate power, prompting citizens to accept liberty restrictions in exchange for promised security. This political shift occurs alongside technological and environmental tensions, such as the massive resource demands of expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-13: Global political trends show rising authoritarianism and intersecting crises

Global trends show a convergence of climate change, AI expansion, and rising authoritarianism, with 44 countries undergoing autocratization in 2025 according to the V-Dem Institute.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/global-political-trends-show-rising-authoritarianism-and-intersecting-crises

### 2026-10-06: V-Dem Institute report highlights global rise in autocratization

The 2026 V-Dem Institute report highlights a global rise in autocratization, citing democratic declines in the US, Brazil, and several nations in Africa and Latin America.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/v-dem-institute-report-highlights-global-rise-in-autocratization

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Cite as: Global trend of democratic decline and autocratization. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-trend-of-democratic-decline-and-autocratization