New Delhi: Key indicators of democracy in the United States have fallen to their lowest levels in five decades, according to a report by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
International IDEA’s annual Global State of Democracy report assesses 174 countries and has been tracking democratic performance since 1975. It found that 2025 marked the longest continuous period of democratic decline since the organisation began keeping records.
Around the world, more countries are registering deterioration than improvement in the past decade, the report found, with 2025 being the 11th year in a row — the longest continuous decline since the think tank’s records began.
The findings show a broad deterioration in judicial independence, credible elections, freedom of expression, press freedom and access to justice, with these indicators at their lowest levels globally in at least 30 years.
The report singled out developments in the US, saying the political developments had both exemplified and compounded the global challenges facing democracy.
“For decades, the rule of law both domestically and in the international order has underpinned the resilience of democracies,” International IDEA’s Secretary-General Kevin Casas-Zamora said. “Now, the rapid decline of democracy in the USA is weakening judicial independence and fragmenting the international system—threatening democracy around the world.”
The report warns that democratic deterioration is linked to a growing risk of conflict. He said that the consequences have not only extended far beyond the US but are also undermining the rule of law domestically and internationally and testing longstanding alliances and multilateral cooperation.
“Democracy’s decline is no longer just about our national political rights; it is reshaping the conditions for peace and security around the world,” Casas-Zamora said. “Investing in democracy is also investing in peace.”
International IDEA found rule of law to be the weakest-performing area of democracy globally in 2025. Some 71 countries, or 41 per cent of those assessed, were classified as low-performing in the category, while 29 countries recorded further deterioration.
In all these countries, “Judicial independence was among the worst hit.”
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Some good news
Despite the overall deterioration, the report identified some positive developments.
Australia was cited for steps including consultations with civil society groups on an anti-racism strategy and measures concerning children’s online privacy.
In Syria, the report pointed improvements in rights, rule of law and participation, while youth-led protests in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka succeeded in unseating long-serving leaders.
“Although improvements remain fragile, public mobilization and civil society have helped democratic renewal,” the authors stated.
However, the report cautioned that translating popular mobilisation into lasting institutional reform remained difficult.
“While people continue to push back against democratic deterioration, civic space is narrowing,” the report’s authors said.
(Edited by Stela Dey)