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Dem. Rank 2023

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Democracy Ranking by Country 2024

Countries around the world can vary dramatically when it comes to the political freedoms afforded to citizens. From ultra-restrictive authoritarian regimes to strong, diverse democracies, there's no shortage of governing situations out there. To provide a basis for comparison, The Economist's Intelligence Unit created the Democracy Rankings, which combines factors like the functioning of government, civil liberties, electoral processes and pluralism, and political culture and participation.

Norway received the highest score overall with a 9.81, including perfect ten rankings in electoral processes, political culture, and political participation. New Zealand isn't far behind with a 9.61, boasting perfect rankings of its own on civil liberties, electoral processes, and political participation. In third place, Iceland scores a 9.52, followed by Sweden at 9.39 and Finland at 9.29, rounding out the top five democracies. Two dozen countries around the world, including Canada (8.88), Germany (8.8), Australia (8.71), and the United Kingdom (8.28.)

More than four dozen countries are ranked as flawed democracies. These include the United States, with a score of 7.85, which suffers from low scores in the functioning of government and political culture. Other flawed democracies include Israel (7.93), Italy (7.69), Belgium (7.64), Brazil (6.78), and Singapore (6.22.) By absolute numbers, many consider India to be the world's largest democracy, based on its ranking as a "flawed democracy" and population of nearly 1.5 billion.

Nearly three dozen more are characterized with the next step down as hybrid regimes. Hybrid regimes range from Bangladesh, with a 5.99 score, to Mauritania, with a 4.03. Fifty-seven countries receive the lowest ranking, authoritarian nations. Afghanistan has the lowest democracy ranking at just 0.32, followed by Myanmar (0.74), North Korea (1.08), and the Central African Republic (1.35.)

Naturally, democracy rankings may change as the political situation evolves. Thailand (a flawed democracy with a 6.67 score) took the largest jump in the most recent rankings, rising 17 spots. Angola, Niger, and Cambodia also jumped 13 spots, though they're all still ranked as authoritarian. Russia (authoritarian, 2.28) fell the most, dropping 22 places. Burkina Faso and Haiti both fell 16 spots, remaining ranked as authoritarian. Hybrid regimes El Salvador (5.06) and Tunisia (5.51) also fell notably, 14 and 10 spots, respectively.

  • Democracy Ranking is an aggregate score that tracks multiple metrics in five subcategories: electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.

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Country
Dem. Rank 2023
Overall Score 2023
Annual Change
Civil Liberties
Electoral Process and Pluralism
Functioning of Government
Political Culture
Political Participation
Regime Type
Afghanistan1670.260.000.000.000.071.250.00Authoritarian
Myanmar1660.850.000.000.000.003.131.11Authoritarian
North Korea1651.080.000.000.002.501.251.67Authoritarian
Central African Republic1641.180.002.350.000.001.881.67Authoritarian
Syria1631.430.000.000.000.004.382.78Authoritarian
Turkmenistan1621.66-1.000.290.000.795.002.22Authoritarian
Chad1611.67-1.002.350.000.003.752.22Authoritarian
DR Congo1601.682.000.881.170.433.132.78Authoritarian
Laos1591.710.000.290.002.863.751.67Authoritarian
Sudan1581.76-14.000.880.000.075.632.22Authoritarian
Libya1571.78-6.002.350.000.003.752.78Authoritarian
Equatorial Guinea1561.922.001.470.000.434.383.33Authoritarian
Tajikistan1551.941.000.880.002.214.382.22Authoritarian
Yemen1541.951.000.880.000.005.003.89Authoritarian
Iran1531.961.001.470.002.502.503.33Authoritarian
Eritrea1521.970.000.290.002.146.880.56Authoritarian
Belarus1511.992.001.470.000.794.383.33Authoritarian
Saudi Arabia1502.080.001.470.003.573.132.22Authoritarian
China1482.128.000.590.003.573.133.33Authoritarian
Uzbekistan1482.121.000.880.081.865.002.78Authoritarian
Burundi1472.131.001.760.000.005.003.89Authoritarian
Gabon1462.18-28.002.940.831.143.752.22Authoritarian
Guinea1452.210.002.060.830.434.383.33Authoritarian
Russia1442.222.002.060.922.143.752.22Authoritarian
Nicaragua1432.260.002.650.002.143.752.78Authoritarian
Venezuela1422.315.002.350.001.073.135.00Authoritarian
Niger1412.37-29.004.410.331.143.752.22Authoritarian
Guinea Bissau1402.450.002.354.000.003.132.78Authoritarian
Bahrain1392.523.001.760.422.714.383.33Authoritarian
Cameroon1382.562.002.060.332.144.383.89Authoritarian
Mali1372.58-18.003.530.000.004.385.00Authoritarian
Vietnam1362.622.002.650.003.933.752.75Authoritarian
Cuba1352.654.002.940.003.213.753.33Authoritarian
Djibouti1342.73.002.350.001.645.633.89Authoritarian
Burkina Faso1332.73-6.003.530.002.503.753.89Authoritarian
Eswatini1322.78-3.002.940.921.645.632.78Authoritarian
Republic of the Congo1312.795.003.240.002.503.754.44Authoritarian
Azerbaijan1302.84.002.650.502.505.003.33Authoritarian
Haiti1292.816.005.000.000.006.252.78Authoritarian
Iraq1282.88-4.001.185.250.001.886.11Authoritarian
Egypt1272.934.001.761.333.215.003.33Authoritarian
Togo1262.994.002.940.922.145.633.33Authoritarian
United Arab Emirates1253.018.002.350.004.295.632.78Authoritarian
Zimbabwe1223.0410.003.240.002.505.004.44Authoritarian
Jordan1223.040.002.942.673.212.503.89Authoritarian
Comoros1223.04-2.003.531.252.213.754.44Authoritarian
Cambodia1213.050.002.060.003.215.005.00Authoritarian
Kazakhstan1203.087.002.940.503.213.755.00Authoritarian
Oman1193.126.003.820.083.935.002.78Authoritarian
Pakistan1183.25-11.004.122.584.292.502.78Authoritarian
Rwanda1173.39.002.651.424.645.002.78Authoritarian
Ethiopia1163.376.001.470.423.215.636.11Authoritarian
Palestine1153.47-5.003.531.580.143.758.33Authoritarian
Kuwait1143.5-3.003.243.173.934.382.78Authoritarian
Mozambique1133.514.003.532.581.435.005.00Authoritarian
Lebanon1123.563.004.123.080.793.136.67Authoritarian
Qatar1113.653.003.531.504.295.633.33Authoritarian
Algeria1103.663.003.823.082.505.003.89Authoritarian
Kyrgyzstan1093.77.005.294.331.863.133.89Authoritarian
Mauritania1084.140.004.413.503.573.136.11Hybrid Regime
Angola1074.182.002.654.503.215.005.56Hybrid Regime
Bolivia1064.2-6.005.594.334.291.255.56Hybrid Regime
Ivory Coast1054.221.003.824.332.865.634.44Hybrid Regime
Nigeria1044.231.004.415.173.933.753.89Hybrid Regime
Sierra Leone1034.32-7.005.004.832.865.003.89Hybrid Regime
Turkey1024.331.002.063.505.005.006.11Hybrid Regime
Guatemala1004.47-2.005.885.673.931.885.00Hybrid Regime
Gambia1004.472.004.124.424.295.633.89Hybrid Regime
Uganda994.490.004.713.423.576.883.89Hybrid Regime
Nepal984.63.005.294.835.362.505.00Hybrid Regime
Benin974.687.004.412.585.716.254.44Hybrid Regime
El Salvador964.71-3.005.006.673.213.135.56Hybrid Regime
Honduras954.98-4.005.298.753.932.504.44Hybrid Regime
Bosnia and Herzegovina9453.005.887.004.003.135.00Hybrid Regime
Morocco935.042.004.125.254.645.635.56Hybrid Regime
Kenya925.052.004.123.505.365.636.67Hybrid Regime
Ukraine915.06-4.004.415.583.075.007.22Hybrid Regime
Mexico905.14-1.005.596.924.641.886.67Hybrid Regime
Georgia895.21.005.597.003.573.756.11Hybrid Regime
Hong Kong885.240.007.942.753.646.885.00Hybrid Regime
Madagascar875.26-7.004.416.583.575.636.11Hybrid Regime
Tanzania865.356.004.714.835.366.885.00Hybrid Regime
Ecuador855.41-4.005.888.755.001.885.56Hybrid Regime
Armenia845.42-2.005.297.924.643.136.11Hybrid Regime
Senegal835.48-4.005.596.585.715.633.89Hybrid Regime
Tunisia825.513.005.006.174.645.636.11Hybrid Regime
Bhutan815.543.004.718.755.935.003.33Hybrid Regime
Fiji805.553.005.006.585.005.635.56Hybrid Regime
Liberia795.577.005.597.832.715.636.11Hybrid Regime
Zambia785.80.005.597.923.646.885.00Hybrid Regime
Peru775.81-2.006.478.755.713.135.00Hybrid Regime
Malawi765.850.006.187.004.296.255.56Hybrid Regime
Bangladesh755.87-2.004.717.426.075.635.56Hybrid Regime
Paraguay7463.007.358.755.361.886.67Flawed Democracy
Papua New Guinea726.032.007.656.926.075.633.89Flawed Democracy
North Macedonia726.030.007.357.835.713.136.11Flawed Democracy
Lesotho716.060.006.189.173.795.635.56Flawed Democracy
Sri Lanka706.17-10.006.186.584.646.257.22Flawed Democracy
Singapore696.181.006.475.337.147.504.44Flawed Democracy
Moldova686.231.006.767.425.364.387.22Flawed Democracy
Guyana676.260.006.767.336.075.006.11Flawed Democracy
Albania666.28-2.007.067.006.076.255.00Flawed Democracy
Ghana656.3-2.005.888.335.005.636.67Flawed Democracy
Serbia646.334.007.357.836.073.756.67Flawed Democracy
Thailand636.35-8.005.887.006.075.007.78Flawed Democracy
Bulgaria626.41-5.007.658.755.714.385.56Flawed Democracy
Dominican Republic616.444.007.359.175.363.137.22Flawed Democracy
Romania606.451.007.359.176.433.755.56Flawed Democracy
Mongolia596.487.006.188.755.715.636.11Flawed Democracy
Croatia586.51.006.769.176.074.386.11Flawed Democracy
Namibia576.521.007.947.005.365.636.67Flawed Democracy
Indonesia566.53-2.005.297.927.864.387.22Flawed Democracy
Colombia556.55-2.007.659.176.073.756.11Flawed Democracy
Argentina546.62-4.007.949.175.003.757.22Flawed Democracy
Philippines536.66-1.007.359.174.644.387.78Flawed Democracy
Montenegro526.679.007.068.757.143.756.67Flawed Democracy
Brazil516.680.007.359.585.365.006.11Flawed Democracy
Hungary506.726.006.768.756.796.884.44Flawed Democracy
Suriname496.88-1.007.659.586.075.006.11Flawed Democracy
Panama486.911.007.949.586.073.757.22Flawed Democracy
South Africa477.05-2.007.357.427.145.008.33Flawed Democracy
Jamaica457.06-3.008.538.756.796.255.00Flawed Democracy
Timor Leste457.06-1.007.359.585.936.885.56Flawed Democracy
Slovakia447.07-1.008.539.586.075.635.56Flawed Democracy
Trinidad and Tobago437.16-2.007.359.587.145.636.11Flawed Democracy
India417.185.005.888.677.866.257.22Flawed Democracy
Poland417.185.007.359.586.076.256.67Flawed Democracy
Malaysia407.290.005.889.587.506.257.22Flawed Democracy
Lithuania397.310.008.829.586.435.636.11Flawed Democracy
Latvia377.381.008.539.586.436.256.11Flawed Democracy
Cyprus377.380.008.829.175.366.886.67Flawed Democracy
Belgium367.640.008.539.588.216.885.00Flawed Democracy
Cape Verde357.650.008.539.177.006.886.67Flawed Democracy
Italy347.690.007.359.586.797.507.22Flawed Democracy
Botswana337.73-1.008.539.176.797.506.67Flawed Democracy
Portugal317.75-3.008.829.586.796.886.67Flawed Democracy
Slovenia317.750.008.539.587.146.257.22Flawed Democracy
Israel307.8-1.005.599.587.506.889.44Flawed Democracy
United States297.851.008.539.176.436.258.89Flawed Democracy
Malta287.935.008.539.177.148.136.67Flawed Democracy
Estonia277.960.008.829.587.866.886.67Flawed Democracy
Czech Republic267.97-1.009.129.586.437.507.22Flawed Democracy
Chile257.98-6.009.129.588.216.886.11Flawed Democracy
France238.07-1.008.249.587.866.887.78Full Democracy
Spain238.07-1.008.539.587.507.507.22Full Democracy
South Korea228.092.008.829.588.576.257.22Full Democracy
Greece208.145.008.8210.007.147.507.22Full Democracy
Mauritius208.141.008.829.177.868.756.11Full Democracy
United Kingdom188.280.009.129.587.506.888.33Full Democracy
Austria188.282.008.539.587.506.888.89Full Democracy
Costa Rica178.290.009.719.587.506.887.78Full Democracy
Japan168.40.009.129.178.938.136.67Full Democracy
Australia148.661.0010.0010.008.577.507.22Full Democracy
Uruguay148.66-3.009.7110.008.936.887.78Full Democracy
Canada138.69-1.008.8210.008.217.508.89Full Democracy
Germany128.82.009.419.588.578.138.33Full Democracy
Luxembourg118.812.009.7110.008.938.756.67Full Democracy
Taiwan108.920.009.4110.009.298.137.78Full Democracy
Netherlands990.009.419.588.938.758.33Full Democracy
Switzerland89.14-1.009.419.589.299.388.33Full Democracy
Ireland79.191.009.1210.008.2110.008.33Full Democracy
Denmark69.280.009.4110.009.299.388.33Full Democracy
Finland59.30.009.7110.009.649.387.78Full Democracy
Sweden49.390.009.419.589.6410.008.33Full Democracy
Iceland39.450.009.7110.009.299.388.89Full Democracy
New Zealand29.610.0010.0010.009.298.7510.00Full Democracy
Norway19.810.009.4110.009.6410.0010.00Full Democracy
showing: 167 rows

Which is the largest democracy country in the world?

Although not a direct democracy, India is considered the world's largest democracy when ranked by population.

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