Global Democracy in Decline as Autocracy Spreads, New Report Warns

The state of global democracy has worsened over the past year, according to a new report. The 10th annual study by the V-Dem research centre reveals a decline in freedom of expression across nearly a quarter of the world's nations. More countries are now shifting towards autocracy than embracing democratic reforms. The latest findings show 44 nations moving closer to autocracy, while only 18 are becoming more democratic. Economic insecurity has been identified as a key factor driving this decline. Meanwhile, 74% of the world's population now lives under autocratic rule, where equal rights and citizen influence are often restricted.

Eastern Europe's democratic standards have fallen sharply, now matching those of Sub-Saharan Africa. Just 5% of the region's population resides in liberal democracies. Trust in Estonia's government and parliament has also dropped since the last elections, though the country remains 6th in the V-Dem index with no major shifts. The report highlights that proportional political institutions and trust among elites help sustain democracy. Without these, nations risk further backsliding into authoritarianism.

The V-Dem report underscores a troubling trend: democracy is weakening in many parts of the world. With fewer countries improving their democratic systems, the gap between free and repressive regimes continues to widen. The findings suggest economic stability and institutional trust are critical to reversing this decline.