Every year, the Association for Development and Advancement of the Democracy Award puts forth a comprehensive global ranking of liberal democracies, the Democracy Index. This index measures not only the quality of democracy as a political entity but also integrates other social dimensions such as gender, economy, knowledge, health, and environmental performance to present a richer, more dynamic view of global democratic systems. The data reveals patterns, variations, and intriguing findings in the state of global democracies.
Norway leads the way with an exemplary Democracy Index score of 9.8. Renowned for its well-organized social system and effective government, Norway serves as a beacon of democratic ideals on a global scale. Taking the second spot, we have New Zealand with an impressive score of 9.4. This score reflects the nation's strong adherence to democratic principles, which is ingrained in its political landscape and continues to be nurtured by each successive administration. Following closely, we have Finland scoring a 9.3 on the Democracy Index. Equally notable is Sweden, which matches Finland's score. These countries demonstrate a powerful commitment to implementing democratic principles and showcase the success of the social-democratic model. Coming in the fifth position is Iceland, with a score of 9.2 on the Democracy Index. Despite its smaller size and population, Iceland is a stalwart example of integrated and established democracy. Making the sixth position is Denmark with an earnest score of 9.1. Ireland and Taiwan, on the other hand, tie for the seventh position with an impressive 9. The cases of Ireland and Taiwan are particularly intriguing, as they navigate a highly democratic domestic structure in different geopolitical situations. Finally, the list rounds off with Australia and Canada, scoring 8.9 each. Top 10 Most Democratic Countries:
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
0.3
#166
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.1
#66
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.8
#110
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.4
#120
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.8
#48
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.5
#87
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.9
#9
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.1
#18
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.7
#137
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.5
#143
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6
#71
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.4
#145
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.5
#34
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.2
#104
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.7
#77
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.6
#97
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5
#94
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.7
#29
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.9
#45
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.6
#52
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.8
#111
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.1
#148
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.9
#130
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.6
#141
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.9
#10
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.4
#161
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.7
#159
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.9
#24
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.2
#147
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.5
#54
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.2
#123
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.1
#19
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.5
#55
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.6
#142
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.4
#36
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.7
#30
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.4
#162
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
9.1
#6
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.7
#138
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.5
#56
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.7
#78
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.9
#131
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.7
#79
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.9
#154
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2
#152
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.8
#27
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.1
#128
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.3
#122
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.6
#83
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
9.3
#3
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8
#22
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.4
#121
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.4
#101
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.1
#90
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.7
#14
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.5
#57
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.6
#32
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.6
#98
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.3
#146
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.7
#139
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.2
#64
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.5
#115
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.1
#91
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.6
#84
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.5
#58
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
9.2
#5
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.9
#46
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.7
#51
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.9
#155
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.5
#116
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
9
#7
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8
#23
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.7
#31
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.2
#105
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.1
#42
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.2
#16
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.5
#117
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.1
#126
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.1
#92
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.9
#108
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.6
#114
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.8
#158
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.3
#37
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.8
#112
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.3
#63
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.4
#89
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.9
#156
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.2
#38
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.7
#15
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.7
#80
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.7
#81
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.2
#39
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.5
#118
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.6
#33
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4
#107
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.1
#20
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.6
#85
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.1
#67
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.4
#60
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6
#72
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5
#95
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.5
#119
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1
#165
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.5
#59
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.4
#100
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.9
#11
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
9.4
#2
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.7
#140
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.2
#124
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.1
#106
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.1
#164
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6
#73
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
9.8
#1
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3
#129
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.3
#102
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.9
#109
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.9
#47
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.1
#68
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.9
#76
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.1
#69
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.6
#53
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.8
#49
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.8
#28
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.7
#113
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.8
#135
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.4
#61
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.2
#125
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
3.1
#127
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.1
#149
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.5
#88
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.4
#62
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5
#96
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.2
#65
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7
#43
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.5
#35
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7
#44
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.2
#17
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.9
#25
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.1
#70
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.5
#144
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6.8
#50
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
9.3
#4
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.9
#12
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.4
#163
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
9
#8
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.9
#157
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.1
#93
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6
#74
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.1
#41
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.8
#136
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.2
#40
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
6
#75
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.3
#103
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
1.7
#160
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
4.5
#99
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.6
#86
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.9
#132
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.1
#21
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
7.9
#26
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
8.8
#13
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.1
#150
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.1
#151
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.9
#133
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2
#153
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
5.7
#82
Metric
Value
Rank
Democracy Index
2.9
#134
Region ↕ | Democracy Index ↕ |
---|---|
Afghanistan | 0.3 |
Albania | 6.1 |
Algeria | 3.8 |
Angola | 3.4 |
Argentina | 6.8 |
Armenia | 5.5 |
Australia | 8.9 |
Austria | 8.1 |
Azerbaijan | 2.7 |
Bahrain | 2.5 |
Bangladesh | 6 |
Belarus | 2.4 |
Belgium | 7.5 |
Benin | 4.2 |
Bhutan | 5.7 |
Bolivia | 4.6 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5 |
Botswana | 7.7 |
Brazil | 6.9 |
Bulgaria | 6.6 |
Burkina Faso | 3.8 |
Burundi | 2.1 |
Cambodia | 2.9 |
Cameroon | 2.6 |
Canada | 8.9 |
Central African Republic | 1.4 |
Chad | 1.7 |
Chile | 7.9 |
China | 2.2 |
Colombia | 6.5 |
Comoros | 3.2 |
Costa Rica | 8.1 |
Croatia | 6.5 |
Cuba | 2.6 |
Cyprus | 7.4 |
Czech Republic | 7.7 |
DR Congo | 1.4 |
Denmark | 9.1 |
Djibouti | 2.7 |
Dominican Republic | 6.5 |
Ecuador | 5.7 |
Egypt | 2.9 |
El Salvador | 5.7 |
Equatorial Guinea | 1.9 |
Eritrea | 2 |
Estonia | 7.8 |
Eswatini | 3.1 |
Ethiopia | 3.3 |
Fiji | 5.6 |
Finland | 9.3 |
France | 8 |
Gabon | 3.4 |
Gambia | 4.4 |
Georgia | 5.1 |
Germany | 8.7 |
Ghana | 6.5 |
Greece | 7.6 |
Guatemala | 4.6 |
Guinea | 2.3 |
Guinea Bissau | 2.7 |
Guyana | 6.2 |
Haiti | 3.5 |
Honduras | 5.1 |
Hong Kong | 5.6 |
Hungary | 6.5 |
Iceland | 9.2 |
India | 6.9 |
Indonesia | 6.7 |
Iran | 1.9 |
Iraq | 3.5 |
Ireland | 9 |
Israel | 8 |
Italy | 7.7 |
Ivory Coast | 4.2 |
Jamaica | 7.1 |
Japan | 8.2 |
Jordan | 3.5 |
Kazakhstan | 3.1 |
Kenya | 5.1 |
Kuwait | 3.9 |
Kyrgyzstan | 3.6 |
Laos | 1.8 |
Latvia | 7.3 |
Lebanon | 3.8 |
Lesotho | 6.3 |
Liberia | 5.4 |
Libya | 1.9 |
Lithuania | 7.2 |
Luxembourg | 8.7 |
Madagascar | 5.7 |
Malawi | 5.7 |
Malaysia | 7.2 |
Mali | 3.5 |
Malta | 7.6 |
Mauritania | 4 |
Mauritius | 8.1 |
Mexico | 5.6 |
Moldova | 6.1 |
Mongolia | 6.4 |
Montenegro | 6 |
Morocco | 5 |
Mozambique | 3.5 |
Myanmar | 1 |
Namibia | 6.5 |
Nepal | 4.4 |
Netherlands | 8.9 |
New Zealand | 9.4 |
Nicaragua | 2.7 |
Niger | 3.2 |
Nigeria | 4.1 |
North Korea | 1.1 |
North Macedonia | 6 |
Norway | 9.8 |
Oman | 3 |
Pakistan | 4.3 |
Palestine | 3.9 |
Panama | 6.9 |
Papua New Guinea | 6.1 |
Paraguay | 5.9 |
Peru | 6.1 |
Philippines | 6.6 |
Poland | 6.8 |
Portugal | 7.8 |
Qatar | 3.7 |
Republic of the Congo | 2.8 |
Romania | 6.4 |
Russia | 3.2 |
Rwanda | 3.1 |
Saudi Arabia | 2.1 |
Senegal | 5.5 |
Serbia | 6.4 |
Sierra Leone | 5 |
Singapore | 6.2 |
Slovakia | 7 |
Slovenia | 7.5 |
South Africa | 7 |
South Korea | 8.2 |
Spain | 7.9 |
Sri Lanka | 6.1 |
Sudan | 2.5 |
Suriname | 6.8 |
Sweden | 9.3 |
Switzerland | 8.9 |
Syria | 1.4 |
Taiwan | 9 |
Tajikistan | 1.9 |
Tanzania | 5.1 |
Thailand | 6 |
Timor Leste | 7.1 |
Togo | 2.8 |