The newly released Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Report 2025 paints a sobering picture of the current global climate of radical uncertainty, with political turbulence in the United States highlighting wider patterns of democratic fragility and declining trust in multilateralism. The data show that in 2024, more than half of all countries assessed (94, or 54 per cent) experienced a decline in at least one factor of democratic performance compared to five years earlier. Among the four GSoD categories—Representation, Rights, Rule of Law, and Participation—the steepest declines were recorded in Rule of Law, particularly judicial independence, with Europe accounting for a significant share of downturns. Meanwhile, Freedom of the Press suffered the broadest global setback since 1975, underscoring growing threats to accountability and informed participation. The GSoD 2025 reminds us that democracy requires constant maintenance and reinvention. In a time of global instability, protecting civic freedoms, reinforcing rule of law, and widening participation are essential to sustaining resilient and inclusive democracies. Read more here.
Source: International IDEA