Skip to content
Eiu Logo Search Menu
  • Who we help
    Who we help
    • Financial ServicesInforming forecast and investment decisions for financial services
    • CorporatesAssessing business risks and opportunities for multinationals
    • Academic institutionsDelivering economic and political intelligence for academic institutions
    • Government institutionsSupporting trade, international development and policy decisions for governments
    • Professionals we work withInvest with conviction, plan future strategy and mitigate risks with our independent macroeconomic and geopolitical insights—empowering a range of teams across global industries.
    • Browse all industriesOur insightful solutions enable our clients to understand the world today and to be prepared for the changes of tomorrow
  • Solutions
    Solutions
    • EIU ViewpointWe monitor the world to prepare you for what’s ahead
    • Country AnalysisUnderstand a country’s political, policy and economic outlook
    • Financial RiskIdentify financial risks posed by political and economic developments
    • Operational RiskIdentify, assess, compare and mitigate the operational risks involved in doing business
    • ESG Rating ServiceWe measure the true impact that governments, businesses and society have on sustainability
    • Speaker BureauBook the experts behind the award-winning economic and political forecasts
    • Browse all solutionsExplore all our products and services
  • Insights
    Insights
    • The EIU UpdateThought-provoking analysis and information about new products and services
    • White papersPractical business information on a wide range of topics
    • WebinarsUpcoming live virtual events featuring our global team of analysts
    • Global themesStay current on important topics that impact you
    • VideosLatest commentary on the world news and events
    • EIU newslettersSubscribe now to understand the trends that impact your business and investments
  • Contact
  • EIU Store
  • Search Search
  • Client log in
  • Home
  • Democracy Index 2020

A REPORT BY THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT

Democracy Index 2020: In sickness and in health?

Democracy was dealt a major blow in 2020. Almost 70% of countries covered by The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index recorded a decline in their overall score, as country after country locked down to protect lives from a novel coronavirus. The global average score fell to its lowest level since the index began in 2006.

Download free report

Democracy Index 2021: less than half the world lives in a democracy

Democratisation suffered more reversals in 2021, with the percentage of people living in a democracy falling to well below 50% and authoritarian regimes gaining ground

Download the latest report

The state of democracy around the world

The EIU Democracy Index provides a snapshot of the state of world democracy for 165 independent states and two territories. The Democracy Index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. Based on their scores on 60 indicators within these categories, each country is then itself classified as one of four types of regime: full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime or authoritarian regime.

2020 Rankings

Top 5CountryScore
1Norway9.81
2Iceland9.37
3Sweden9.26
4New Zealand9.25
5Canada9.24
Bottom 5CountryScore
163Chad1.55
164Syria1.43
165Central African Republic1.32
166Dem. Republic of Congo1.13
167North Korea1.08

Our solutions

Bird's eye view of a city
country analysis

We monitor the world to prepare you for what’s ahead

Understand a country’s political, policy and economic outlook with the world’s best forward-looking analysis and data. Our Country Analysis service looks at global dynamics that impact your organisation, helping you to operate effectively and plan for the future.

Find out more
access china

Granular insight on China’s regions, provinces and cities

Access China is the only single source of data, analysis and forecasts for the world’s largest emerging market at provincial and city levels. It offers a comprehensive understanding of China today, but more importantly gives you confidence that you will still understand China in ten and twenty years’ time.

Find out more
Emily Mansfield at Go Digital Conference, Slovenia
speaker bureau

Book the experts behind the award-winning economic and political forecasts

The EIU’s analysts will work with your organisation to gain a deeper understanding of your challenges and deliver a solution tailored to your business needs.

Find out more

Download free report

Fill in the form below to access this free report.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get more of The Economist Intelligence Unit delivered directly to your inbox. Our newsletters range from political and economic perspectives to the latest insights from our Chief Economist.

Sign up now

Help centre

  • Contact us

The Economist Group

  • The Economist Group
  • The Economist
  • Economist Impact
  • Economist Events
Follow EIU Twitter Linkedin Facebook Youtube
  • Cookie policy
  • Terms of access
  • Privacy statement
  • Regulatory affairs
  • Licensing & Permissions
  • Manage Cookies
© 2025 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited. All rights reserved.