Where democracy is most at risk

IN THEORY THIS year should be a triumphant one for democracy. More people are expected to vote in national elections in 2024 than ever before. But many elections will be problematic. This year’s democracy index published by EIU, our sister company, shows that only 43 of the more than 70 elections are expected to be fully free and fair.

Each year EIU grades 167 countries and territories on a scale of ten according to the strength of their democratic practices, including how fairly they run elections and how well they protect civil liberties. It then groups them into four categories: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes. The latest report, published on February 15th, shows that less than 8% of the world’s population live in full democracies, and that 39.4% are under authoritarian rule—up from 36.9% in 2022. Below are four lessons from the report, including what the index reveals about forthcoming elections.