Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
Democracy worldwide - statistics & facts
Although there are more democratic countries in the world today than there were a century ago, democracy has recently been on the defensive. Since 2010, many flawed democracies have transitioned into hybrid or authoritarian regimes. Democratic freedoms are increasingly under pressure, with free media and independent thinking often targeted to limit critical opinions. While elections are held in most countries, only a few have free and fair electoral processes. Freedom of expression is frequently restricted, even in countries where citizens can vote. Although the implementation of democracy varies across different societies, and liberal democracy may not be suitable for every context, it is however widely regarded as a universal value that all countries can strive to achieve.
