The United States has experienced its worst democratic performance in half a century, according to a new global report that tracks democratic performance around the world. The report was released Tuesday by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, known as International IDEA. The institute’s annual Global State of Democracy report draws on data covering 174 countries over 51 years, with annual observations dating to 1975. This year’s findings show that 57% of countries saw declines in at least one factor of democratic performance between 2020 and 2025. The report measures four broad categories: Representation, Rights, Rule of Law and Participation.
The report highlights a sharp drop in judicial independence, press freedom, and the rule of law as key areas of concern, according to english.elpais.com. The United States stands out as the most dramatic example of democratic erosion in recent years, according to a report from NPR. The report notes that President Donald Trump significantly increased executive power during his second term. The U.S. recorded seven statistically significant declines from 2020 to 2025 across measures including access to justice, economic equality, effective parliament, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, free political parties and judicial independence.
According to the report, Trump used this expanded authority to advance personal goals and retaliate against perceived opponents. Historically, the report says the U.S. was known for strong democratic institutions, including judicial independence and broad protections for free expression. But that status has changed dramatically in recent years, according to the report’s findings. With the exception of free political parties, the seven declining U.S. factors are now at their lowest levels in the history of the dataset.
The report also points out that democratic norms have weakened across the globe, not just in the United States. In fact, nearly six out of ten countries showed setbacks in at least one factor of democratic performance over the past five years. The rule of law was identified as the weakest area in global democracy, with many countries showing serious declines. Judicial independence fell to a 36-year global low, while credible elections fell to a 30-year low, according to International IDEA. The year 2025 was the 11th consecutive year in which more countries showed a net decline than an improvement in overall democratic performance.
This trend is part of a broader pattern seen in other nations, including those with rising populist movements. The secretary general of IDEA, Kevin Casas-Zamora, said that the assault on democratic norms has grown more aggressive in recent years. He noted that executive powers have expanded, while checks and balances have weakened.
In an interview with EL PAÍS, Casas-Zamora said, “The Republican Party has stopped being unconditionally loyal to the democratic game.” He said the party now ties its support for democracy to whether outcomes benefit its political interests. Casas-Zamora described this as one of the most serious challenges a democracy can face.
Casas-Zamora said this approach is being copied by leaders in other countries. He said it reflects a broader movement that challenges international norms and institutions. Shah said International IDEA has seen past undemocratic trends correct themselves, but not this time.
Seema Shah, who leads the institute’s democracy assessment team, said this time is different from past undemocratic trends. She emphasized that while democracy has faced challenges before, the current situation is more severe. The report also notes that even countries with recent democratic gains are struggling to maintain progress.
Countries like Poland, Hungary, and Syria have seen shifts in their political systems. Shah explained that new leaders often promise reforms but face resistance from existing power structures. This makes it difficult for change to take root and succeed in the long term because remnants of the old guard often prevent those changes. The report says Poland and Syria recorded notable democratic gains in 2025, while Hungary’s 2026 election ended Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power and brought the opposition Tisza Party to government.
The report’s findings suggest that the core of democracy depends not just on laws, but on people’s willingness to respect them. According to Casas-Zamora, self-restraint by political leaders is essential for maintaining democratic norms. Without this restraint, even strong institutions can be undermined over time.
The report underscores that the current global trend is not limited to one region or political system. Democratic health has declined in many countries, including those that were once considered strong democracies. These findings raise concerns about the future of democratic governance around the world.
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