The Economist ranks Uruguay as the only full democracy in its region, placing it 15th globally with a score of 8.67. The global average score for democracies has fallen to 5.17, indicating a decrease in the number of people living in full democracies. Norway remains the top-ranked country for the sixteenth year. Recent developments in Russia and the U.S. raise further concerns about democratic integrity.
The Economist’s recent global Democracy Index highlights Uruguay’s status as the only full democracy in its region, placing it 15th worldwide with a score of 8.67 out of 10. This index evaluates 167 countries and territories on criteria such as electoral process, government functionality, political participation, and civil liberties, categorizing them into four groups: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, and authoritarian regimes.
Norway leads the rankings for the sixteenth consecutive year with a score of 9.81. Following Norway, New Zealand and Sweden occupy the second and third positions, respectively. In the Americas, Canada is 14th, while Uruguay is positioned just after it. The lowest-ranked countries in the region are Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti, all classified under authoritarian regimes.
The global average Democracy Index score has fallen to a record low of 5.17, indicating that only 6.6% of the global population lives in a full democracy, a significant decline from 12.5% a decade ago. The report highlights ongoing issues for democracies, such as election-related violence and the increasing prevalence of authoritarian governments worldwide.
In a troubling trend, Russia experienced a “sham election” allowing President Vladimir Putin to secure a fifth term, resulting in a low score of 2. France has been downgraded from full to flawed democracy status. Concerns are also raised for the United States, as moves by President Trump could exacerbate existing problems regarding democratic governance.
The Economist’s global Democracy Index places Uruguay as the sole full democracy in its region, underlining a significant trend of declining democratic standards worldwide. The report marks a stark decrease in global democracy, reflecting an environment where authoritarianism is on the rise. Concerns about the stability of various democracies, including the U.S., are emphasized amid recent political developments.
Original Source: en.mercopress.com
