US democratic indicators at lowest in 50 years: Guardian report

Key democratic indicators in the United States have fallen to their lowest levels in the past 50 years. At the same time, the rule of law worldwide has come under major pressure due to various steps and threats from the country’s Trump administration. However, amid this disappointing global picture some signs of democratic progress have been seen in several countries including Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

British media outlet The Guardian reported that the Stockholm-based research organisation International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) has stated this in its annual ‘Global State of Democracy’ report. The organisation has evaluated changes in various indicators since 1975 by analysing the democratic situation of 174 countries.

According to the report, indicators such as judicial independence, credible elections, freedom of expression, media freedom and access to justice worldwide are in their weakest position in at least the past 30 years. 2025 was the 11th consecutive year when the number of countries experiencing democratic decline exceeded those making progress. This is the longest continuous period of democratic decline in the history of International IDEA’s research.

The organisation has particularly described the situation in the United States as concerning. According to the authors of the report, President Donald Trump has rapidly concentrated power in the executive branch and used that power to fulfil personal goals and take action against political opponents. As a result, the rule of law has weakened inside the United States while the country’s long-standing alliances and multilateral cooperation at the international level have also come under challenge.

Secretary-General of International IDEA Kevin Casas-Zamora said there is a direct link between the decline of democracy and the increased risk of conflict. He warned that investment in democracy needs to be at the centre of a country’s security strategy. Because when the quality of democracy declines, the risk of political instability and conflict also rises. Data from the Uppsala Conflict Data Program also shows that conflict-related violence reached its highest level since 1946 in 2025.

However, the report also mentioned some positive changes. The fall of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the adoption of various policies in Australia through consultation with civil society, and the removal of long-time leaders through youth-led mass movements in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka have been cited as examples of positive change. Although the organisation believes that implementing rapid and meaningful reforms in these countries remains a major challenge.

On the overall global situation International IDEA said the weakest area of democracy in 2025 was the rule of law. Among the countries evaluated, 71 countries, or 41 percent, were in a low position on this indicator. At the same time the rule of law indicator declined in 29 countries.

The organisation’s secretary-general said the political developments in the United States are also influencing other countries of the world. However, he believes there is no reason to view this democratic decline as inevitable or permanent; it is possible to reverse this trend through changes in the political situation.