World News
Global democracy report finds American performance dropped to 50-year low
International IDEA says US democratic decline is driving broader global rule-of-law erosion
The short version
- A report by International IDEA found nearly half of measured US democracy indicators reached 50-year lows between 2020 and 2025.[Al Jazeera]
- The findings show significant US drops in access to justice, expression, press freedom, and judicial independence.[Al Jazeera]
- Globally, 57% of evaluated countries experienced declines in at least one democratic performance indicator over the same period.[Al Jazeera]
Key facts
- Nearly half of the indicators evaluating US democracy fell to their lowest levels in 50 years.[NPR · Al Jazeera]
- The US recorded statistically significant drops in judicial independence, access to justice, press freedom, and freedom of expression.[Al Jazeera]
- Around 57 percent of surveyed nations declined in at least one democratic performance indicator from 2020 to 2025.[NPR · Al Jazeera]
- There were 65 violent conflicts recorded in 2025, the highest number since tracking began in 1946.[Al Jazeera]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.