Democracy Report 2024 – Democracy Winning and Losing at the Ballot

The year 2024 is an election super year, with over 60 countries and nearly half of the global population heading to the polls. This Democracy Report, issued by the V-Dem Institute, illuminates the significance of this year by offering an intricate overview of the current state of democracy worldwide. Its foremost observation highlights that the democratic standards experienced by the average individual in 2023 have regressed to levels reminiscent of those seen in 1985.

The report suggests that there are currently 91 democracies and 88 autocracies in the world. These are classified across a spectrum ranging from closed autocracies and electoral autocracies to a grey zone representing a transitional phase toward electoral democracies and liberal democracies. 

A discernible trend towards autocratization has been noted, particularly pronounced in Eastern Europe, South, and Central Asia. Despite some minor declines, levels of democracy have remained relatively stable in East Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Western Europe and North America. In stark contrast, Latin America and the Caribbean stand out as the sole region where democracy is on the rise. Going back to the countries undergoing elections this year, the question remains to see where the 2024 elections will take them. The V-Dem Institute highlights that among these 60 countries, 31 are currently experiencing autocratization, while 3 are in the process of democratization. Consequently, the 2024 elections are poised to play a pivotal role in either affirming or contesting these prevailing trends.