A new report from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance reveals that U.S. democracy has reached its lowest levels in 50 years. The report, which tracks democratic performance globally, highlights a concerning trend of democratic decline observed by researchers over several years.

Key Findings

  • Dr. Seema Shah, head of the democracy assessment team at the Stockholm-based institute, noted significant drops in scores measuring:

    • Freedom of expression
    • Freedom of the press
    • Credible elections
    • Effective parliament

  • Shah expressed concern that unlike previous instances of democratic decline, this trend appears to be worsening. "It's getting worse and worse," she stated, adding that there is a growing willingness among people to consider non-democratic leadership.

Global Context

The Global State of Democracy report, released on Tuesday, assesses changes in democratic performance across 174 countries from 2020 to 2025. The U.S. was highlighted as a notable example of decline, with the report stating:

“

"In 2025, President Donald Trump quickly amassed power in the executive branch and wielded it to further a narrow set of personal goals and pursue retaliation against perceived enemies."