Global democracy hits 1978 low as autocracy rises worldwide
Democracy worldwide has weakened to levels not seen since 1978, according to a new report. The decline is marked by rising autocratic rule, with 74% of the global population now living under non-democratic governments. Hungary and the US have both faced significant democratic setbacks, though for different reasons.
Hungary has been reclassified as an 'electoral autocracy'—a system where elections take place but lack fairness. Since Viktor Orbán took power in 2010, democratic standards have steadily eroded. Anti-government protests have grown, and opposition groups are now mobilising ahead of the 2026 parliamentary election. Péter Magyar has emerged as Orbán's first serious challenger, signalling potential political shifts.
The US, despite maintaining an intact electoral system, saw a sharp decline in its Democracy Index under Donald Trump's presidency. His administration frequently relied on executive decrees, sidelining Congress and weakening oversight. The report highlights the circumvention of court rulings, restrictions on civil liberties, and a crackdown on media freedom. Globally, Trump's leadership damaged perceptions of democracy, particularly in Western nations like Germany and France. His policies—marked by aggression, sanctions conflicts, and nationalist rhetoric—fuelled scepticism about liberal values. By the end of 2025, the world counted 92 autocracies and 87 democracies. Researchers describe this period as the 'third wave of autocratization,' reversing decades of democratic progress.
The report underscores a clear trend: democracy is retreating while autocratic rule expands. Hungary's classification as an electoral autocracy and the US's democratic decline reflect broader global shifts. With over 70% of the world's population under autocratic governance, the balance of political power has fundamentally changed.
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