Trending Now - US Democracy Index Declines Amid Press Freedom Worries
WHO:
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute, based at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Staffan Lindberg, founder of V-Dem.
President Donald Trump
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute
Staffan Lindberg, founder of V-Dem
The Guardian (news organization)
WHAT:
The U.S. is now classified as an “electoral democracy,” having lost its status as a liberal democracy.
The U.S. democracy index has fallen to the same level it was in 1965, when the Voting Rights Act was signed.
The report states, “The speed of decline is comparable to some coups d’états.”
The Trump administration has unilaterally taken over powers to reallocate and grant federal funding, including a $10 billion allocation to his “Board of Peace.”
The U.S. has been downgraded in its democratic rating by V-Dem.
The U.S. democracy index has fallen by 24 percent.
The U.S. now ranks 51st in the world for democracy, down from 20th.
Freedom of expression in the U.S. is at its lowest level since the end of World War II.
The report states that Trump has achieved in one year what other countries took a decade to accomplish regarding the suppression of democratic institutions.
The report describes the current state of U.S. democracy as “bleak” and notes that 43 countries are “autocratizing” while only 12 are becoming more democratic.
The Trump administration has been accused of flouting Congress and the judiciary.
WHERE:
United States
Sweden (location of V-Dem Institute)
WHEN:
The findings are from the 2026 edition of V-Dem’s annual Democracy Report.
The report highlights changes that occurred during 2025.
WHY:
The report cites “federal government rollbacks of civil rights protections” and “attempts to suppress left-leaning groups” as contributing factors to the decline in democracy.
The report cites “suppression and intimidation of media and dissenting voices” as a key reason for the decline in democracy.
The Republican-controlled Congress has “abdicated its constitutional role in favor of the executive branch.”
HOW:
The report notes that the Republican-controlled Congress has “abdicated its constitutional role in favor of the executive branch,” ceding significant legislative, fiscal, and oversight powers during 2025.
The Trump administration has concentrated power in the executive branch, ignoring the rule of law and suppressing dissent.
The administration has taken unilateral actions to reallocate federal funding without congressional approval.
Government censorship of the media is described as the “preferred weapon of choice” for dictators and aspiring autocrats.
(UPDATED March 19, 2026 05:26 UTC)
A new report from the Varieties of Democracy Institute at the University of Gothenburg reveals that the U.S. is now classified as an “electoral democracy,” a significant drop from its previous status as a liberal democracy, with its democracy index falling to levels not seen since 1965. The report highlights that the Trump administration has taken unilateral control over federal funding, including a notable $10 billion allocation to his “Board of Peace,” and cites federal rollbacks of civil rights protections and efforts to suppress left-leaning groups as key factors in this decline. It also points out that the Republican-controlled Congress has given up its constitutional responsibilities, allowing the executive branch to gain unprecedented legislative and fiscal powers throughout 2025.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 19:28 UTC)
In a significant report released by the Varieties of Democracy Institute, the U.S. has been downgraded in its democratic rating, now ranking 51st in the world, a steep drop from 20th, with its democracy index falling by 24 percent. The report, which highlights changes from 2025, describes the current state of U.S. democracy as "bleak," citing suppression and intimidation of media and dissenting voices as key factors, and notes that President Trump has achieved in one year what other countries took a decade to accomplish in undermining democratic institutions. Additionally, the report points out that freedom of expression in the U.S. is at its lowest level since World War II, while the Republican-controlled Congress is accused of abdicating its constitutional role in favor of the executive branch.