Stockholm-based International IDEA's annual Global State of Democracy report has raised alarms over the state of democracy in the United States, indicating that key indicators have reached their lowest point in 50 years. The report specifically points to the threats and actions of the Donald Trump administration as having significantly undermined the rule of law.
The comprehensive report, which tracks democratic performance across 174 countries since 1975, noted that while a global trend of democratic deterioration is evident, the decline in the US has been particularly pronounced. This assessment led International IDEA to add the US to its list of "backsliding" democracies in 2021, identifying a visible decline that commenced in 2019.
Global Democratic Erosion Continues
The findings for the US are part of a broader, concerning global trend. The report marks the 11th consecutive year where more countries experienced democratic decline than improvement, representing the longest continuous downturn since International IDEA began its record-keeping. Globally, the rule of law emerged as the weakest area of democracy in 2025, with 71 countries (41% of those assessed) classified as low-performing, and 29 experiencing rapid downturns in this area.
Other critical indicators, including judicial independence, the credibility of elections, freedom of expression, press freedom, and access to justice, have also hit their lowest global levels in at least 30 years.
Trump's Influence on Rule of Law
According to the report, political developments in the United States significantly exemplified and compounded challenges to democracy in 2025. It highlights how the Trump administration rapidly accumulated power within the executive branch, subsequently using it to pursue personal objectives and retaliate against perceived adversaries.
These actions, the report states, have had far-reaching consequences, undermining the rule of law both within the US and internationally, while also straining long-standing alliances and multilateral cooperation efforts. International IDEA Secretary General Kevin Casas-Zamora warned that democratic deterioration is directly linked to a rise in global conflict, noting that 2025 saw the most violent conflicts, including the highest number of interstate conflicts, since 1946.
Reversing the Trend
Casas-Zamora also emphasized the international influence of US developments, particularly concerning the growing phenomenon of election denialism observed in other nations. Despite the grim outlook, he offered a note of cautious optimism, stating that democratic decline is neither inevitable nor permanent, and that such trends can be reversed through concerted efforts.
While the focus remains on areas of concern, the report also acknowledged positive democratic developments in countries such as Australia, Syria, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. However, it concurrently warned of a global narrowing of civic space, with civil society organizations and peaceful civic engagement facing increasing pressure worldwide.