Democracy Tracker
The Democracy Tracker provides comprehensive qualitative data on the state of democracy in 173 countries. The tool reports events that impact the relative state of democracy and human rights at the country level every month, highlighting how these events affect the Global State of Democracy’s five attributes. Click on the country hexagons below to read the most recent developments. Some country pages are in the process of being populated. Please stay tuned. *Improvements and declines are relative to each country and do not represent comparisons or rankings between countries.
Republic of Korea
Fiji
Kenya
Spain
Nigeria
Poland
Turkey
Guinea
Mauritania
Lebanon
Saudi Arabia
Syrian Arab Republic
Cambodia
Somalia
Bangladesh
Indonesia
Jamaica
Suriname
Mexico
Belarus
Russian Federation
Bulgaria
Tunisia
India
Palestine
May 2022
Malaysia
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Critical Developments This Month
Europe • Belarus
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Byalyatski and his fellow human rights activists in the organization Viasna, Valyantsin Stefanovich, and Uladzimer Labkovich, were sentenced to 12, 11, and 9 years imprisonment, respectively. They were charged with and convicted of tax-evasion and smuggling by a court in Minsk. The decision has been part of a wave of convictions of human rights activists, journalists, and individual citizens in Belarus. The ruling was roundly condemned by the international community as groundless and politically motivated retribution for Viasna’s human rights work. A fourth activist, Zmitser Salauyou, was sentenced to 8 years in absentia.
Africa • Nigeria
On 25 February, Nigerians voted in one of the most consequential elections in Africa in 2023. The lead-up to the election was dominated by economic challenges and protests against shortages of fuel and the newly redesigned currency. Turnout was markedly low, down from the already low mark of 35 per cent in 2019, with only 27 per cent of registered voters participating in the election. International observers faulted the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) for logistical failures, irregularities, and a lack of transparency. The ruling party (All People’s Congress) candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared the winner of the presidential election. In the National Assembly, the APC lost ground to opposition parties, but retained its majority in the Senate and likely also in the House of Representatives. The election failed to advance women’s representation, with only 18 women elected to the 469-member National Assembly thus far (some seats remain to be determined). Opposition parties have announced that they will challenge the outcome of the presidential election in the courts. Those proceedings are likely to last at least six months.
Americas • Mexico
After initial discussion and approval in December by the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, on 22 February Congress passed the “Plan B” electoral reform, which entered into force on 3 March. In response, on 26 February large demonstrations took place across the country against what protesters say are attempts to undermine the electoral authorities, particularly the National Electoral Institute (INE).
Since the reform was first proposed, it has been met with extensive international and nationwide criticism, as it effectively reduces the structure, staff, and power of the National Electoral Institute (INE), impacts its autonomy, loosens restrictions on campaigning and propaganda as well as INE’s enforcement capabilities on the subject. Some opponents have described the reform as an attack on democracy itself and have expressed concern over how the overhaul to INE’s structure will obstruct its ability to effectively organize and oversee elections. The reform also includes provisions related to the vote of Mexicans living abroad and electronic voting. Mexico’s opposition parties and the INE have filed constitutional challenges before the Supreme Court (SCJN), which is expected to consider them in the coming months. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador denies the reforms are a threat to democracy and argues the Plan B’s measures will increase the efficiency of the electoral system, result in savings of hundreds of millions of dollars a year and reduce the influence of economic interests in politics.
Asia and the Pacific • Sri Lanka
Rights activists have expressed concern about numerous government attempts to delay and invalidate long-overdue local government elections scheduled for 9 March. Delay tactics noted so far include several rounds of talks held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cabinet members after summoning the Election Commission (EC) to discuss election postponement after citing "financial difficulties." The Supreme Court issued a critical verdict on 10 February ordering the EC to hold the elections, which are now scheduled for 25 April 2023. Yet disruptions continue, with the Government Printer refusing to print ballot papers for postal voting unless paid in advance by the EC. Opposition-led protesters on 26 February were also met by police with tear gas and water cannons, resulting in dozens injured and at least one death. Critics allege that the delays come as the government fears they will fare badly at the polls
About the Global State of Democracy Initiative
International IDEA launched the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Initiative in 2016. This Initiative provides evidence-based and balanced analysis and data on the state and quality of democracy globally and for 173 countries across all regions of the world. It aims to contribute to the public debate on democracy and inform policy interventions to strengthen democracy.
Monthly Updates
See all the information related to countries that have updates this month.
Asia and the Pacific
AFG
AUS
BGD
BTN
CHN
FJI
IDN
IND
JPN
KAZ
KGZ
KHM
KOR
LAO
LKA
MDV
MMR
MNG
MYS
NPL
NZL
PAK
PHL
PNG
PRK
SGP
SLB
THA
TJK
TKM
TLS
TWN
UZB
VNM
VUT
Africa
AGO
BDI
BEN
BFA
BWA
CAF
CIV
CMR
COD
COG
COM
CPV
DJI
DZA
EGY
ERI
ETH
GAB
GHA
GIN
GMB
GNB
GNQ
KEN
LBR
LBY
LSO
MAR
MDG
MLI
MOZ
MRT
MUS
MWI
NAM
NER
NGA
RWA
SDN
SEN
SLE
SOM
SSD
SWZ
TCD
TGO
TUN
TZA
UGA
ZAF
ZMB
ZWE
Europe
ALB
ARM
AUT
AZE
BEL
BGR
BIH
BLR
CHE
CYP
CZE
DEU
DNK
ESP
EST
FIN
FRA
GBR
GEO
GRC
HRV
HUN
IRL
ISL
ITA
KSV
LTU
LUX
LVA
MDA
MKD
MLT
MNE
NLD
NOR
POL
PRT
ROU
RUS
SRB
SVK
SVN
SWE
TUR
UKR
Western Asia
ARE
BHR
IRN
IRQ
ISR
JOR
KWT
LBN
OMN
PSE
QAT
SAU
SYR
YEM
Americas
ARG
BOL
BRA
BRB
CAN
CHL
COL
CRI
CUB
DOM
ECU
GTM
GUY
HND
HTI
JAM
MEX
NIC
PAN
PER
PRY
SLV
SUR
TTO
URY
USA
VEN
May 2022
Malaysia
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Funders and Donors
The Global State of Democracy Initiative is also supported by contributions of International IDEA Member States