Greece has fallen three places in the latest global Democracy Index, ranking 52nd worldwide, according to new findings published by the University of Gothenburg.
The report, part of the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project, evaluates 179 countries and places Greece 24th among European Union member states, near the bottom of the bloc’s rankings.
Weaknesses in institutional oversight
The study points to persistent shortcomings in the country’s system of checks and balances, particularly in parliamentary and judicial oversight of government power.
While Greece performs relatively better in areas related to elections—ranking 43rd globally in what the report defines as the “electoral dimension” of democracy—it lags significantly in the “liberal dimension,” which includes rule of law, protection of individual rights, and institutional accountability. In this category, Greece ranks 75th.
Researchers note that the country does not fully meet the criteria of a complete liberal democracy, citing structural weaknesses in mechanisms designed to limit executive power.
Why the ranking matters
According to the report, the index reflects aspects that directly affect citizens’ daily lives, including the quality of justice, equality before the law, and the protection of fundamental rights.
The decline in Greece’s ranking underscores ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of institutional safeguards and highlights a broader gap compared to other European democracies. Within the EU, Greece ranks above only a few countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.
Global democratic decline
The findings also point to a wider international trend. Countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and Estonia top the global rankings.
Meanwhile, the United States has also seen a notable decline, dropping to 51st place and, for the first time in decades, no longer classified as a full liberal democracy under the index’s criteria.
More broadly, the report finds that democratic standards have deteriorated significantly in recent years. By the end of 2025, 74% of the global population—around six billion people—live under authoritarian regimes, while only 7% reside in liberal democracies.
