The year 2024 marked a record in global electoral engagement, with over two billion votes cast amid widespread dissatisfaction with economic conditions. This shift led to a notable decline in liberal democracies, with autocratic regimes now outnumbering democratic ones for the first time in 20 years. According to the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project, around 72% of the global population lives under autocratic governance. A detailed examination of regime changes reveals significant democratic backsliding, particularly in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia, where former democracies are rapidly transitioning to autocracies.
The democratic backsliding is strongest in Eastern Europe, as well as South and Central Asia.
According to V-Dem, the world now has fewer democracies than autocracies for the first time in over 20 years.
The polls sent a collective message of frustration into the universe, as citizens angry with rising prices and the political status quo voted out a large portion of incumbents around the world.
Approximately 72% of the world population now lives in autocratic states, the highest share since 1978.
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