IDEA report finds US democracy indicators at 50-year lows, raising global rule of law concerns

A new report from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) finds that nearly half of the United States’ democracy indicators have fallen to their lowest levels in five decades. The study, which evaluates 30 metrics ranging from electoral integrity and civil liberties to the functioning of government, shows that 14 of these indicators are now at or below the points recorded in the early 1970s, marking a steep decline in the country’s democratic performance.

IDEA’s analysis links the U.S. downturn to a broader erosion of global stability, noting that the simultaneous weakening of democratic institutions in several major economies has accelerated a worldwide slide in political resilience. The report cites rising political polarization, diminished public trust in electoral outcomes, and increased restrictions on press freedom as key drivers of the U.S. slide, while also highlighting comparable setbacks in other high‑income nations that together contribute to a measurable dip in the Global Stability Index released earlier this year.

The findings underscore concerns among policymakers and scholars that the United States’ democratic backsliding may have ripple effects on international governance and security cooperation. IDEA recommends targeted reforms to strengthen electoral safeguards, protect civil liberties, and restore confidence in democratic processes as essential steps to halt the downward trajectory and bolster both national and global stability.