A new global democracy report has classified India as an ‘electoral autocracy’ and noted a further decline in its democratic indicators. The report, released by the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg, places India at 105 out of 179 countries on the liberal democracy index, down from 100 last year.
The findings show a broader global shift. Autocracies now outnumber democracies, with 92 autocratic regimes compared to 87 democratic ones by the end of 2025. Around 74 per cent of the global population lives under autocratic systems.
India remains among the most populous countries in the electoral autocracy category, along with China, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The report states that electoral autocracy has become the most common system, affecting nearly 46per cent of the world population.
The report points to a decline in key democratic indicators in India. These include freedom of expression, media independence, and space for civil society. It also highlights reduced scrutiny of government actions by legislatures and a decline in public consultation before major decisions.
The report states that democratic levels for the average global citizen have fallen to levels last seen in the late 1970s. It also notes a rise in media censorship and restrictions on civil society across multiple countries.
These findings place India at the centre of regional trends as democratic indicators continue to decline.