The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its 2024 Democracy Index on Thursday, ranking Taiwan 12th among 167 countries and territories worldwide, making it the highest-ranked nation in Asia. Taiwan maintained its status as a "full democracy" according to the EIU's classification system, though its position slipped from its previous global ranking of 10th.
Taiwan scored 8.78 out of a possible 10 points, slightly lower than its 2023 score of 8.92 and its 2022 score of 8.99. The EIU evaluation is based on five categories. Taiwan received a perfect 10 in electoral process and pluralism, an 8.57 in functioning of government, a 7.78 in political participation, an 8.13 in political culture, and a 9.41 in civil liberties.
The Economist’s analysis highlights a concerning decline in global democracy, with the average score falling to 5.17 in 2024—its lowest since 2006. Only 6.6% of the world's population now lives in "full democracies," nearly half the figure from a decade ago (12.5%). Meanwhile, approximately 40% of people live under "authoritarian regimes." In a year with over 70 elections, many were deemed mere formalities, with Russia cited as an example where President Vladimir Putin secured a fifth term through what the Economist termed a "fake election."
European nations dominated the top 10 democracy rankings, with Norway ranked as the most democratic country for the 16th consecutive year, scoring 9.81. However, democratic backsliding was evident even in established democracies; France and South Korea were downgraded to a "flawed democracy" due to political issues. China ranked 145th as an "authoritarian regime" with a score of 2.11, while the United States remained a "flawed democracy," facing potential challenges under President Trump's administration.