WASHINGTON, D.C. — Multiple global measures show the health of American democracy declined further in 2025, with the U.S. posting some of its lowest ratings in decades amid growing public dissatisfaction.
New analysis from Pew Research Center, drawing on data from several international organizations, found consistent declines across key democracy indicators, including civil liberties, political rights and checks on executive power.
The Varieties of Democracy Institute reported the U.S. received a score of 0.57 on its Liberal Democracy Index in 2025 — the country’s lowest rating since 1965. The report also cited sharp declines in checks and balances, with measures of legislative and judicial constraints falling to their lowest levels in more than a century.
Other global benchmarks show a similar trend. Freedom House gave the U.S. a score of 81 out of 100 in 2025, continuing a decline from scores above 90 a decade earlier. The Economist Intelligence Unit classified the U.S. as a “flawed democracy” with a score of 7.65, also a record low.
Taken together, the findings show the U.S. has slipped behind other major industrialized nations. According to the V-Dem analysis, the country now ranks below all other Group of Seven nations on its democracy scale.
Public opinion mirrors those assessments. In a March 2026 survey, 68% of Americans said U.S. democracy used to be a strong example for other countries but no longer is, while 69% said they are dissatisfied with how democracy is functioning.
The report also highlights deep partisan divides. Democrats overwhelmingly express dissatisfaction with the current state of democracy, while Republicans are more evenly split.
Researchers say the data points to a broader shift: declining institutional strength paired with growing public concern about the direction of American governance.
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