U.S. Democracy Falls to Its Lowest Level in 50 Years

According to a new study, democracy in the United States has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years, as a broader global decline is weakening the rule of law and increasing the risk of conflict. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) said on Tuesday that nearly half of the 30 indicators used to assess U.S. democracy have reached their lowest levels since records began in 1975. The organization said the United States is experiencing a period of significant democratic decline, describing the country as “the most prominent example and an accelerating factor” in the broader global trend.

According to the report, the United States’ performance deteriorated significantly between 2020 and 2025 across seven indicators, including access to justice, economic equality, freedom of expression and the press, the effectiveness of Congress, and judicial independence. According to International IDEA, the decline was most pronounced during President Donald Trump’s second term, although some of these trends had already begun earlier. The report said Trump rapidly concentrated power in the executive branch to pursue personal objectives and take retaliatory action against alleged opponents, with “far-reaching” consequences both inside and outside the country. According to the report, his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which became law in July 2025, reduced government assistance for low-income Americans despite severe economic inequality.

According to the study, Washington has also used its economic and military power to pressure other countries, including attempts to influence elections in Argentina, Colombia, and Honduras, as well as threats of military intervention against Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico. The U.S. military operation in Venezuela, in which President Nicolás Maduro was captured and transferred to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges, was described as another example of the Trump administration’s so-called “Donroe Doctrine,” which envisions “U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere” through the use of military power.

The report also referred to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, saying it was launched in February without evidence of any imminent threat of Iranian aggression. According to the report, Washington acted without congressional authorization and outside the collective security mechanisms established under the United Nations Charter. International IDEA said that just as the rule of law is weakening within the United States, its actions abroad are also undermining the principle of peaceful conflict resolution. According to the study, the decline in the United States is part of a broader global downturn, with 57 percent of countries experiencing deterioration in at least one indicator between 2020 and 2025. Last year marked the 11th consecutive year in which more countries experienced decline than improvement, the longest such period since International IDEA began keeping records. In 2025, the number of violent conflicts worldwide also increased to 65, the highest figure since records began in 1946.