Greece has slipped three places in the latest global Democracy Index, ranking 52nd out of 179 countries in new findings published by the University of Gothenburg through its Varieties of Democracy, or V-Dem, project.
The report places Greece 24th among European Union member states, leaving it close to the bottom of the bloc’s rankings and reinforcing concerns about the strength of the countest’s democratic institutions.
Greece reveals weaknesses in mechanisms meant to check government power
According to the study, Greece continues to face weaknesses in the system meant to hold government power in check. Researchers highlight persistent shortcomings in both parliamentary oversight and judicial scrutiny, pointing to broader institutional limitations in monitoring the executive branch.
While the countest performs comparatively better in areas linked to elections, the report suggests that its institutional framework remains uneven. These weaknesses, the researchers argue, affect the overall resilience of Greek democracy and raise questions about the effectiveness of safeguards designed to prevent excessive concentration of power.
Stronger on elections, weaker on liberal democracy standards
Greece ranks 43rd globally in what the report describes as the “electoral dimension” of democracy, indicating a relatively stronger performance in the conduct and structure of elections.
However, the countest falls much lower in the “liberal dimension,” where it ranks 75th worldwide. This category measures key democratic foundations such as the rule of law, the protection of individual rights, and institutional accountability.
The report concludes that Greece does not fully meet the standards of a complete liberal democracy, citing structural weaknesses in the mechanisms that are supposed to limit executive authority.
Why Greece’s democracy index ranking has wider significance
The findings matter beyond international comparisons becautilize they reflect issues that shape everyday life for citizens. The index takes into account factors tied to the quality of justice, equality before the law, and the protection of fundamental rights.
Greece’s decline in the rankings highlights continued concern over whether the countest’s institutional safeguards are functioning effectively. It also points to a widening gap between Greece and many of its European counterparts.
Within the European Union, Greece ranks above only a compact number of countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.
Part of a wider democratic setback
The V-Dem report also places Greece’s decline within a broader global pattern of democratic erosion. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and Estonia occupy the top positions in the international rankings, standing out as the strongest performers in the index.
The United States also registered a notable decline, falling to 51st place. For the first time in decades, it is no longer classified as a full liberal democracy under the index’s criteria.
More broadly, the report declares democratic standards have deteriorated sharply in recent years.
By the conclude of 2025, 74 percent of the world’s population, around six billion people, were living under authoritarian regimes, while only 7 percent resided in liberal democracies.
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