V-Dem Democracy Report 2026 Publication
In News
What Happened
Why It Matters
Background
History & Context
What Changed
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BEFORE: Global democracy levels in the early 21st century reflected widespread democratic consolidation. NOW: The 2026 report indicates a sharp regression of global democracy to 1978 levels, erasing decades of democratic gains.
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BEFORE: A majority of the global population lived in democratizing nations during the peak of the post-Cold War era. NOW: Nearly three-quarters (75 percent) of the world's population lives under autocratic rule, including both electoral and closed autocracies.
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BEFORE: Freedom of expression and independent media were largely expanding globally in the late 20th century. NOW: Freedom of expression, media independence, and civil society are identified as the most frequently and severely attacked democratic institutions globally.
Prelims Angle
NCERT Connection
Practice Questions
Q1
Correct Statement(s)Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the V-Dem Democracy Report? 1. It is published annually by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2. It utilizes the Liberal Democracy Index (LDI) to measure the state of democracy across countries.