DPI 2026
The world's largest global democracy survey
Explore 98 countries, 94,146 respondents, and eight years of trends on how people around the world actually feel about democracy.
DASHBOARD
Explore the data in our interactive dashboard
Democracy Perception Index 2026
April 16, 2026
94,146 respondents · 98 countries
The Democracy Perception Index is a citizen-based measure of how people around the world see the state of democracy in their own country. It is built from eight concrete questions about the way democratic institutions and processes work in practice, combined into a single Index Score per country. The 2026 edition is based on 94,146 respondents in 98 countries, surveyed between January and March 2026.
Where countries stand Each country is placed into one of five tiers based on its Index Score: Very Positive, Positive, Neutral, Negative, or Very Negative. The map and chart below show the global picture.
REPORT
Democracy Perception Index 2026
Download the full PDF report exploring global perceptions of democracy across 98 countries, based on 94,000+ respondents and eight years of trend data.
Why the DPI Matters
Democracy as people actually live it
To truly understand the state of democracy, we must look beyond expert assessments and listen to how people experience it in their daily lives.
The Democracy Perception Index captures how citizens around the world perceive core democratic values — like the impact of elections, the strength of the rule of law, and the freedom to speak and participate. These insights reveal whether democratic principles are not only present on paper, but felt in practice.
Because democracy isn’t only built through institutions — it’s sustained by the people who believe in it.
FROM DATA TO ACTION
A tool for decision-makers, not just researchers
The Democracy Perception Index isn’t just data — it’s a call to action. By capturing and distilling public sentiment, it transforms people’s perceptions into insights that shape policy, inform advocacy, and inspire reform.
Its findings have been featured in thousands of media outlets and read by tens of millions worldwide. From Barack Obama to Ursula von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Masih Alinejad, leaders and activists across the globe have drawn on the DPI to demand stronger democratic institutions and greater accountability.
As a trusted resource for some of the world’s most influential thinkers, policymakers, and human rights advocates, the DPI plays a vital role in defending and advancing democracy.
The Democracy Perception Index has become an essential tool for grounding our discussions on the state of democracy in some hard facts. We need to both defend and reinvigorate our democracies at a time when global authoritarianism is on the rise. The Democracy Perception Index is essential reading and a wake-up call for leaders around the world who care about building trust and strengthening democratic institutions.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Chair of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, former NATO Chief, and Danish Prime Minister
