Morocco Leads in Arab Democracy Rankings
In the latest Democracy Index report for 2024, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Morocco continues to assert its position as the leader of Arab democracy, ranking 91st globally with a score of 4.97. This classification places Morocco in the category of "hybrid regimes," surpassing Tunisia, which ranks 94th, and Algeria, which falls behind at 110th in the authoritarian regime category. The report highlights a modest but significant increase in the average scores of countries in the Middle East and North Africa, rising from 3.12 in 2024 to 3.16 in 2025, marking a shift after six consecutive years of decline. It is noteworthy that all countries in the region are classified as either 'authoritarian' or 'hybrid,' with the exception of Israel, which is categorized as a 'flawed democracy.' Interestingly, Tunisia was the only country to see a decrease in its score, reflecting tightening restrictions on civil liberties amid a broader authoritarian shift.
Global Context and Regional Implications
The report also details that Gabon made the most significant gains in the rankings, moving up 32 places, followed by Bolivia, Canada, Sri Lanka, and Argentina. Conversely, the largest declines were observed in Guinea-Bissau, Nepal, Pakistan, Georgia, the Philippines, and India. Additionally, several countries shifted from being classified as flawed democracies to full democracies, while Angola's status changed from hybrid to authoritarian. On a global scale, Norway maintained its top position as the strongest democracy, trailed by New Zealand and Denmark, which improved its ranking due to effective governance in response to threats against Greenland.
Currently, approximately 39.2% of the world's population lives under authoritarian regimes across 61 countries, while 38.4% reside in 'flawed democracies' governing 48 countries. The report emphasizes that nearly three-quarters of countries either stabilized or improved their scores over the past year, leading to a global index increase of 0.02 points, one of the most substantial rises since 2012. Latin America and the Caribbean witnessed the most significant improvement, with more than half of the countries in the region showing enhanced scores, supported by increased political participation.
Looking ahead, the core question for 2026 revolves around the Middle East and North Africa's resilience in the face of a progressively unstable geopolitical and security environment. It is anticipated that regimes will prioritize political control and security over institutional openness. The report underscores that American-Israeli strikes on Iran and the subsequent direct confrontations have created tangible risks that may adversely affect democratic performance in several regional countries.
In conclusion, the Economist Intelligence Unit warns that countries that have shown improvement in their democratic indicators are still vulnerable to democratic regression. For instance, in Iraq, the government formation process is mired in disputes and weakened by American pressures, while the implications of the Iranian conflict, including violence from Iran-aligned Iraqi militias, may further undermine state authority and security. Furthermore, electoral dynamics will also play a crucial role in shaping democratic performance across the region, as upcoming legislative elections in Israel and Morocco will test political participation and institutional resilience amid ongoing local polarization and persistent voter apathy. The youth-driven movements are a significant source of political pressure in the region, as digitally connected younger generations express their frustration with economic stagnation, governance failures, and shrinking political spaces.
As reported by hespress.com.
