US democracy declines sharply under Trump’s second term, report finds

A new democracy report from the University of Gothenburg shows US democracy has deteriorated rapidly during Donald Trump’s second presidential term, reaching levels not seen since 1965, according to public broadcaster SVT Nyheter.

The annual Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) report, one of the world’s largest democracy studies, found that the US has lost its long-standing status as a liberal democracy and is now classified as an “electoral democracy,” a weaker form. The assessment is based on data from over 4,200 experts across 180 countries.

“Democracy under Donald Trump has fallen like a stone,” said Staffan I. Lindberg, professor of political science at the University of Gothenburg. He noted that Trump has issued 225 executive orders in the past year, while Congress passed just 49 laws—a shift of power from legislative and judicial institutions to the presidency.

The report also highlights declines in press freedom and freedom of expression under Trump’s policies. “He has undermined democracy so much that it will be difficult to return to normal,” Lindberg said.

Global democracy at 1978 levels

The V-Dem report warns of a broader global decline, with democracy now at 1978 levels for the average citizen. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population—6 billion people—live in autocracies, while only 7 percent (600 million) reside in liberal democracies.

“There have never been so many countries undergoing autocratization simultaneously,” Lindberg said. “The global situation is very serious, with few bright spots.”

Sweden ranks second in the world on the democracy index, but Lindberg cautioned that even there, recent laws passed despite legal concerns from the Council on Legislation pose risks.

By the end of 2025, the report projects 92 autocracies and 87 democracies worldwide, with freedom of expression declining in 44 countries.