COLOMBO – Sri Lanka has advanced 15 places in the 2025 Global Democracy Index, marking one of the strongest year-on-year improvements worldwide, according to the latest Global State of Democracy 2025 report published by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
The country is now ranked 58th with a score of 0.655, placing it in the mid-range across all four categories of the Global State of Democracy framework. Only Botswana (+20) and Mauritius (+23) recorded higher gains this year.
“Sri Lanka is among the top 25 per cent of countries in Civic Engagement and Electoral Participation. Over the last five years, it has seen advances in Elected Government, Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Press, though declines remain in Freedom of Association and Assembly,” the report stated.
Sri Lanka, a lower-middle-income economy currently recovering from its most severe post-independence economic crisis, showed progress in democratic governance while much of the world witnessed declines.
Across South Asia, the picture was more mixed:
- India slipped three places to 73rd
- Pakistan fell to 113th (down three places)
- Bangladesh dropped sharply by 24 places to 151st
Globally, 94 countries saw a decline in at least one democracy indicator between 2019 and 2024, compared to only one-third making progress. Africa registered the steepest share of global decline (33%), followed by Europe (25%), while West Asia ranked lowest overall in democratic performance.
Positive examples highlighted include Botswana and South Africa, both of which held landmark elections in 2024 that strengthened democratic credibility.
European nations continued to dominate the upper tiers of the index, with Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Luxembourg among the leaders, alongside strong performers outside Europe such as Costa Rica, Chile, and Australia.
At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, and Myanmar suffered the sharpest declines, while South Korea also posted notable setbacks. The United States ranked comparatively lower among OECD countries, standing at 35th for representation and 32nd for rights.
