Georgia’s position drops to 94th place in Democracy Index, marking significant decline

2024 Democracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit reads that Georgia has dropped to 94th place with a score of 4.7, down from 89th place and 5.20 points in 2023. This marks one of the sharpest declines globally.

Georgia’s performance across key categories was as follows:

* Electoral process and pluralism – 5.67
* Government functioning – 3.21
* Political participation – 5.56
* Political culture – 3.75
* Civil liberties – 5.29

Georgia is among the five countries with the steepest democratic decline, alongside Qatar, Kuwait, Tunisia, and Bangladesh. In Eastern Europe, it ranks 20th, remaining classified as a hybrid regime. The report highlights that neighboring Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine scored higher in democratic development.

The report reads that 2024 parliamentary elections in Georgia played a key role in the decline, with allegations of vote-buying, ballot stuffing, and pressure on journalists and NGOs. The controversial “Foreign Influence Transparency” bill also triggered large-scale protests, further intensifying political tensions. The Economist Intelligence Unit notes that Russia’s influence on Georgia was indirect, while the election became a battle between pro-Russian and pro-European factions.

Globally, Norway leads the index with a 9.81 score, maintaining its position as the world’s most democratic country.