In 2024, more than half of the world’s population participated in democratic elections, yet disaffection with government performance was widely expressed. The Democracy Index, a yearly report issued by Economist Intelligence, notes that the rise of populist movements is actually demoralizing the institutions and legal processes that are key markers of functioning democratic systems. In fact, according to the 2024 report, only 15% of the world’s countries (25 in total) are considered full democracies. A staggering 60—nearly 40% of all nations—are considered to be functioning under authoritarian regimes.
Click through to find out which 30 nations are still under dictatorships.