What makes a democracy? Is it the freedom to vote, the right to protest, or perhaps equal representation? Many factors contribute to a country being considered democratic, and there is no answer that is universally agreed upon. In this european business review, you’ll learn that the UK is considered the most undemocratic. But what about the United States?
Democratic countries generally have a strong rule of law, political pluralism, and open government. When measuring the level of democracy in different countries around the world, expert groups use surveys and quantitative data to rank each nation on how democratic they are. Here we will look at the top 10 most democratic nations according to these rankings.
Norway
Norway is considered one of the most democratic countries in the world. It was ranked first in a Democracy Index compiled by The Economist Intelligence Unit, with an overall score of 9.93 out of 10. Norway is known for its strong commitment to human rights and gender equality, as well as its transparent government institutions and free press. With less than 5 million people, Norway’s population is small enough that each individual can feel as though the government hears their voice.
Iceland
Iceland was ranked second on the Democracy Index by The Economist Intelligence Unit, with an overall score of 9.81 out of 10. Iceland has a long history of democracy and human rights, with strong gender equality laws, transparent government institutions, and a free press. With a population of just over 340 thousand people, Iceland is small enough that each individual can have a say in the decision-making process. Even though it is a small country, Iceland has been able to maintain its commitment to democracy for generations.
Sweden
Sweden came in third on the Democracy Index by The Economist Intelligence Unit, with an overall score of 9.64 out of 10. Sweden is known for its strong commitment to human rights and gender equality, as well as its transparent government institutions and free press. While some countries have seen their democracies decline in recent years, Sweden has managed to maintain its commitment to democracy and open government. With a population of just over 10 million people, each individual can feel as though their voice is heard by the government.
New Zealand
Ranked fourth on the list, New Zealand has an overall score of 9.47 out of 10 on the Democracy Index by The Economist Intelligence Unit. New Zealand is known for its transparent government institutions and a strong commitment to human rights, gender equality, and freedom of speech. Although it is a small country with a population of just over five million people, New Zealand has been able to maintain its commitment to democracy and open government for generations.
This list isn’t exhaustive, as there are many other democratic countries worldwide. However, these four countries stand out for their commitment to democracy and open government. Whether a country is big or small, its people should always have the right to participate in free and fair elections and hold their leaders accountable for their actions.