According to the Democracy Index published by the UK Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Serbia has recorded its lowest rating in 14 years since the Index was introduced, with 6.22 index points, holding the 66th place on the global list of 165 independent states.

In 2006, Serbia scored 6.62.

The country is classified as ‘flawed democracy,“ with the 0,19 points fall compared to 2019, also the worst result on a year since 2006.

EIU said that in 2020 eastern Europe’s average regional score in the Democracy Index declined to 5.36, compared with 5.42 in 2019.

That is, it adds, markedly below the region’s score of 5.76 in 2006 when the Index was first published.

„Only a handful of countries, such as Poland, registered a significant improvement in their scores, while many more experienced steep declines in their scores, most notably the Kyrgyz Republic. In total, the scores of ten countries rose in 2020, while 17 fell and one stagnated. This clear trend of deterioration across the region indicates the fragility of democracy in times of crisis and the willingness.“

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s report further added that „democracy was dealt a major blow in 2020. Almost 70% of countries covered by The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index recorded a decline in their overall score, as country after country locked down to protect lives from a novel coronavirus. The global average score fell to its lowest level since the Index began in 2006,“

The EIU Democracy Index provides a snapshot of the state of world democracy for 165 independent states and two territories. The Democracy Index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. Based on their scores on 60 indicators within these categories, each country is then itself classified as one of four types of regime: full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime or authoritarian regime.“

In 2020, Norway topped the list, while North Korea held the bottom.

In the last year’s Democracy Index, EIU focused on the coronavirus pandemic’s impact to democracies and freedoms in the world, it said.

An average global Democracy Index mark fell from 5.44 in 2019, to 5.34 last year, and was said to be the worst year globally.

The full report read here.