The latest Democracy Index report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit highlights continued disparities in democratic practices across North Africa, with Morocco and Tunisia emerging as the only countries in the region classified as “hybrid regimes,” while the rest, including Algeria, are ranked as “authoritarian regimes.”
The index evaluates 167 countries on a scale of ten points and groups them into four categories: “full democracies,” “flawed democracies,” “hybrid regimes,” and “authoritarian regimes,” based on criteria including electoral processes, government functioning, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.
Within this framework, Morocco is placed among hybrid regimes, a classification that reflects the presence of electoral institutions and elements of political pluralism, alongside ongoing challenges related to institutional balance and certain aspects of freedoms.
Tunisia is also included in the same category, maintaining its position as a hybrid regime despite a turbulent political trajectory in recent years, while still retaining some indicators of political participation and electoral processes.
In contrast, Algeria is classified among authoritarian regimes, alongside countries that record low scores in democratic indicators, particularly in political freedoms and pluralism.
According to the report’s assessment, Algeria, despite certain indicators linked to political participation, continues to face constraints on political activity, which is reflected in its placement within this category.
Mauritania is also listed among authoritarian regimes, though it ranks at a mid-level within this category, suggesting comparatively higher scores than some other countries in the region.
Libya, for its part, is classified among the lowest-performing countries within the authoritarian category, amid ongoing political fragmentation and a lack of institutional stability.
A similar situation applies to Egypt, which ranks among the lowest in the authoritarian group, reflecting restrictions on public freedoms and the political sphere.
At the global level, Norway retains its position as the world’s most democratic country for the 16th consecutive year, followed by New Zealand, while other Nordic countries continue to occupy top positions in the rankings.
At the bottom of the global index, countries such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, and North Korea remain among the most authoritarian regimes worldwide.
