Is Pakistan the worst democracy in the world?

Pakistan is not considered the worst democracy in the world, but it faces significant challenges and has been downgraded in various democracy indices. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) 2023 Democracy Index, Pakistan was classified as an "authoritarian regime," indicating a significant decline in its democratic status2. The Democracy Matrix ranks Pakistan as a "hybrid regime" with a score of 0.375, which is relatively low compared to other countries4.

Pakistan's democratic performance is impacted by several factors:

• Military Influence: The military has a significant influence on politics, often favoring certain parties and undermining the democratic process3.
• Election Irregularities: Recent elections have been marred by pre-poll crackdowns, arrests of opposition members, and allegations of fraud3.
• Human Rights Concerns: The country struggles with issues like blasphemy laws, ethnic tensions, and enforced disappearances1.
• Political Instability: No prime minister has ever completed a full term, reflecting ongoing political instability1.

While Pakistan is not the worst democracy, it faces substantial challenges that hinder its democratic development. Other countries, such as those in the Sahel region, have also experienced significant declines in democratic indices due to conflict and instability2.