Democracy Perception Index Report 2021
The world’s largest annual study on how people perceive democracy
In collaboration with 
What This Report Explores
The Democracy Perception Index (DPI) aims to understand the global crisis that democracy is facing from the perspective of ordinary people from around the world. It is the largest annual study on people’s perception of democracy, representing over 75% of the world’s population. The Democracy Perception Index (DPI) was released ahead of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation’s fourth-annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit, held virtually with leaders and democracy activists from around the world.
2021 Key Findings
Threats to Democracy
Economic inequality is the biggest perceived threat to democracy
% agree that ______ is a threat to democracy in their country
15
25
27
23
26
29
32
36
64
53
49
48
44
42
38
28
50%
DISAGREE
0%
AGREE
75%
THREAT
Democracy During COVID
COVID-19: Europe and America are failing in the eyes of their citizens
% say that their country is responding well to the COVID 19 crisis
People in Asia are most satisfied with their country’s response
Average satisfaction in Asia is significantly higher than in Europe and Latin America. People living in free democracies are also much less satisfied with their country’s response, with only 51% saying their country is responding well.