Estonia 33rd in Democracy Index

  • 2010-12-30
  • TBT Staff

The Baltic states were all qualified as "flawed democracies".

TALLINN - Estonia has climbed four places in this year's Democracy Index, published by "The Economist", to 33rd of 167 countries. 

Latvia was ranked in 48th place, while Lithuania was ranked 41st in the newest Democracy Index, which updated the one released in 2008. Latvia has fallen two places; Lithuania has fallen one.

All three Baltic states were qualified as "flawed democracies".

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Index of Democracy is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation, and political culture.

Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand topped the list. Russia was ranked 107th, it's score slightly lower than in 2008 but it's rank the same. North Korea was at the bottom of the list.

"Free and fair elections and civil liberties are necessary conditions for democracy, but they are unlikely to be suffcient for a full and consolidated democracy if unaccompanied by transparent and at least minimally effcient government, suffcient political participation and a supportive democratic political culture," the report says.