Taliban Rule Declared World’s Most Authoritarian, Ranking Below North Korea

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), in its annual Democracy Index 2024 report, has ranked Afghanistan as the most authoritarian country in the world, placing it last among 167 nations.

The report, published by the research division of The Economist magazine, awarded Afghanistan a score of just 0.25 out of 10, highlighting the extreme repression under Taliban rule.

According to the report, Afghanistan is now more oppressive than Myanmar and North Korea, which follow closely in the rankings. The Taliban administration is classified in the “authoritarian” category, with no electoral governance, political participation, or civil liberties.

The EIU, a research institution with over 75 years of experience, provides political and economic analysis to governments, corporations, and financial institutions. With a network of 400 analysts, it assesses complex geopolitical and economic situations worldwide.

Afghanistan Ranks Last in the 2024 Democracy Index

Afghanistan’s position at the bottom of the rankings reflects its status as the most closed and repressive regime in the world. Unlike North Korea and Myanmar, which have structured governance systems, the Taliban rule without a constitution, relying solely on rigid religious decrees. Under their rule, freedoms of speech, political participation, and women’s rights have been completely eliminated. Girls’ education, women’s employment, and minority rights are also strictly banned.

Breakdown of Afghanistan’s Democracy Index Score

Electoral Process and Pluralism

Afghanistan, along with Sudan, Syria, the Central African Republic, Turkmenistan, and Laos, scored zero in this category, indicating a complete absence of credible electoral processes.

Government Functioning

Afghanistan, Sudan, Syria, and Myanmar also scored zero in terms of governance efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Laos (2.86) and North Korea (2.50) scored slightly higher, as their authoritarian systems operate in a more structured manner.

Political Participation

Afghanistan is the only country in the report to receive a 0.00 in political participation, reflecting a complete lack of citizen engagement in governance, even among elites or groups close to the Taliban.

Political Culture

In the political culture index, which assesses public support for democratic values, Afghanistan scored 1.25. This highlights the Taliban’s rigid ideological control. In contrast, Turkmenistan (5.00) and Sudan (5.63) scored higher, indicating that some segments of their populations still lean towards democratic ideals, despite authoritarian rule.

Civil Liberties

The civil liberties index, which evaluates freedom of speech, assembly, and the rights of women and minorities, awarded Afghanistan a score of zero, placing it alongside Syria, Myanmar, and North Korea. This confirms the absolute suppression of social and civil freedoms under Taliban rule.

The Democracy Index 2024 serves as yet another warning about the severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban, reinforcing their status as the most repressive regime in the world today.