Mexico's Democracy Score Improves in 2025

Mexico's democracy score improved slightly in 2025, offering a bright spot in a region where political systems are under increasing strain.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance released its annual global democracy report this week, measuring how well countries perform across four key areas: representation, rights, rule of law, and participation. Mexico's overall score rose from 1.770 to 1.778 out of 4 points.

The improvement came during President Claudia Sheinbaum's first full year in office. Mexico scored gains in two of the four categories measured, held steady in another, and declined in just one.

The news stands in contrast to broader regional trends. Latin America has become the world's most politically polarized region over the past decade, according to the report. Contentious issues like migration, economic instability, and security concerns have fueled divisions across the continent.

Mexico performed best in the representation category, ranking 83rd out of 173 countries worldwide. This measure includes the credibility of elections, voting rights, political party freedom, and how well legislatures function. While there's room for growth, Mexico outpaced many nations in giving citizens a voice in their government.

The country's score in rights, which covers access to justice, civil liberties, and equality, remained unchanged from 2024 at 0.407 out of 1. Mexico ranked 111th globally in this category.

The Bright Side

Small improvements matter, especially when many democracies are moving in the opposite direction. The report noted that numerous countries saw their democratic institutions weaken in 2025, making Mexico's upward movement particularly meaningful.

President Sheinbaum remains popular with voters nearly two years into her six-year term. While political debates continue over specific policies, the democratic process itself showed signs of strengthening under international measurement standards.

The report emphasizes that democracy isn't built overnight. Incremental gains in representation and rule of law create foundations for future progress. Mexico's experience shows that even modest improvements are possible when governments and citizens remain committed to democratic principles.

Progress is happening, one measurement at a time.