Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Freedom House does not report decline or progress of democracy in Bulgaria

Photo: Screenshot

Bulgaria has been assessed as unable to change in the past year. In its ranking, the organization Freedom House places Bulgaria for yet another year in the category of countries with "permanent instability" and rated it as a "semi-consolidated democracy". For three years, the country has received the same democracy score - 4.50 - on the Freedom House scale.

The definition "semi-consolidated democracy" refers to countries with a coefficient of 4 to 5, with a score of 5-7 being considered a "consolidated democracy". The results of Bulgaria according to the individual criteria are: National democratic governance - 4.25; Electoral process - 5.50; Civil society - 5.50; Independent media - 3.25; Democratic governance at the local level - 4.75; Judiciary and independence - 4.25; Corruption - 3.75, Percentage of democracy - 58%.

At 43% democratic score, Hungary reports a drop from 45% compared to a year earlier. Russia collapses from 5% to just 2%. Estonia has the highest score in the former social camp - 83%.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Autumn weather changes expected

On Thursday, the lowest temperatures will be between 9 and 14°C; in Sofia – about 12°C. During the day there will be rain showers in the western and southeastern regions of Bulgaria. The precipitation will be more intense in the..

published on 9/24/25 7:15 PM

Ancient harbour from 1st millennium BC found off Cape Kilik

Underwater excavations near Cape Kilik in Bulgaria’s Avren municipality have revealed evidence of a harbour dating back to the early 1st millennium BC. The September 17–23 expedition, led by Prof. Ivan Hristov with divers from the National..

published on 9/24/25 6:01 PM

EU enlargement a natural priority for Sofia – Bulgarian FM says in New York

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev told a B4 meeting that EU enlargement is a natural priority for Sofia. Speaking on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, Georgiev joined counterparts from Greece, Romania and Croatia to discuss..

published on 9/24/25 5:49 PM