Fiji recorded the most democratic improvements in the Pacific region, with 11 positive changes across key indicators, according to the 2025 Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Report released this week.
The country made notable gains in Civil Society, Credible Elections, Effective Parliament, Freedom of Expression, and Freedom of the Press – most of which occurred in 2023.
The report attribute this to the strengthening of democratic institutions following the electoral defeat and political sidelining of former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
Fiji scored particularly high in areas such as Inclusive Suffrage, Elected Government, and Civil Society, placing it among the most improved countries globally.
The report ranks Fiji:
- 26th in the world for “Participation”, driven by active civic engagement and a vibrant civil society,
- 51st for “Rule of Law”, and
- 67th for “Rights”.
While these results signal positive momentum, the report also notes that Fiji’s scores for Effective Parliament, Credible Elections, Access to Justice, and Absence of Corruption remain at a moderate level, indicating areas still in need of reform.
One area of concern is Local Democracy, where Fiji scored poorly. The report highlights this as a significant gap, suggesting a disconnect between national democratic progress and community-level governance.
Despite the challenges, the GSoD report positions Fiji as a regional leader in democratic recovery and consolidation.
The findings reflect growing international recognition of Fiji’s political transition and efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and civic freedom since the 2022 general elections.
