Democracy is deteriorating across the world, with countries notably taking undemocratic and unnecessary actions to contain the coronavirus pandemic, a Sweden-based intergovernmental body said in its new report today.

Many democratic governments are backsliding,” AP quoted the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) as saying.

The body added that the situation is also getting worse in countries that are not democratic.

Overall, the number of countries moving in an authoritarian direction in 2020 outnumbered those going in a democratic direction, the report said, adding that in the past two years, the world has lost at least four democracies, either through flawed elections or military coups.