Türkiye Faces Steady Decline in Democracy and Quality of Life Rankings

Once praised as a fast-rising nation in social development, Türkiye is now facing a notable decline across key global indicators. Several recent international reports confirm a downward trajectory in democracy, rule of law, and overall quality of life, placing Türkiye below global averages in multiple categories.

According to the OECD Better Life Index, which assesses well-being in member countries, Türkiye consistently scores at the lower end. In 2022, it ranked fourth from last out of 41 countries, with scores ranging between 3.5 and 4, far from the top-performing nations that approach 8. The report highlights underperformance in crucial sectors like income, housing, employment, environment, education, and healthcare.

Rule of Law and Democratic Standards Under Pressure

Despite high voter turnout, often seen as a sign of civic engagement, Türkiye continues to struggle with deep-rooted inequalities, especially regarding gender equity and social inclusion.

A more serious issue flagged by experts is the erosion of democratic institutions. The V-Dem Institute of Sweden notes that Türkiye’s governance quality has regressed to levels last seen in the early 20th century. The country is now classified as an “electoral autocracy”, placing it in the bottom 30% globally in terms of democratic functioning.

Similarly, The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index paints a grim picture, tracking Türkiye’s decline from a “flawed democracy” in 2006 to a “hybrid regime” by 2024, where it ranked 103rd out of 167 countries.

Human Development Gains Offset by Economic Fragility

Not everything is negative. Türkiye recorded significant human development progress between 2000 and 2022, with the UNDP recognizing it among the fastest-improving nations. By 2019, Türkiye had reached “high development” status and currently ranks 45th on the Human Development Index. However, experts caution that much of this growth is tied to short-term recovery post-COVID-19, and rising inflation may threaten its long-term sustainability.

The 2024 World Happiness Report, published by Oxford University and Gallup, places Türkiye at 94th out of 147 countries. While there have been slight gains in income and life expectancy, factors like corruption perception, social trust, and generosity have shown no meaningful improvement.

Broader Metrics Now Central to Measuring National Development

As global standards for measuring development evolve, organizations increasingly focus on long-term indicators like governance quality, civil liberties, and social well-being, not just GDP or income.

Institutions like the World Bank and IMF are enhancing transparency through digitized time-series data, facilitating cross-country comparisons. However, democracy indices, often developed by academic groups or NGOs, have faced criticism for reflecting Western-centric political norms, sometimes overlooking local governance models.

Despite these critiques, such assessments remain influential in shaping international perceptions of a country’s development and institutional resilience.

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