Of the 2023 top ten most democractic countries in the world, as determined by researchers at The Economist, four are monarchies: Norway (1), Sweden (4), Denmark (6), and Netherlands (9). If you want to widen the net, you can throw in New Zealand (2). Other monarchies that are designated as "full democracies" are Luxembourg (11), the UK (18), and Spain (23). For a handy comparison, the United States (29) is a "flawed democracy."

All of these states are parliamentary constitutional monarchies, a common type of democracy in Western Europe.

Now democracy isn't to be confused with the governmental structure of the republic. Republics are definitionally non-monarchies. In fact the entire category of "republic" was conceptualized in direct opposition to monarchy.

Monarchies can be democracies or not (Norway vs. Saudi Arabia). Republics can be democracies or not (Finland vs. Myanmar). Monarchies cannot be republics.

Posted by PPvsFC_

2 comments

  1. As an educated person with a background in political science living in the United States, I love that this is highlighted here. People here love to say “we’re a republic, not a democracy!” And it grinds my gears every single time. Do they think republics cannot also be democracies?

    Do they think monarchies must be autocratic? Do they not understand that monarchies can be democratic? It’s baffling.

    You have people insisting the US isn’t a democracy because we use the Electoral College to elect the president. Then they proceed to VOTE to democratically elect senators, governors, representatives, state legislators, school board members, city councils, and mayors.

    Anyway, my country is full of idiots. Have a great day!

  2. Thank you!

    “Background info” should be a regular category here. Knowledge is useful!

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