RANKED: The most authoritarian regimes in the world

Alexandra MaFeb 4, 2018, 14:49 IST

TEHRAN, IRAN - NOVEMBER 29: A protester holds a baton in the air as police in riot gear hold a large number of demonstrators attempting to storm the British Embassy in front of security gates during an anti-British demonstration in the Iranian capital on November 29, 2011 in Tehran, Iran. Relations between the two countries have soured further over recent weeks, with the UK Treasury imposing sanctions on Iranian banks, accusing them of supporting the country's nuclear programme. The Iranian authorities insist that its nuclear plans are for peaceful purposes only and parliament has voted to downgrade diplomatic relations with the UK. (Photo by FarsNews/Getty Images)FarsNews/Getty

The Economist Intelligence Unit has released its latest Democracy Index this week, which ranks 167 countries according to political and civic freedom.

Countries are given a score out of 10 based on five criteria. Above eight is a "full democracy," while below four is an "authoritarian regime."

Scandinavian countries topped the list and the US remained a "flawed democracy" in this index.

The study has five criteria: Whether elections are free and fair ("electoral process and pluralism"), whether governments have checks and balances ("functioning of government"), whether citizens are included in politics ("political participation"), the level of support for the government ("political culture"), and whether people have freedom of expression ("civil liberties").

Below are the world's most authoritarian regimes:

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RANKED: The most authoritarian regimes in the world