Are more countries democratic today than in the past?

Yes. In 1900, only a handful of nations were democratic. By the early 2000s, over 60% of countries held regular elections, according to Freedom House. While some nations have experienced democratic backsliding, the overall number of democracies is still higher than at any point in history. Media literacy is key to understanding these trends: headlines often emphasize failures without acknowledging long-term progress. Fact-based truth: democracy, though imperfect, has expanded dramatically in the past century, giving billions more people a voice in governance.