According to a survey conducted by Indicator Opinion, 71% of respondents agree completely or partially with the statement 'The USA is no longer a democracy'. The survey, which collected 1,459 responses via a randomly recruited Sweden panel between March 5-16, 2026, had a participation rate of 38%. The results have been weighted based on gender, age, and party choice in 2022.
Among voters on the left in Swedish politics, 86% agree completely or partially with the statement, while among voters on the right, 52% agree. The survey also shows a gender gap: 79% of women no longer see the USA as a democracy, compared to 61% of men. Per Oleskog Trygvason, Opinionschef at Indikator opinion, commented on the findings, stating, 'It is a striking, albeit not surprising, figure.
It is a striking, albeit not surprising, figure. The USA has historically been seen as a democratic role model. Today it is far from obvious for Swedish voters. A strongly contributing cause is probably that Donald Trump is very unpopular among Swedish voters and that he has largely become a symbol for the USA in Swedish voters' eyes.
The USA has historically been seen as a democratic role model. ' The specific factors beyond Donald Trump's unpopularity that contribute to this perception remain unclear. Additionally, it is unknown how these Swedish views compare to opinions in other European countries.
Meanwhile, 26% of respondents answered 'hardly agree' or 'do not agree at all' with the statement, and 3% had no opinion.
This is in line with what we see in other surveys when we ask about voters' views on issues such as climate, environment, and law and order, where men and women often make different assessments.