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Democracy

−1 from 2025

In 2026, 73% of Australians said democracy is preferable to any other kind of government.

Question Democracy

Now a question about democracy. Below are some statements about democracy. Please indicate which one of the three statements comes closest to your own personal views about democracy.

  1. 0%
  2. 25%
  3. 50%
  4. 75%
Democracy is preferable to any other kind of government
73
In some circumstances, a non-democratic government can be preferable
17
For someone like me, it doesn’t matter what kind of government we have
10

In 2020, this question was fielded in a separate Lowy Institute nationwide poll in November 2020: see 2021 Methodology for more information.

Total
All groups

2026 observation

Three-quarters of Australians (73%) say democracy is preferable to any other form of government. The minority of Australians who say ‘in some circumstances, a non-democratic government can be preferable’ (17%) remained within the margin of error of last year’s Poll (15%). One in ten Australians (10%) continue to say ‘for someone like me, it doesn’t matter what kind of government we have’.

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