With a whopping overall score of 9.88, Sweden tops the Democracy index. It scored full marks in four of the five categories -- electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government and political participation.
However, the Nordic nation fails to score a perfect 10 overall after notching up 9.38 in political culture.
The Economist Intelligence Unit terms Sweden as a 'near-perfect democracy'. Other Nordic countries like Norway and Iceland rank at no.2 and no.3 respectively.
Image: The Gamla Stan or old town district in Stockholm, Sweden.
Photograph: Bob Strong/Reuters
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