SWS: 89% of Filipinos satisfied with the way democracy works, record-high rating

About 89% of Filipinos who are satisfied with the way democracy works in the country, a record-high rating, according to the Fourth Quarter 2022 Social Weather Survey.

The same survey also showed that 2 out of 3 persons say democracy is always preferable to any other form of government.

The survey that was done from December 10 to 14, 2022, showed that a record-high 89% of adult Filipinos satisfied with the way democracy works in the country. The figure is is 11 points higher than the 78% in April 2021, and 3 points above the previous record of 86% in September 2016.

"Satisfaction with the way democracy works used to range from 29% to 70% from November 1991 to March 2010, and then it has ranged from 59% to 89% since June 2010," said the SWS.

The latest SWS survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide with 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The face-to-face method is the standard interviewing method for Social Weather Stations except early in the pandemic when movement was restricted.

The sampling error margins are ±2.8% for national percentages, ±5.7% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Satisfaction rating is responsive to national elections

Satisfaction with the way democracy works had peaks of 70% in September 1992, 70% in July 1998, 69% in September 2010, 86% in September 2016, and the current record of 89% in December 2022, related to the successful presidential elections of 1992, 1998, 2010, 2016, and 2022, respectively.

For the 2013 and 2019 senatorial elections, 80% in June 2013 and 85% in June 2019 were satisfied with the way democracy works.

In contrast, satisfaction with the way democracy works was a disappointing 44% in June 2004, after the presidential election of that year.

Satisfaction on democracy as form of government

About 60% of Filipinos say that "democracy is always preferable to any other kind of government" (committed democrats). The figure is higher by 6 points from 54% in April 2021 to 60% in December 2022 and 5 points below the record-high of 65% in June 2013. The preference for democracy has been above 50% since June 2015.

There are 26% who say that "under some circumstances, an authoritarian government can be preferable to a democratic one" (conditional authoritarians), which is higher by 6 points from 20% in April 2021 to 26% in December 2022.

"It has always been between 15% and 27%, and recently 20% and above for four consecutive rounds since September 2018."

At least 15% are indifferent, saying that "for people like me, it does not matter whether we have a democratic or a non-democratic regime." The figure fell by 11 points from 26% in April 2021 to 15% in December 2022. This is 1 point above the record low of 14% in June 2019.

Satisfaction rating is higher among committed democrats than conditional authoritarians and those who were indifferent

The survey showed that there is an 11-point increase in overall satisfaction with the way democracy works was due to increases in satisfaction with democracy among committed democrats, conditional authoritarians, and those who were indifferent.

Satisfaction with the way democracy works was highest among committed democrats at 93%, up by 7 points from 86% in April 2021.

It was 86% among conditional authoritarians, up by 12 points from 74% in April 2021.

It was 80% among those who were indifferent, up by 14 points from 66% in April 2021.

The SWS explained that the question on "satisfaction in the way democracy works" is from the Eurobarometer surveys, which is in standard use in Latin American and Asian projects.

Euro and Latin America comparisons

In the June-July 2022 Eurobarometer survey of 27 European Union Member States (Standard Eurobarometer 97 - Summer 2022), an average of 58% of Europeans were satisfied with the way democracy works in their country.

However, between late 2012 and 2013, satisfaction with the way democracy works has been 50% and above since May 1999.

In the 2020 Latinobarometro survey (Latinobarometro Annual Reports) of 18 Latin American countries, an average of 25% of Latin Americans are satisfied with the way democracy works in their country.

Satisfaction with the way democracy works has been below 40% since 2011, after the record-high 45% in 2009. It ranged from 29% to 43% from 1995 to 2008. -- BAP, GMA Integrated News