Global Survey Reveals Strong Public Support for Citizen-Elected World Parliament Amid International Strain

Currently, Democracy Without Borders is advocating for the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly as a practical first step toward this vision.

RMN News Democracy Desk
New Delhi | January 20, 2026

As confidence in international law wavers and global systems face unprecedented pressure from climate change and geopolitical conflict, a groundbreaking new study reveals that citizens in a vast majority of countries support the creation of a citizen-elected world parliament to manage global issues.

The survey, commissioned by the international civil society organization Democracy Without Borders (DWB) and conducted across 101 countries representing 90% of the world’s population, is the largest poll ever carried out on this subject. The findings indicate that 40% of respondents support the proposal, while 27% are opposed and 33% remain neutral.

A Divide Between Global North and South

The data highlights a significant geographic and demographic divide in attitudes toward global governance. Support is strongest in the Global South, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, and among groups often underrepresented in national politics, such as young people, ethnic minorities, and individuals with lower income or education levels.

In 85 out of the 101 countries surveyed, more respondents supported the idea than opposed it. Türkiye and Mozambique emerged as the nations with the strongest support for a world parliament. Conversely, net opposition was most concentrated in high-income democracies, a trend former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou suggested may stem from “complacency” among those who benefit most from the current international status quo.

Democracy as a Solution to Global Crises

Experts suggest the survey results reflect a growing desire for fairer representation as the international system struggles with authoritarian resurgence and stalled global cooperation.

“The message is clear: people around the world are ready to expand democratic representation to the global scale,” stated Andreas Bummel, Executive Director of Democracy Without Borders. This sentiment was echoed by Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the Centre for Civil Liberties in Ukraine, who noted that many UN member states currently represent “oppressive authoritarian elites” rather than their people. Matviichuk argued that a citizen-elected parliament could be a vital step toward a more democratic global order.

The Path Forward: From Awareness to Action

While the support is notable, the high number of neutral responses (33%) suggests that many citizens are still unfamiliar with the concept of a world parliament. Analysts believe this indicates a “wide-open space for public engagement” where support could grow substantially if the idea gains more visibility.

Currently, Democracy Without Borders is advocating for the establishment of a UN Parliamentary Assembly as a practical first step toward this vision. Supporters argue that such an institution would provide the necessary oversight and public legitimacy needed to address shared challenges like economic justice and peace.

“This research underscores something fundamental,” said Nudhara Yusuf, Co-Chair of the Coalition for the UN We Need. “That people want their voices to matter… public legitimacy and participation become more important than ever”.