Cayman Islands Voice and Accountability

The Cayman Islands’ Voice and Accountability score has fallen markedly from its 1996 peak of 1.62 to a 2025 rating of 0.99, placing the territory 44th in the global ranking and aligning it with peers such as Andorra (0.99) and Chile (1.01). The decline accelerated after the 2019 trough of 0.47, indicating a prolonged erosion of perceived government responsiveness, civil liberties and freedom of expression during the late 2010s. Over the 26‑year coverage period, the downward trajectory reflects challenges in maintaining transparent decision‑making and inclusive public discourse amid rapid financial‑services growth. While the current level exceeds the all‑time low, it remains well below the early‑1990s benchmark, suggesting that reforms aimed at strengthening institutional checks, expanding media independence and enhancing citizen participation could reverse the recent slide. Continued improvement in these areas will be essential for the Cayman Islands to sustain and potentially raise its Voice and Accountability rating in the coming years.