Ovaj indeks zasnovan je na ocjenama koje se zemljama daju po 60 indikatora u pet širih kategorija: izborni proces i pluralizam, funkcioniranje vlade, političko učešće, politička kultura i građanske slobode.
The index is based on the scores the countries are given for 60 indicators across five broad categories: electoral process and pluralism, the functioning of government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties.