But did you read the whole entire press release? The press release is 6 pages long, but the important stuff is the first 3 pages / links / nexts and pages 4, 5, 6 and works cited and methodology summary. I understand if you did not delve in the PDF that I also linked, but I am asking the question for I feel your questions are answered in the first 3 pages though it may not be sorted in a way that you find convenient.

I feel the summary did a good job of answering all the nuances you are asking for there are 24 different graphs / tables in the first 3 pages and teach graph answers nuances of the questions you are asking about these these 38 nations.

In my personal opinion they had 20 definite true democracy's in that list, 10 from Europe (but also other places like Australia, Canada, Japan, Israel, and so on), and besides those 20 democracies another 10 or so that is in the "iffy zone" of would we call these nations democratic. There is also a good cross section of different cultures for some of these countries are from the democratic revolutions of the 70s, 80s, and 90s in South America, and the former USSR.

Honestly the most frustrating part is I feel the need for more south and east asia countries to be included (such as Singapore) for there are so many different hybrid, full on democracies, and authoritarian governments and culturally each country is different while Western Europe is more homogeneous with its attitude with Democracy.

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And sorry if my comment comes off as rude in the case you did actually read all of this press release, and you are still not satisfied If so my bad