What is a notable statistic regarding democracies and wars?

Democracies are often observed to have a high success rate in conflicts, with research indicating that they win approximately 76% of the wars they engage in. This statistic reflects not only military effectiveness but also suggests that democratic governance structures may foster more strategic decision-making in times of war. Factors contributing to this success include the accountability of leaders to their constituents and the societal support for military actions, both of which can influence the outcomes of conflicts.

Additionally, this statistic is tied to the concept of the "democratic peace theory," which posits that democracies are less likely to go to war against one another, leading to fewer and often more strategically significant conflicts compared to authoritarian regimes. As a result, when democracies do engage in warfare, they tend to prepare better and approach these conflicts with more resources and public backing, which ultimately increases their chance of victory.