Freedom in the World by region explained

Freedom in the World is a yearly survey and report by the U.S.-based^[1] non-governmental organization Freedom House that measures the degree of civil liberties and political rights in every nation and significant related and disputed territories around the world.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Key: * - Electoral democracies (as described above), PR - Political Rights, CL - Civil Liberties, Free Status: Free, Partly Free, Not Free

	2010			2011			2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
Country	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	6		6	6		6	6
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	2
align=left		5	3		5	3		5	3		5	3		5	3		6	3		4	3		4	3		4	3
align=left		4	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		6	5		7	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7
align=left		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4
align=left	Congo, Republic of	6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		7	5		7	5
align=left	Congo, Democratic Republic of	6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		6	5		7	6		6	6		5	5		5	4		5	4		4	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		5	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5
align=left		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7
align=left		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7
align=left		5	5		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		7	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		7	5
align=left		5	5		5	5		6	5		6	6		6	6		6	6		7	6		6	6		4	5
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2
align=left		7	6		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5
align=left		4	4		4	4		4	4		6	5		6	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5
align=left		4	4		4	3		4	3		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	3
align=left		6	4		6	4		6	4		6	4		5	4		4	4		3	4		3	4		3	4
align=left		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		2	3		2	3		2	3		7	5		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2
align=left		4	3		4	3		4	3		4	3		4	3		4	3		4	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		5	4		5	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		5	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	5		4	5		3	5		3	5
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	6		6	5		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		2	3		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		2	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		7	7		7	7		6	5		6	5		6	6		7	6		7	6		7	7		7	7
align=left		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7
align=left		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	6
align=left		4	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	4		3	4		4	4
align=left		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		6	4		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	4
align=left		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		5	6		5	6		5	5		5	5		6	5

Americas

Key: * - Electoral democracies (as described above), PR - Political Rights, CL - Civil Liberties, Free Status: Free, Partly Free, Not Free

	2010			2011			2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
Country	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free
	3	2		3	2		3	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	3		3	3
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	3		2	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	4		3	3
align=left		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2
align=left		4	4		4	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		4	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3
align=left		4	5		4	5		4	5		4	5		4	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5
align=left		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3
align=left		2	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		4	4		4	4		5	4		5	4		4	3		4	3		4	3		5	4		5	4
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		2	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		2	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	3		2	3		2	2
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		2	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		5	4		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		6	5		6	5

Asia-Pacific

Key: * - Electoral democracies (as described above), PR - Political Rights, CL - Civil Liberties, Free Status: Free, Partly Free, Not Free

	2010			2011			2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
Country	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free
align=left		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		5	6
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		4	5		4	5		4	5		4	5		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5
align=left		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	3		3	3		3	3		2	3
align=left		6	4		6	4		6	4		6	4		6	4		3	4		3	3		3	4		3	3
align=left		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3
align=left		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	3		2	4		2	4		2	4		2	4		2	4
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		3	4		3	4		3	4		5	4		4	4		4	4		4	5		5	5		5	5
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left	Micronesia*	1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2
align=left		7	7		7	7		7	6		6	5		6	5		6	6		6	5		5	5		5	5
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		4	5		4	5		4	5		4	5		4	5		4	5		4	5		4	5		4	5
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		4	3		4	3		4	3		4	3		3	3		4	3		4	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		4	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		5	4		5	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		4	4
align=left		4	3		4	3		4	3		4	3		4	3		3	3		3	3		3	2		3	2
align=left		4	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	5		4	4		3	4		3	4
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	1		1	1
align=left		5	4		5	4		4	4		4	4		4	4		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5
align=left		5	3		3	3		3	3		3	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5		7	5

Eurasia

Key: * - Electoral democracies (as described above), PR - Political Rights, CL - Civil Liberties, Free Status: Free, Partly Free, Not Free

	2010			2011			2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
Country	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free
align=left		6	4		6	4		6	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	6		6	6		7	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		6	6
align=left		4	4		4	3		4	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		7	5		7	5
align=left		6	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5
align=left		3	4		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	6		6	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	6		6	6		6	6		7	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7
align=left		3	2		3	3		4	3		4	3		4	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7

Europe

Key: * - Electoral democracies (as described above), PR - Political Rights, CL - Civil Liberties, Free Status: Free, Partly Free, Not Free

	2010			2011			2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
Country	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		4	3		4	3		4	3		3	3		3	3		4	3		4	3		4	4		4	4
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	2		1	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	2		1	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	2		1	2		1	2		2	2		2	2		3	2		3	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	1		2	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		4	4		3	4		3	4		3	4
align=left		2	1		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		1	2		2	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		2	1		2	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	3		4	3		4	3		4	3		4	3
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		2	1		2	1		2	1		2	1		2	1		2	1		2	1		3	1		3	1
align=left		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	2		3	3		3	3		3	3
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	2		1	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		2	2		3	2		3	2
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1
align=left		3	3		3	3		3	3		3	4		3	4		3	4		3	4		4	5		5	6
align=left		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1		1	1

Middle East and North Africa

Note: The Middle East countries of Turkey, Cyprus, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia can be found in the "Europe" and "Eurasia" sections of Freedom House's Freedom in the World report.

Key: * - Electoral democracies (as described above), PR - Political Rights, CL - Civil Liberties, Free Status: Free, Partly Free, Not Free

	2010			2011			2012			2013			2014			2015			2016			2017			2018
Country	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free	PR	CL	Free
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	6		6	6		6	6		7	6		7	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		5	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	6
align=left		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		5	6
align=left		5	6		5	6		5	6		6	6		5	6		6	6		5	6		5	6		5	6
align=left		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	2		1	3
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		5	5		5	5
align=left		4	4		4	5		4	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5		5	5
align=left		5	3		5	3		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		6	4
align=left		7	7		7	7		7	6		4	5		4	5		6	6		6	6		7	6		7	6
align=left		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	4		5	5
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5		6	5
align=left		7	6		7	6		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7
align=left		7	6		7	6		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7		7	7
align=left		7	5		7	5		3	4		3	4		3	3		1	3		1	3		1	3		2	3
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		7	6
align=left		6	5		6	5		6	6		6	6		6	6		6	6		7	6		7	6		7	6

See also

• Freedom in the World
• Democracy Ranking
• Democracy-Dictatorship Index
• List of indices of freedom
• Index of Freedom in the World
• Freedom of the Press report
• Polity data series
• Democracy in the Middle East

References

• • Bollen . Kenneth . Paxton . Pamela . Morishima . Rumi . June 2005 . Assessing international evaluations: An example from USAID's Democracy and Governance Programs . American Journal of Evaluation . 26 . 2 . 189–203 . 10.1177/1098214005275640 . 146522432 . Evaluation performed on behalf of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), at the request of and with funding from the Strategic and Operational Research Agenda (SORA) of USAID (Office of Democracy and Governance in the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance), according to the .
    • Book: National Research Council, Committee on Evaluation of USAID Democracy Assistance Programs. United_States_National_Research_Council. Improving democracy assistance: Building knowledge through evaluations and research. Jack A. Goldstone. Jack A. Goldstone. xvi+336. 2008. 978-0-309-11736-4. Individuals can download the complete report (pdf format) for private use.

External links

• Freedom in the World 2018 - online at Freedom House
• Freedom in the World 2017 - online at Freedom House
• Freedom in the World 2016 - online at Freedom House
• Freedom in the World 2015 - online at Freedom House
• Freedom in the World 2014 - online at Freedom House
• Freedom in the World 2013 - online at Freedom House

Notes and References

1. Web site: Freedom House Report: Asia Sees Some Significant Progress . William Ide . January 11, 2000 . Voice of America . 4 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131204022723/http://www.voanews.com/content/report--asia-sees-some-significant-progress-81235887/165280.html . October 13, 2012 . dead . dmy .