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Sudan crowd gathers outside a court in Omdurman

Expanding Freedom and Democracy

Israeli anti-judicial reform protests, Tel Aviv
PERSPECTIVES

Freedom Improved in the Middle East, but Authoritarian Repression Persists

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Freedom House is founded on the core conviction that freedom flourishes in democratic nations where governments are accountable to their people.

Sign the Civil Society Declaration of Democratic Principles

Just as the citizens and institutions within a democracy hold one another accountable for their adherence to democratic principles, so must all of the world’s democracies work together to reinforce shared ideals and confront common threats. Ahead of the second Summit for Democracy, join organizations and individuals in supporting principles aimed at strengthening and expanding freedom and democracy worldwide.

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Explore Freedom in the World 2023

Freedom in the World 2023

Read the Report

Since 1973, Freedom House has assessed the condition of political rights and civil liberties around the world. The 2023 edition of Freedom in the World is the 50th in this series of annual comparative reports.

Download Report PDF

People hold white sheets of paper in protest over COVID-19 restrictions in Beijing on Nov. 27, 2022. Crowds had gathered for a vigil honoring the victims of a fire in Urumqi, which took place during COVID-19- related lockdowns in China. (Image credit: Reuters/Thomas Peter)

Policy Recommendations

Democracies and private sector actors should work to support core democratic principles and basic human rights at home and around the world. 

Freedom in the World 2023 Map

Test Your Knowledge!

Test your knowledge of some of the key findings from our 2023 report by taking our quiz.

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Tracking Democracy and Freedom Around the World

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 Free Them All: A Political Prisoners Initiative

Free Them All: A Political Prisoners Initiative

Free Them All: A Political Prisoners Initiative is a new Freedom House project intended to help free political prisoners and push back against the jailing of activists as a tool of repression. Located around the globe, the stories of these artists, journalists, and activists illustrate the significant pressures and harms that human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists face in reprisal for their work and why they need our support.

Learn More
democracy defenders thailand bangkok protest image

Election Watch: Thailand

Thailand is preparing to hold general elections in May 2023. ​​Public discontent with the military-backed government has been growing, however, electoral interference to undermine support for opposition parties or those otherwise not aligned with the military is likely. Freedom House's Election Watch team follows key digital interference issues to watch ahead of election day.

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Our Issues

Humanitarian activists hold a poster with a picture of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist who was killed in Turkey. Makassar, Indonesia. 18 October 2018. Editorial credit: Herwin Bahar / Shutterstock.com

Authoritarian Reach

coronavirus ukraine military officers testing

Democracy during Pandemic

Men using their mobile phones on a sidewalk. Johannesburg, South Africa. Editorial credit:  Sunshine Seeds / Shutterstock.com

Technology & Democracy

Hungarian people living in the English city marched silently through the streets in a show of solidarity with protesters in Hungary.  Bristol, England. 16 December 2018. Editorial credit: tviolet / Shutterstock.com

Democracies in Decline

United States Capitol Building. Washington, DC. Editorial credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.comL:

Promoting U.S. Leadership

A man inserts the inserts a voted ballot into the ballot box. Puglia, Italy. 26 May 2019. Editorial Credit: Editorial credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com

Election Integrity

Two young indigenous men protesting holding banner "Stop the indigenous genocide", in march for the rights of the indigenous people.  São Paulo, Brazil. 1 January 2019. Editorial Credit: PARALAXIS / Shutterstock.com

Equality & Human Rights

Memorial to murdered journalist Daphne Carunana Galizia. Valletta, Malta. 16 November 2019. Editorial credit: Paul Mendoza / Shutterstock.com

Media Freedom

Detail of a copy of the Constitution of Venezuela. In the hands of a demonstrator against the government of Nicolás Maduro.  Venezuela.  Decmeber 2016. Editorial credit:  StringerAL / Shutterstock.com

Government Accountability & Transparency

Nanette Castillo, mother of a victim of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.  The Hague, Netherlands. 24 September 2019.  Editorial credit: Jofelle Tesorio / Shutterstock.com

Strengthening Civil Society

Police confrontation with civilians, as people are trying to get to the protest on Tverskaya Street.  Moscow, Russia. 27 July, 2019. Editorial credit:  Aleksandr Beliakov / Shutterstock.com

Freedom of Assembly

Teenaged man with taped mouth protesting censorship at demonstration against a new copyright law by European Union, "Artikel 13." Erfurt, Germany. 23 March 2019. Editorial credit:  Timo Nausch / Shutterstock.com

Freedom of Expression

Two indian muslim women with poster protests against controversial anti-muslim Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB CAA).  Mumbai, India. 19 December 2019. Editorial credit:  arun sambhu mishra / Shutterstock.com

Religious Freedom

Latest Updates

Freedom House

NEW REPORT: Global Freedom Declines for 17th Consecutive Year, but May Be Approaching a Turning Point

Press release

March 9, 2023

Freedom House

Freedom House Announces Camaran Pipes as Director of Asia Programs

Press release

February 27, 2023

Freedom House

Freedom House Affirms Ukraine’s Sovereignty, Right to Liberty on the One-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion

Press release

February 24, 2023

In the Media

Summit for Democracy is an opportunity to restore African citizens’ trust opens in new tab

March 23, 2023

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China’s Movie Censorship: ‘Black Panther’ And ‘Ant Man’ Sequels Approved After Past Marvel Films—And ‘Top Gun’—Were Banned opens in new tab

January 20, 2023

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Glimpses of Democracy opens in new tab

December 9, 2022

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