Indonesia
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
56 / 100
Partly Free
Internet Freedom
46 / 100
Partly Free
Indonesia has made impressive democratic gains since the fall of an authoritarian regime in 1998, enjoying significant political and media pluralism and undergoing multiple, peaceful transfers of power. Significant challenges persist, including systemic corruption, discrimination and violence against minority groups, conflict in Papua, and the politicized use of defamation and blasphemy laws.
Research & Recommendations
Indonesia
Partly Free
56
100
| PR Political Rights | 28 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 28 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
56
100
Partly Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
Indonesia has made impressive democratic gains since the fall of an authoritarian regime in 1998, enjoying significant political and media pluralism and undergoing multiple peaceful transfers of power. Significant challenges persist, including systemic corruption, discrimination and violence against minority groups, conflict in Papua, and the politicized use of defamation and blasphemy laws.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Indonesia
Partly Free
46
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 15 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 16 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 15 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
48
100
Partly Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Internet freedom in Indonesia declined during the coverage period. The government introduced restrictions on digital activism and held activists in extended detention for arranging demonstrations, particularly the August and September 2025 protests over government spending and police brutality. Privacy concerns also arose with the government’s announcement of an under-16 social media ban that requires platforms to verify the ages of users.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
News and Updates
Featured
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
56
/ 100
Partly Free
Freedom on the Net Score
46
/ 100
Partly Free
Population: 275,500,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
February 14, 2024
Type of Election
General
Internet Penetration
77.00%
Election Year
2024
Vulnerability Index
58
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
