Pakistan
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
32 / 100
Partly Free
Internet Freedom
27 / 100
Not Free
Pakistan holds regular elections under a competitive multiparty system. However, the military exerts enormous influence over government formation and policies, intimidates the media, and enjoys impunity for indiscriminate or extralegal use of force. The authorities often impose selective restrictions on civil liberties. Islamist militants have conducted terrorist campaigns against the state and regularly carry out attacks on members of religious minority groups and other perceived opponents.
Research & Recommendations
Pakistan
Partly Free
32
100
| PR Political Rights | 12 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 20 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
32
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
Pakistan holds regular elections under a competitive multiparty system. However, the military exerts enormous influence over the conduct of elections, government formation, and policies; intimidates the media; and enjoys impunity for indiscriminate or extralegal use of force. The authorities often impose selective restrictions on civil liberties. Islamist militants conduct terrorist campaigns against the state and also regularly carry out attacks on members of religious minority groups and other perceived opponents.
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.
Pakistan
Not Free
27
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 7 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 13 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 7 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
27
100
Not Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Internet freedom remained restricted during the coverage period as the Pakistani government shut down the internet, blocked websites and virtual private networks (VPNs), and handed out multiyear prison sentences for critical online content. While internet access and speeds have improved in recent years, Pakistan’s military has continued to manipulate the content that appears in digital spaces, including on social media platforms.
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
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
32
/ 100
Partly Free
Freedom on the Net Score
27
/ 100
Not Free
Population: 235,800,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
February 8, 2024
Type of Election
General
Internet Penetration
36.70%
Election Year
2024
Vulnerability Index
36
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
The numerical scores and status listed above do not reflect conditions in Pakistani Kashmir, which is examined in a separate report. Freedom in the World reports assess the level of political rights and civil liberties in a given geographical area, regardless of whether they are affected by the state, nonstate actors, or foreign powers. Disputed territories are sometimes assessed separately if they meet certain criteria, including boundaries that are sufficiently stable to allow year-on-year comparisons. For more information, see the report methodology and FAQ.
