United States
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
81 / 100
Free
Internet Freedom
73 / 100
Free
The United States is a federal republic whose people benefit from a vibrant political system, a strong rule-of-law tradition, robust freedoms of expression and religious belief, and a wide array of other civil liberties. However, in recent years its democratic institutions have suffered erosion.
Research & Recommendations
United States
Free
81
100
| PR Political Rights | 32 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 49 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
84
100
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
The United States is a federal republic with a strong rule-of-law tradition and robust formal protections for freedoms of expression and religious belief, along with a wide array of other civil liberties. In recent years, a number of factors—including political polarization, the growing role of money in politics, and discrimination, among others—have contributed to new infringements on fundamental rights and significantly hampered the ability of federal institutions to fulfill their core responsibilities with respect to budgeting, oversight, and governance.
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.
United States
Free
73
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 20 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 28 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 25 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
73
100
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 the United States remained relatively robust, and the country’s legal framework still provides some of the world’s strongest protections for free expression online. However, restrictions on civic space have persisted. Federal authorities continued to exert pressure on digital activism and other online speech expressing criticism of the government. US officials continued to enforce steeper penalties on people for their online activities than in previous years. The government advanced some positive efforts to address online harms, as the TAKE IT DOWN Act—which criminalized the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images—took effect in May 2026.
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.
Exiles and diasporas living in the United States face serious threats from abroad. Potential targets of transnational repression in the US include people who support human rights and democracy in their former homelands, and those who advocate for the well-being of friends and family they left behind.
Policy Recommendations: Transnational Repression
Raising awareness about the threat of transnational repression.
Like-minded governments and international organizations should work together to highlight the threat of transnational repression and establish international norms for addressing it.
Limiting the ability of perpetrators to commit transnational repression.
This includes agreeing on a common definition of transnational repression, and prohibiting the use of Interpol notices on their own to deny immigration or asylum benefits or conduct arrests.
Bringing accountability for acts of transnational repression.
Among other tactics, governments should deploy a robust strategy for targeted sanctions against perpetrators of transnational repression.
Election Watch for the Digital Age equips technology companies, civil society organizations, and policymakers with a data-driven resource for evaluating the human rights impact of internet platforms on a country’s electoral process.
Our Election Vulnerability Index consists of key election-related indicators regarding a country’s political rights and internet freedom. Derived from our annual Freedom in the World and Freedom on the Net reports, the data and accompanying analysis allows users to identify specific areas of concern ahead of a country’s election, including online influence operations, internet shutdowns, or intercommunal tensions fanned by social media.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
81
/ 100
Free
Freedom on the Net Score
73
/ 100
Free
Population: 333,300,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
November 5, 2024
Type of Election
General
Internet Penetration
97.10%
Election Year
2024
Vulnerability Index
78
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Host Country
Key Origin States
China, Egypt, Iran, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia
Best Practices
High level of awareness among officials; Use of targeted sanctions against perpetrators
More on US Democracy
US: International Context for Prosecuting Former Presidents
Legal cases against former heads of state are commonplace in healthy democracies. The United States, with its strong rule-of-law tradition and independent judicial institutions, is entirely capable of handling this challenge and affirming that former presidents are not above the law.
Principles for Safeguarding US Democracy
The United States has a unique capacity and a moral obligation to cultivate alliances with free nations and lend support to democracy advocates in authoritarian or transitional settings.
Reimagining American Democracy
Join Freedom House, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the George W. Bush Institute, and Issue One for conversations that are forward-thinking and dedicated to one of the most important issues of our time. The program features journalist-led conversations with the thinkers, activists, policymakers, and organizations envisioning what a more vibrant and inclusive democracy in America could look like - and what it will take to get there.
