Brazil
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
73 / 100
Free
Internet Freedom
66 / 100
Partly Free
Brazil is a democracy that holds competitive elections. The political arena, though polarized, is characterized by vibrant public debate. However, independent journalists and civil society activists risk harassment and violent attack, political violence is high, and the government has struggled to address crime and disproportionate violence against and economic exclusion of minorities.
Research & Recommendations
Brazil
Free
73
100
| PR Political Rights | 30 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 43 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
72
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
Brazil is a democracy that holds competitive elections. Its political arena, though polarized, is characterized by vibrant public debate. However, independent journalists and civil society activists risk harassment and violent attack and political violence is high. Minority groups suffer from crime, disproportionate violence, and economic exclusion, and corruption is endemic at top levels. Societal discrimination and violence against LGBT+ people remain serious problems.
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.
Brazil
Partly Free
66
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 22 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 24 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 20 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
65
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 improved slightly in Brazil during the coverage period, though challenges remained. Defamation lawsuits and violence in retaliation for online activities pose an ongoing threat to internet users. During the coverage period, the Supreme Court ruled that a provision in the Civil Framework of the Internet (Marco Civil da Internet, or Marco Civil) that required a court order to remove online content was unconstitutional. Additionally, the ECA Digital, a law aiming to safeguard children online, came into effect. The impact of these policy changes on internet freedom remains to be seen.
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
73
/ 100
Free
Freedom on the Net Score
66
/ 100
Partly Free
Population: 215,300,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
October 2, 2022
Type of Election
General
Internet Penetration
74.09%
Election Year
2022
Vulnerability Index
66
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
