Freedom in the World
Freedom in the World is the most widely read and cited report of its kind, tracking global trends in political rights and civil liberties for over 50 years.
About the Report
Since 1973, Freedom House has assessed the condition of political rights and civil liberties around the world. It is used on a regular basis by policymakers, journalists, academics, activists, and many others.
The Data
The Freedom in the World report is composed of numerical ratings and supporting descriptive texts for 195 countries and 13 territories. External analysts assess 208 countries and territories, using a combination of on-the-ground research, consultations with local contacts, and information from news articles, nongovernmental organizations, governments, and a variety of other sources. Expert advisers and regional specialists then vet the analysts’ conclusions. The final product represents the consensus of the analysts, advisers, and Freedom House staff.
For each country and territory, Freedom in the World analyzes the electoral process, political pluralism and participation, the functioning of the government, freedom of expression and of belief, associational and organizational rights, the rule of law, and personal autonomy and individual rights.
Interested in downloading Freedom in the World report data? Please email [email protected] with "FIW Data Request" in the subject line and our team will assist you.
Donors
This report was made possible by the generous support of the Dutch Postcode Lottery, the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, the Merrill Family Foundation, the Gere Foundation, the William & Sheila Konar Foundation, Robert Tuttle & Maria Hummer-Tuttle, and the generous donors to the Michael J. Abramowitz Fund for Freedom in the World.
Freedom House is committed to editorial independence and is solely responsible for this report’s content.
Resources
Methodology
Learn more about the report's methodology, including the research questions and the ratings review process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to our most frequently asked questions on Freedom in the World.
Report Archive
The first edition of Freedom in the World covered the year 1972. Find reports from 1972 to the present, including full PDF reports downloads and historical data in Excel format.
Recent Editions
