Skip to main content
Accessibility

STAY UP TO DATE: The Effects of the US Foreign Aid Freeze on Freedom House

Freedom House Logo - Torch next to words Freedom House

Primary Navigation

  • Freedom Map
  • Countries
  • Issues
  • Perspectives
  • Policy Recommendations
Expanding Freedom and Democracy

Quicklinks

  • Perspectives Blog
  • Find A Country
  • Explore The Map
  • Events

Mega Menu

  • Reports
    • Freedom in the World
    • Freedom on the Net
    • Nations in Transit
    • Transnational Repression
    • Election Watch for the Digital Age
    • China Dissent Monitor
    • Archives
  • Our Issues
    • Countering Authoritarianism
    • Supporting Defenders for Democratic Change
    • Promoting a Global Democratic Landscape
  • Programs
    • Free Them All: The Fred Hiatt Program to Free Political Prisoners
  • Policy Recommendations
    • Testimony and Advocacy Letters
    • Strengthening US Democracy
  • Countries
  • Events
  • Perspectives Blog
  • News Releases & Statements
    • Media Center
  • About Us
    • History
    • Board and Leadership
    • Our Experts
    • Ways to Give
    • Financials
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Sign Up for Updates
  • Freedom in the World 2023
  • Map
  • Regional Trends
  • 50 Year Timeline
  • Policy Recommendations
  • Methodology
  • Download PDF
Freedom in the World 2023

Freedom in the World Timeline

Facebook Twitter Email

Five decades of country-by-country analysis in Freedom in the World has confirmed a remarkable fact: once countries earn the designation of Free, they tend to keep it.

Freedom in the World evaluates the state of freedom as experienced by people within specific countries or territorial borders, assessing them on a 100-point scale and dividing the world into the easy-to-understand categories of Free, Partly Free, and Not Free.

Five decades of country-by-country analysis in Freedom in the World has confirmed a remarkable fact: once countries earn the designation of Free, they tend to keep it. The number of countries rated Free has nearly doubled since 1973, when Freedom House issued the report’s first edition. This striking “stickiness” of the Free designation is evidence of the underlying strength and resilience of democracy.

Authoritarian leaders, of course, are also determined to retain their grip on power, which allows them to enrich themselves and their families, pay off the cronies and security services on which they depend, and retaliate against anyone who exposes their malfeasance. Authoritarian regimes around the globe are learning from one another how to suppress democracy advocates more effectively. Their methods include direct intimidation; laws that enable them to imprison activists and journalists and shut down opposition parties; and vast technical systems for censorship and surveillance. Many resort to lethal violence.

Despite these daunting obstacles, the struggle for freedom endures. The hostility of dictators has never been sufficient to prevent people from attempting to win the rights and liberties to which all human beings are entitled.

The timeline below highlights some of the milestones in the fight for freedom over the past 50 years.

 

 

Explore Freedom in the World

Freedom in the World 2023

Latest Edition

Freedom in the World is Freedom House’s flagship annual report, assessing the condition of political rights and civil liberties around the world.

Freedom in the World 2023 Map

Explore the Map

Explore the interactive Freedom in the World 2023 map here, where you can see country scores, Freedom Status, and trends.

View country data and narratives in detail

Countries in Detail

Visit our Countries in Detail page to view all Freedom in the World 2023 scores and read individual country narratives.

Students gather in Dhaka, Bangladesh to protest the police and the ruling party, the Awami League.
Freedom House Needs Your Support

Freedom House’s work was severely impacted by the US freeze on foreign aid earlier this year. Thanks to supporters like you, our efforts to expand and defend freedom continue. We need your support today to help sustain our work in 2026 and beyond. Donate now.

Be the first to know what's happening.

Join the Freedom House weekly newsletter

Subscribe

Footer Main Menu

  • Our Issues
  • Countries
  • Policy Recommendations
  • Explore the Map
  • Donate
  • News & Perspectives
  • Reports
  • Events
  • About
  • Careers

Address

1850 M St. NW Floor 11
Washington, DC 20036

(202) 296-5101

General Inquiries

[email protected]

Press & Media

[email protected]

Footer Social Menu

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Threads

Footer

  • Site Map
  • Contact Us
  • Manage Subscriptions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Content Permissions
  • Disclosure Statements
@2025 FreedomHouse