50

ANNIVERSARY
EDITION

FREEDOM IN
THE WORLD 2023
Marking 50 Years in the Struggle for Democracy

Highlights from Freedom House’s annual report on political rights and civil liberties
FREEDOM IN March 2023

THE WORLD 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key findings...................................................................................................... 1

Marking 50 Years in the Struggle for Democracy......................................... 2

Executive Summary.................................................................................................................... 2
Direct attacks on democracy and the human cost of authoritarian rule......... 3
A possible turning point for global freedom.................................................................. 8
Free expression: A leading indicator of democratic decline................................... 13
Lessons from 50 years of Freedom in the World........................................................ 16

Freedom in the World Methodology.............................................................. 21

Freedom in the World 2023 Map.................................................................... 22

Regional Trends............................................................................................... 24

Countries in the Spotlight............................................................................... 31

Policy Recommendations ............................................................................... 32

This report was made possible by the generous support of Google, Inc.,
The Hurford Foundation, Jyllands-Posten Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc.,
the Merrill Family Foundation, and National Endowment for Democracy.

The Freedom in the World Junior Fellowship program gives young researchers
critical work experience in the democracy and human rights field. The nine-
month program employs Junior Fellows in core research positions to contribute
to this report, and equips them with a range of marketable skills that can propel
them on to successful careers.
The Freedom in the World Junior Fellowship program is generously underwritten
by the Merrill Family Foundation, with support from the Panter Foundation.
The Junior Fellows contributing to Freedom in the World 2023 include:
Dasha M., Junior Fellow for Europe and Eurasia
Arya Patel, Junior Fellow for sub-Saharan Africa
Eilidh Stalker, Junior Fellow for the Americas

Freedom House is solely responsible for the report’s content.

Cathryn Grothe was also instrumental in the writing of this booklet. Elisha Aaron,
David Meijer, Shannon O’Toole, Tyler Roylance, and Lora Uhlig edited the report. ON THE COVER

Iranian people in Izmir protest

This booklet is a summary of findings for the 2023 edition of Freedom in the the death of Jina Mahsa
Amini while in custody of
World. The complete analysis including narrative reports on all countries and the morality police in Iran.
territories can be found on our website at www.freedomhouse.org. (İdil Toffolo / Alamy)
FREEDOM IN
THE WORLD 2023

Key findings
Global freedom declined for the control at the expense of competence exposed the limits
17th consecutive year. of the authoritarian models offered by Beijing, Moscow,
Caracas, or Tehran. Meanwhile, democratic alliances
Moscow’s war of aggression led to devastating human rights
demonstrated solidarity and vigor.
atrocities in Ukraine. New coups and other attempts to
undermine representative government destabilized Burkina
Faso, Tunisia, Peru, and Brazil. Previous years’ coups and Infringement on freedom of
ongoing repression continued to diminish basic liberties expression has long been a key
in Guinea and constrain those in Turkey, Myanmar, and driver of global democratic decline.
Thailand, among others. Two countries suffered downgrades Over the last 17 years, the number of countries and
in their overall freedom status: Peru moved from Free territories that receive a score of 0 out of 4 on the report’s
to Partly Free, and Burkina Faso moved from Partly Free media freedom indicator has ballooned from 14 to 33,
to Not Free. as journalists face persistent attacks from autocrats and
their supporters while receiving inadequate protection
The struggle for democracy may be from intimidation and violence even in some democracies.
approaching a turning point. The past year brought more of the same, with media
freedom coming under pressure in at least 157 countries
The gap between the number of countries that registered
and territories during 2022. Scores for a related indicator
overall improvements in political rights and civil liberties
pertaining to freedom of personal expression have also
and those that registered overall declines for 2022 was
declined over the years amid greater invasions of privacy,
the narrowest it has ever been through 17 years of global
harassment and intimidation, and incentives to self-censor
deterioration. Thirty-four countries made improvements,
both online and offline.
and the tally of countries with declines, at 35, was the
smallest recorded since the negative pattern began. The
gains were driven by more competitive elections as well The fight for freedom persists
as a rollback of pandemic-related restrictions that had across decades.
disproportionately affected freedom of assembly and When Freedom House issued the first edition of its global
freedom of movement. Two countries, Colombia and survey in 1973, 44 of 148 countries were rated Free. Today,
Lesotho, earned upgrades in their overall freedom status, 84 of 195 countries are Free. Over the past 50 years,
moving from Partly Free to Free. consolidated democracies have not only emerged from
deeply repressive environments but also proven to be
While authoritarians remain remarkably resilient in the face of new challenges. Although
extremely dangerous, they are democratization has slowed and encountered setbacks,
not unbeatable. ordinary people around the world, including in Iran,
China, and Cuba, continue to defend their rights against
The year’s events showed that autocrats are far from
authoritarian encroachment.
infallible, and their errors provide openings for democratic
forces. The effects of corruption and a focus on political

FreedomHouse.org 1
 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
THE WORLD 2023 Struggle for Democracy

Marking 50 Years in the

Struggle for Democracy
By Yana Gorokhovskaia, Adrian Shahbaz, and Amy Slipowitz

Executive Summary with material support from many democracies, beat back

T
a vast Russian army that was hampered by decades of
he global struggle for democracy approached a possible
corruption. In China, the ruling Communist Party’s onerous
turning point in 2022. The gap between the number of
and politicized COVID-19 policies were abruptly dismantled in
countries that registered overall improvements in political
the face of public protests.
rights and civil liberties and those that registered overall
declines was the narrowest it has ever been through 17
The 2023 edition of Freedom in the World is the 50th in this
consecutive years of deterioration.
series of annual comparative reports. As such, it provides an
The most serious setbacks for freedom and democracy opportunity to reflect on the challenges to and achievements
were the result of war, coups, and attacks on democratic of democracy over the past five decades. Among the more
institutions by illiberal incumbents. The authoritarian regime significant challenges has been a widespread assault on
in Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in a bid to the civil liberties that can be used to hold governments to
scuttle that country’s hard-won democratic progress. New account—most notably, freedom of expression.
coups and other attempts to undermine representative
government destabilized Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Peru, and Over the last 17 years, the number of countries and territories
Brazil. Previous years’ coups and ongoing repression that receive a score of 0 out of 4 on the report’s media
continued to diminish basic liberties in Guinea and constrain freedom indicator has ballooned from 14 to 33. The year
those in settings such as Turkey, Myanmar, and Thailand. 2022 brought more of the same, with media freedom coming
Afghanistan’s Taliban regime barred girls from receiving under pressure in at least 157 countries and territories. Scores
an education in the midst of an ongoing economic and for a related indicator pertaining to freedom of personal
humanitarian crisis. Governments and occupying powers used expression have also suffered over the years amid greater
violence and other means to destroy cultures and change invasions of privacy, harassment and intimidation, and
the ethnic composition of populations in 21 countries and incentives to self-censor both online and offline.
territories, including Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Myanmar.
It has become more difficult to consolidate nascent
A total of 34 countries showed improvements in political democratic institutions in recent decades. More and more
rights and civil liberties, compared with 35 that lost countries have remained Partly Free instead of moving
ground, signaling a possible slowdown in the global toward full democratization. Still, the world is significantly
decline. Democratic gains were achieved through more freer today than it was 50 years ago. In 1973, 44 of 148
transparent and competitive elections in Lesotho, Colombia, countries were rated Free. Today, 84 of 195 countries have
and Kenya. A lifting of pandemic-related restrictions that earned that status. Many strong democracies that emerged
disproportionately affected freedom of assembly and during periods of progress have since withstood serious
freedom of movement also produced positive change, as political, social, and economic pressures.
did a renewed commitment to judicial independence in
some countries. Ongoing protests against repression in Iran, Cuba, China, and
other authoritarian countries suggest that people’s desire for
In addition to these outright improvements, the year freedom is enduring, and that no setback should be regarded
brought fresh evidence of the limits of authoritarian as permanent. Democratic societies’ international solidarity,
power. Authoritarian influence at the United Nations and commitment to shared values, and continued support for
other international organizations faltered as democracies human rights defenders are crucial to ensuring that the next
reaffirmed the value of multilateral engagement. Ukrainians, 50 years bring the world closer to a state of freedom for all.

2 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
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Direct attacks on democracy and the

human cost of authoritarian rule

D ramatic declines in political rights and civil liberties

during 2022 were driven by direct assaults on democratic
institutions, whether by foreign military forces or incumbent
The war has been, as Ukrainian president Volodymyr
Zelenskyy put it, a disaster with a high price. In his desire
to destroy democracy in Ukraine and deny Ukrainians
officials in positions of trust. War, coups d’état, and power their political rights and civil liberties, Putin has caused the
grabs repeatedly posed an existential threat to elected deaths and injuries of thousands of Ukrainian civilians as
governments around the world. well as soldiers on both sides, the destruction of crucial
infrastructure, the displacement of millions of people
In February, Ukrainians were violently thrust into the from their homes, a proliferation of torture and sexual
heart of the global struggle to defend democracy against violence, and the intensification of already harsh repression
authoritarianism. President Vladimir Putin of Russia, having within Russia.
already overseen the illegal occupation of Ukrainian territory
in Crimea and eastern Donbas since 2014, launched a full-
scale invasion of the country. Whatever false justifications
Military coups
for this war of aggression have been promulgated by the
Kremlin’s state-controlled media, its clear purpose is to While the assault on Ukraine’s democracy came from a
remove the elected leadership in Kyiv and deprive Ukrainians neighboring state, a growing number of countries faced
of their fundamental right to free self-government. attacks from within. Burkina Faso experienced the steepest

17 YEARS OF DEMOCRATIC DECLINE

Countries with aggregate score declines in Freedom 17 Years of Democratic

in the Decline
World have outnumbered those with gains every year for the
Countries with aggregate score declines in
past 17 years. However, events in 2022 generated the smallest margin—aWorld
Freedom in the nd thehave outnumbered
smallest number those
of with
countries with declines—
gains every year for the past 17 years. However, events in 2022 generated the smallest margin—
since the negative pattern began.
and the smallest number of countries with declines—since the negative pattern began.
83

This year featured

the fewest countries
56 with declines in the
50 17-year period.
43 43 43
40
38
34 34 37
33 36 35 37 34
28 25
NUMBER OF
COUNTRIES THAT
IMPROVED

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
NUMBER OF
COUNTRIES THAT
DECLINED

35
Note: Countries
49
whose scores were 52 54 54
unchanged are not 59 59 60 60
63 62 64
included
Note:in this comparison.
Countries whose scores were 67 67 68
unchanged are not included in this
Freedom in the World assesses 72 71 73
comparison. Freedom in the World
195 countries and 15and
assesses 195 countries territories.
15 territories.

This infographic is from the Freedom in the World 2023 report by freedomhouse.org

FreedomHouse.org 3
 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
THE WORLD 2023 Struggle for Democracy

Captain Ibrahim
Traoré, installed as
leader of Burkina
Faso following
a coup, gives a
news conference
in October 2022,
in Ouagadougou.
(Image credit:
Stringer / Anadolu
Agency via
Getty Images)

decline in freedom in this year’s report, losing a total of 23 the implementation of a state of emergency that granted
points on the 100-point scale and falling from Partly Free special powers to security services and limited the right to
to Not Free status as a result of two successive coups. In assembly. Over two dozen people were killed and hundreds
January 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo were injured in December alone as police responded to the
Damiba, leading a self-proclaimed Patriotic Movement for protests with deadly force, and unrest continued into the
Safeguard and Restoration, ousted the elected president, new year. The crisis caused the country to drop from Free
suspended the constitution, dissolved the legislature, and to Partly Free status and threatened to further undermine
instituted a curfew. Just eight months later, he was replaced a political system that has endured multiple presidential
by another officer, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who dismissed the resignations and impeachments in recent years.
transitional government, again suspended the constitution,
closed the borders, and issued orders that prevented civil In addition to the dangers they pose in the moment, coups
society organizations from operating. Both coup leaders ruled and coup attempts can have repercussions that substantially
by decree and made only vague commitments to holding degrade protections for human rights in the long run.
democratic elections in the future. Thailand’s civil society continues to feel the effects of a 2014
coup by army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha. Perceived critics of
Events at the end of 2022 showed that even unsuccessful the military-backed government face charges under lèse-
coup attempts can do immediate harm to the political majesté laws, which forbid insulting the monarchy, and human
system and human rights, especially when they take place in rights organizations were subjected to increasingly intense
a country that has previously experienced authoritarianism. legal harassment in 2022. The ruling junta in Guinea, which
In December, Peru’s President Pedro Castillo tried to came to power in a 2021 coup, has continued to roll back
avoid imminent impeachment by suspending Congress rights and reverse the democratic gains of the past decade,
and declaring a nationwide curfew. Castillo’s attempted banning all political protests last year. Since a 2021 coup in
“autogolpe,” or self-coup, happened 30 years after President Myanmar, the military junta there has waged a relentless and
Alberto Fujimori seized legislative and judicial powers in the brutal campaign of violence across the country, detaining
country with help from the military and began a decade- and killing thousands of people, displacing approximately one
long dictatorship. Even though Castillo was quickly removed million residents, and destroying an experiment with elected
from office and replaced by the vice president, his arrest civilian rule that the military itself had initiated with a new
sparked large protests across the country and triggered constitution in 2008.

4 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
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In Turkey, a failed 2016 coup attempt has cast a long shadow Tunisia experienced the third-largest score decline of any
over political rights and civil liberties. President Recep Tayyip country as a direct result of the actions of the elected
Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) president. Kaïs Saïed, who had unilaterally dismissed the
used the incident to justify the removal of key democratic prime minister and suspended the parliament in 2021,
checks and balances and the elimination of political rivals. continued to consolidate power by formally dissolving the
This process continued in 2022, as Turkey prepared for a parliament in March. He then rolled out a new constitution
pivotal presidential election in the first half of 2023. Ahead that gave more authority to the presidency and dismantled
of the vote, the government adopted a new law to control legislative and judicial checks on the executive branch,
the selection of judges who will review challenges to election securing approval for the document through a flawed
results, and approved a “disinformation” law that could referendum. December parliamentary elections, which were
further stifle opposition campaigns and independent media. boycotted by most opposition parties, drew a voter turnout
of just 11 percent and prompted calls from the opposition for
Saïed to resign.
The threat from incumbent leaders In El Salvador, the parliamentary supermajority gained by
Democratic institutions suffered from abuses by powerful President Nayib Bukele’s allies in 2021 elections continued
incumbents in 2022. After assuming office through elections, to help him undermine democratic controls. In March 2022,
these leaders rejected the established democratic process the legislature approved his request for a state of exception
and sought to rewrite the rules of the game to maintain their intended to address gang violence, which has led to the
grip on power. indefinite detention of tens of thousands of people, with

Controlling
CONTROLLING LAND BY CHANGING ITS Land by Changing Its People
PEOPLE
Governments and occupying powers in 21 countries and territories use a variety of methods to forcibly change
Governments
theand occupying
ethnic powersofina21country
composition countries and territories
or territory so as use a varietya culture
to destroy of methods tothe
or tip forcibly change
political the ethnic
balance.
composition of a country or territory so as to destroy a culture or tip the political balance.

CULTURAL MASS DETENTION DIRECTED

PERSECUTION AND EXPULSION SETTLEMENT

Ukraine: Russian occupation Myanmar: The military West Bank: Israeli

authorities have destroyed has methodically authorities have promoted
Ukrainian cultural sites, destroyed the villages of the growth of Israeli
suppressed the Ukrainian Rohingya and other ethnic Jewish settlements and
language in education, and minority groups, forcing demolished Palestinian
forcibly transferred Ukrainian residents to flee. housing in the occupied
children to Russia for adoption West Bank.
Ethiopia: Ongoing civil
by Russian families.
conflict in the Tigray Tibet: Communist Party
China: Communist Party region has resulted in the authorities have forcibly
authorities have forced Uyghur expulsion of hundreds of resettled members of
children to attend boarding thousands of people based ethnic minorities.
schools away from their families on their ethnicity.
and receive Mandarin-only
instruction and indoctrination.

This infographic is from the Freedom in the World 2023 report by freedomhouse.org
FreedomHouse.org 5
 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
THE WORLD 2023 Struggle for Democracy

A woman holds an
infant inside a school
in Mekelle, within
the Tigray region of
Ethiopia. The school
was turned into a
temporary shelter
for people displaced
by conflict in the
region. (Image credit:
Reuters/Baz Ratner)

little regard for their due process rights. Under the state of for a military coup against the new government, stormed
exception, authorities have also suspended anticorruption Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace.
mechanisms that would shed light on government spending Although the elected administration retained power and
and contracts. In September, Bukele announced that he would cracked down on the perpetrators, Brazilian democracy
compete for a second term, a year after the Constitutional remained on the defensive after this destructive event.
Court—newly packed with his appointees after a wholesale
purge—overturned a ban on consecutive presidential terms.
The worst excesses of
The victory of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party unchecked power
in Hungary’s April 2022 elections was facilitated by his When assessing the stakes of the struggle for democracy, it is
government’s campaign since 2010 to systematically important to remember the devastating costs that authoritarian
undermine the independence of the judiciary, opposition rule can impose on entire populations. In the absence of any
groups, the media, and nongovernmental organizations. Among meaningful constraints on political power and the use of force,
other advantages, Fidesz benefited from legislative changes it a growing number of regimes around the world have engaged in
had pushed through two years earlier, which raised the vote wholesale persecution of women or ethnic minority groups, in
threshold that parties must reach to enter the parliament. some cases drawing accusations of genocide.

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s warnings that he would Since overthrowing Afghanistan’s elected government in
not accept election results if he lost stoked mistrust in the 2021, the Taliban have presided over a catastrophic economic
democratic process among his supporters. After losing collapse, a surge in hunger and poverty, and mass emigration.
to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a runoff, Bolsonaro avoided Rather than taking steps that would reduce its international
formally conceding, and his campaign later attempted to isolation, however, the regime has moved in the opposite
overturn the result in court by claiming that a computer error direction. The Taliban authorities barred girls from attending
had disqualified large batches of votes. Just before Lula’s secondary school in March 2022, effectively ending education
January 1 inauguration, Bolsonaro traveled to the United for women after the sixth grade, and in December they
States, avoiding participation in the traditional transfer of the ordered private and public universities to prohibit female
presidential sash to the new leader. The next week, thousands students from attending classes, preventing women who
of the former president’s loyalists, who had repeatedly called already reached higher education from completing their

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Freedom House

studies. Also in December, authorities issued a decree

banning women from working in national and international
nongovernmental organizations. Lacking any recourse within When assessing the stakes of the
the political system, Afghan women took their demands struggle for democracy, it is important
to the streets, where they were met with water cannons,
beatings, and arrests. to remember the devastating costs
that authoritarian rule can impose
The number of countries and territories where the
government or an occupying power is deliberately changing
on entire populations.
the ethnic composition of the population in order to destroy
a culture or tip the political balance increased from 19 to
21 last year. Ethiopia and Ukraine were added to the list, of migration from Russia, transfers of local prisoners and
joining longtime sites of forced ethnic change like China conscripts to Russia, deportations of those who refuse
and Myanmar. Russian citizenship, and repression of the Ukrainian and Tatar
cultures and languages within the education system. These
In Ethiopia, the ongoing civil conflict centered on the practices were expanded to other parts of occupied Ukraine
northern Tigray region has resulted in, among other abuses, after the full-scale invasion, and augmented with horrific
extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the projects like the mass abduction and removal of Ukrainian
expulsion of hundreds of thousands of people from their children to Russia.
homes on the basis of their ethnicity. Like other countries
and territories in the Not Free category, Ethiopia lacks many Forced ethnic change is also a matter of official policy for the
aspects of the rule of law that might protect its citizens’ Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which aims to deliberately
fundamental human rights. break up the cultures and geographic concentrations of
ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia.
Moscow’s occupation of Crimea and eastern Donbas has Among the 57 Not Free countries in the world, China ranks
entailed a long-standing campaign of forced ethnic change in near the absolute bottom in terms of overall political rights
those Ukrainian territories. Since 2014, many Crimean Tatars and civil liberties. It is joined there by Myanmar, where the
and ethnic Ukrainians have left the regions, driven not only military has engaged in violent attacks on and expulsions
by political persecution and the violence of war but also by of the Rohingya population as well as several other
overt policies of Russification, including encouragement ethnic groups.

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 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
THE WORLD 2023 Struggle for Democracy

A possible turning point

for global freedom

T here were signs during the past year that the world’s long
freedom recession may be bottoming out, which would
set the stage for a future recovery. The gap between the
in respect for fundamental rights even before the election
period, as the government granted temporary protection
permits to more Venezuelan refugees and the Constitutional
number of countries that registered overall improvements Court decriminalized abortion.
in political rights and civil liberties and those that registered
overall declines in 2022 was the narrowest it has ever been Establishing a strong record of peaceful political competition
through 17 consecutive years of deterioration. The number of and democratic power transfers can be a long and arduous
countries with declines, at 35, was the smallest recorded since process. The elections in both Colombia and Lesotho were
the negative pattern began. Thirty-four countries registered not without problems, and obstacles to further progress
improvements. remain. Lesotho continues to struggle with ills including
police brutality, a legacy of political influence exercised by the
The gains came in various forms. Eight countries registered security agencies, and chronic political turmoil. In Colombia,
modest improvements in civil liberties due to the rollback of politicians faced threats of violence while on the campaign
COVID-19 restrictions that had disproportionately infringed trail, and illegal armed groups associated with the far left and
on the freedoms of assembly and movement. But the most far right remain a menace to the rule of law and civil society.
significant positive developments were driven by competitive The country is one of the deadliest in the world for human
elections in Latin America and Africa, with politicians and rights defenders.
ordinary people in the affected countries reaffirming their
commitment to the democratic process. The United States navigated its 2022 midterm elections
without any violence of the sort that occurred during the
The year also brought fresh evidence of the limits of January 2021 assault on the Capitol. The elections produced
authoritarian power, as key regimes faltered in their attempts a divided Congress, with the Republican Party winning a
to exert influence at international organizations and their narrow majority in the House of Representatives while the
internal governance flaws led to dramatic policy setbacks. Democratic Party maintained control in the Senate. Although
hundreds of Republican candidates who explicitly denied the
legitimacy of President Joseph Biden’s victory over former
president Donald Trump in the 2020 election ran for office
Consolidating democracy
across the country, they lost in almost all key statewide races.
through elections This comparative stability on the political front was offset by
Two countries, Lesotho and Colombia, improved from Partly the Supreme Court’s removal of constitutional protections
Free to Free last year following successful competitive against strict abortion bans.
elections. In Lesotho, Sam Matekane’s Revolution for
Prosperity party won a plurality of seats in the parliament In Slovenia, a competitive election with the highest voter
and replaced the incumbent government. Representing turnout in 20 years resulted in defeat for the right-wing
a departure from years of instability, the elections were populist government, which had repeatedly threatened media
hailed as fair and peaceful by observers from numerous freedom and other democratic norms. Kenya held what
international organizations. In Colombia, a broad coalition observers hailed as its most transparent presidential election
enabled Gustavo Petro to win the June presidential runoff ever, and the results were confirmed by an independent
vote, overcoming political forces associated with former Supreme Court. The country’s political leaders notably
president Álvaro Uribe, who has dominated the political scene refrained from the boycotts and incitement of ethnic violence
since the early 2000s. The country had been making gains that had disrupted some previous elections.

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LARGEST ONE-YEAR GAINS AND DECLINES IN 2022

Gains in aggregate score reflect improvements in conditions for political rights and civil liberties.

-23 Burkina Faso

-11 Ukraine
-8 Tunisia
-4 Guinea
-4 Nicaragua
-3 El Salvador
-3 Hungary
-3 Mali
-3 Russia
Lesotho +3
Malaysia +3
FREE Philippines +3
PARTLY FREE Zambia +3
NOT FREE Kenya +4
Note: This chart shows aggregate +4
Kosovo
score changes of 3 or more points
in countries with a population of Slovenia +5
1 million or more.
Colombia +6

-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 +5 +10

Gain or Decline in Aggregate Score

Checks on autocrats’ However, authoritarian cooperation is motivated by narrow

international influence self-interest and centers on low-cost actions, meaning it can
fracture when regimes’ priorities diverge or they encounter
Authoritarian powers have made an effort to reshape the determined democratic pressure. The CSTO’s response to the
international system by exercising their influence at the crisis in Kazakhstan, for instance, stood in stark contrast to
United Nations. They have embraced UN participation and the organization’s failure to assist Armenia, the only member
multilateralism primarily as a means of defending themselves state that is rated Partly Free, as it suffered repeated attacks
against international mechanisms aimed at transparency and on its sovereign territory by fellow member state Azerbaijan.
accountability. Elected five times to the UN Human Rights
Council, the Chinese government has repeatedly blocked Few of Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian allies have openly
resolutions addressing its own policies. It has also joined with supported his war of aggression against Ukraine. CCP leader
its counterparts from Iran, Belarus, North Korea, Cuba, and Xi Jinping has not endorsed the invasion or provided military
other member states in the so-called Group of Friends in support despite describing the bilateral partnership as having
Defense of the Charter of the United Nations to criticize the “no limits” early in 2022. The countries of the Caucasus
use of sanctions. and Central Asia are often seen as lying within Moscow’s
geopolitical orbit, but Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan,
Regional organizations too have been used to prop up Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have declined to recognize
autocrats. The Russian-controlled Collective Security Treaty Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territory, and they have all
Organization (CSTO), for example, deployed troops in complied with sanctions against Russian banks. The Kremlin’s
January 2022 to protect Kazakhstan’s President Kasym- most steadfast ally in the region continues to be President
Zhomart Tokayev from large-scale antigovernment protests Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus, who is dependent on
sparked by a sharp rise in fuel prices. Russian support to maintain his own tenuous grip on power.

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 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
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Valentyna Buhaiova
embraces Ukrainian
marines in her
home village of
Kyselivka, outside of
Kherson, Ukraine,
in November 2022.
Ukrainian forces
had recently retaken
Kyselivka, liberating
it from Russian
occupation. (Image
credit: Reuters/
Valentyn Ogirenko)

Meanwhile, democracies are standing up for human rights Control over competence
at international organizations. After years of being shielded
by diplomats from Russia and China, Myanmar’s junta was Autocrats’ behavior at the international level is a reflection
condemned by the UN Security Council in December for of their governing methods at home, where in the absence
using violent tactics against prodemocracy activists. Similarly, of a genuine popular mandate, they rely on a crude
despite the presence of authoritarian member states, the combination of corruption and force to maintain control.
UN Human Rights Council voted to suspend Russia in April. The democratic institutions that might moderate graft and
In October, the council went further, appointing a special state violence—such as opposition parties, independent
rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in Russia by courts, a free press, and civil society groups—are
a vote of 17 to 6. suppressed as potential threats to the leader’s power. When
such corrosive problems are allowed to go unchecked, they
Venezuela was denied a seat on the UN Human Rights Council can undermine the regime’s own goals and threaten the lives
in October elections by the General Assembly. While most of ordinary people.
regional groups did not nominate more candidate countries
than available seats, democratic Costa Rica and Chile both Corruption comes at a high cost to both public services
ran to block Venezuela’s bid for a seat from the Latin America and government revenue. In Venezuela, endemic corruption
and Caribbean group. In December, Iran was removed from orchestrated by the regime of Nicolás Maduro has stripped
the UN Commission on the Status of Women and prevented the land of natural resources and undermined crucial
from serving the rest of its four-year term as a result of a infrastructure, impoverishing the population and impeding
resolution introduced by the United States and supported the government’s ability to address health and economic
by 28 other countries. The measure noted that the Iranian emergencies. The country consequently faces an ongoing
government’s campaign to suppress the rights of women and humanitarian crisis, with shortages of electricity, medicine,
girls by using force against protesters flew in the face of the and food. Over seven million people have fled abroad.
UN body’s mission to promote gender equality.
In Russia, Putin’s long history of enabling corruption at the
The contest between democratic and authoritarian norms at highest levels has left him unable to fulfill the goals of his
international organizations is far from over. But the positive war of aggression. Despite the fact that the Kremlin spent
developments of the past year should encourage even more hundreds of billions of dollars on modernizing the Russian
active democratic engagement in multilateral forums. military over the last two decades, it remains a poorly

10 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
Freedom House

equipped force, with soldiers who lack food and basic medical the use of surveillance technologies, and imposed mass
supplies and use Soviet-era maps and weapons. Many in the quarantines on whole cities that disproportionately restricted
United States and elsewhere believed Putin’s boasts that freedom of movement and often threatened access to
Russian military capabilities matched those of the North food and medical care. In December 2022, the CCP abruptly
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and far outmatched abandoned zero-COVID restrictions without adequate
those of Ukraine, but the progress of the war quickly preparation. At the end of the month, reports emerged
disproved those claims. The families of Russian conscripts are of overwhelmed hospitals and as many as 1 million new
now being asked to provide them with everything from body infections per day.
armor to gauze for bandages. None of this has stopped the
Kremlin from sending such soldiers to their deaths as the war The about-face was triggered in part by nationwide
grinds on, since admitting defeat would threaten the illusion protests that followed a deadly residential fire in Urumqi
of strength and shrewdness on which Putin’s illegitimate in late November, in which both victims and rescuers were
authority partly depends. reportedly hampered by COVID-related restrictions on
movement. As Freedom House’s China Dissent Monitor
As with corruption, the need to maintain control through has shown, protests in China on a variety of issues are not
overwhelming force—and the lack of mechanisms to uncommon. Despite the likelihood of grave punishments,
moderate it—can interfere with an autocrat’s ability to adjust citizens participated in 638 demonstrations and similar
policy in response to public frustrations. China’s disastrous dissent events between June and September 2022. The
experience with the CCP’s “zero COVID” policy illustrated zero-COVID protests in the wake of the Urumqi blaze were
what can happen to people caught in an authoritarian system preceded by other acts of defiance, including the “bridge
that is more focused on compelling their obedience than man” protest against the central government in Beijing in
ensuring their well-being. October. But even in the face of clear public outrage on a
national scale, the CCP remains unable to address people’s
President Xi, who has been in power since 2012 and secured underlying grievances. It failed to make health restrictions
a third term as CCP leader in October 2022, has repeatedly more tailored or humane, or to lift them with appropriate
claimed that China’s political system is superior to democracy caution. Indeed the party provoked further anger by
in providing stability, prosperity, and even protection from promoting officials who were responsible for some of the
the spread of COVID-19. In dealing with the health threat, greatest suffering, including Li Qiang, who had overseen harsh
CCP officials leaned on existing tools of repression, expanded lockdowns as party chief in Shanghai.

People hold white

sheets of paper in
protest over COVID-
19 restrictions in
Beijing on Nov. 27,
2022. Crowds had
gathered for a vigil
honoring the victims
of a fire in Urumqi,
which took place
during COVID-19-
related lockdowns
in China. (Image
credit: REUTERS/
Thomas Peter)

FreedomHouse.org 11
 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
THE WORLD 2023 Struggle for Democracy

The policy blunders committed by Moscow and aims. Similarly, the Chinese government’s botched reversal
Beijing demonstrate that the fallibility of authoritarian of its procrustean COVID-19 policies may prove even more
governments, and not just their malice, can take an destructive than the years of brutal lockdowns themselves.
incredibly large toll on human life. Corruption, criminality, Authoritarian shortcomings must be assessed with clear
and feckless leadership have made the Russian army far eyes. These regimes are unlikely to govern more effectively
more deadly to soldiers and civilians on both sides of the than democracies, but their errors are part of what makes
front line, despite the force’s failure to achieve stated war them so dangerous.

LARGEST 10-YEAR DECLINES

Dramatic declines in freedom have been observed in every region of the world.

-33 Libya
-32 Nicaragua
-30 South Sudan
-30 Tanzania
-29 Turkey
-28 Central African Republic
-24 Venezuela
-23 Benin
-23 Burkina Faso
-23 Egypt
-23 Thailand
-22 Hungary
-21 El Salvador
-20 Burundi
-19 Afghanistan
-18 Serbia
-17 Myanmar
-17 Tajikistan
-16 Bangladesh
-16 Nauru
-16 Yemen
-14 Azerbaijan
-14 Gabon
-14 Mozambique
-13 Comoros
-12 Congo (Brazzaville)
-12 Haiti
-12 Kyrgyzstan
-12 Poland
-11 Russia
FREE
-10 Bosnia and Herzegovina
PARTLY FREE
-10 India
NOT FREE -10 United States
-35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0
Decline in Aggregate Score

12 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
Freedom House

Free expression: A leading indicator

of democratic decline

F reedom of expression, a fundamental component of

democracy, has been under sustained attack around the
world for the last 17 years. Of all the indicators that Freedom
intimidation and violence even in some democracies. The
past year brought more of the same, with media freedom
coming under pressure in at least 157 countries and territories
in the World uses to assess political rights and civil liberties, assessed by Freedom in the World.
freedom of the media and freedom of personal expression
have declined the most precipitously since 2005. This In Russia, a multiyear media crackdown went into overdrive
assault coincided with the rapid uptake of information and as the government sought to eliminate domestic opposition
communication technologies that have effectively broken to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian independent
many states’ media monopolies. In too many places, however, journalists and outlets had long contended with laws that
authorities responded to new forms of online expression labeled them as foreign agents, extremists, or “undesirable.”
with harsh offline punishments and technological innovations In 2022, the expansion of criminal laws targeting the
of their own. spread of false information related to the war empowered
Roskomnadzor, the federal media and telecommunications
regulator, to block websites more aggressively without a
court order. Authorities blocked access to most of the
Press freedom in retreat independent media outlets that were still available in the
Freedom for independent journalism has plummeted. The country, including Ekho Moskvy, Dozhd, Voice of America, the
number of countries and territories that have a score of 0 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and Meduza. Some
out of 4 on the media freedom indicator has ballooned from foreign journalists were also denied entry to Russia.
14 to 33 during the 17 years of global democratic decline,
as journalists faced persistent attacks from autocrats and Moscow’s tactics have spread to Central Asia, where
their supporters while receiving inadequate protection from Kyrgyzstan has adopted many similar laws targeting the

A protester holds
a placard during
a demonstration
at the Hong Kong
Economic and Trade
Office in London.
The demonstration
was held in response
to the closure of
several media outlets
in Hong Kong and
concerns about
media freedom.
(Image credit:
Hesther Ng/SOPA
Images/LightRocket
via Getty Images)

FreedomHouse.org 13
 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
THE WORLD 2023 Struggle for Democracy

media. Kyrgyz authorities recently tried and failed to convict a informants and physical searches. The result is a pervasive
prominent investigative journalist, Bolot Temirov, on dubious sense of fear among civic activists, members of marginalized
charges of forgery. In an outrageous violation of the rule of communities, and average citizens when discussing sensitive
law, Temirov was summarily stripped of his citizenship and topics in public, semipublic, or private settings.
transported to Russia in late November 2022, despite the fact
that he had been born in Kyrgyzstan. From 2005 to 2022, the number of countries and territories
that scored a 0 out of 4 on this indicator rose from six to
15, signaling a nearly complete lack of freedom to voice
The number of countries and antigovernment opinions even in private. In Nicaragua, years
of worsening crackdowns on opposition to the regime of
territories that have a score of 0 out of President Daniel Ortega culminated in show trials of dozens of
4 on the media freedom indicator has people—accused of crimes ranging from treason to spreading
false news and undermining national integrity—based almost
ballooned from 14 to 33 during the 17 solely on evidence that they made critical remarks about
years of global democratic decline. the government. Such cases clearly discourage others from
speaking out. Conditions are at least as grim in Afghanistan,
Belarus, Russian-occupied eastern Donbas, and Eritrea, where
authorities have deployed networks of informants and checked
Journalists routinely face harassment and threats in reprisal people’s phones to suppress the sharing of dissenting opinions.
for their efforts to expose corruption. Two reporters, including
a Cable News Network (CNN) correspondent, fled Guatemala The penalties for nonviolent criticism can be extreme.
last year after they received explicit threats, while another Myanmar’s military junta executed prodemocracy activist
was arrested by the government in July. José Rubén Zamora, Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy, for speaking out
director of the newspaper El Periódico, which has faced severe against the 2021 military coup that displaced an elected
harassment in the past, was charged with financial crimes in civilian government. In August 2022, a terrorism court in
what many observers describe as a bid to censor an outlet Saudi Arabia sentenced Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani to
that has reported critically on the government of President 45 years in prison merely for social media posts, just weeks
Alejandro Giammattei. Zamora remained in pretrial detention after handing a 34-year sentence to another woman, Salma
through the end of the year, with the trial reportedly not al-Shehab, for sharing posts by Saudi dissidents. In Hong
scheduled to start until May 2023. Kong, following Beijing’s imposition of the draconian National
Security Law in 2020, authorities began pursuing national
Authorities in a variety of countries failed to offer effective security and sedition charges against both political activists
protections to media professionals who were at risk of and ordinary residents for expressing dissent, for example by
extralegal violence from nonstate actors. Journalists playing protest songs, clapping in court, or putting up posters.
reporting on the security situation in Haiti, which had
worsened since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel There are fewer and fewer spaces where people can express
Moïse, experienced an extraordinary amount of physical themselves without fear of surveillance. At a time when the
violence in 2022. Members of the media were executed by internet has become fundamental to people’s daily lives, virtually
gangs, killed while in police custody, and shot at while on their all online activities generate data that are subject to monitoring
way to work. by authorities, whether directly or through commercial systems
and advertising technology that can be exploited to reveal
sensitive information. Many countries employ police units to
The risks of personal expression search social media posts for banned forms of political, artistic,
Beyond the news media, ordinary people are less free to express religious, or sexual expression. Networks of street cameras
their views to others, whether online or off. Many governments equipped with artificial intelligence can identify protesters and
have been quick to reapply existing repressive laws to the online track their whereabouts. And the proliferation of spyware has
sphere and adopt invasive technologies to monitor digital made electronic surveillance potentially ubiquitous; even the
communication. Others continue to resort to old-fashioned presence of an internet-connected device can be enough to
methods of control over speech, like the use of human deter uninhibited discussion.

14 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
Freedom House

TO STIFLE DEMOCRACY, SILENCE

To StifleFREE SPEECH
Democracy, Silence Free Speech
Of all the indicators tracked by Freedom in the World, media freedom and freedom of
Of all the indicators tracked by Freedom
personal expressionin thedeclined
have media
World, the mostfreedom and over
precipitously freedom of personal
the past 17 years. expression have declined
the most precipitously over the past 17 years.

The number of countries

and territories receiving the
RESTRICTING lowest score for freedom of
PERSONAL personal expression more
than doubled between 2005
The number of countries and EXPRESSION and 2022.*
ATTACKS territories receiving the lowest
score for media freedom has
In 2022, authorities or
ON MEDIA ballooned from 14 in 2005 to 33
powerful figures in 109
countries and territories
FREEDOM in 2022.* took steps to restrict free
In 2022, free and independent speech and discussion
media came under attack in among ordinary citizens.
157 countries and territories
worldwide.
Types of restrictions on
personal expression
Types of attacks on media include:
freedom include: • Criminal penalties for offline or
online speech that is protected
• Criminal prosecution of journalists under international human rights
• Extrajudicial violence against journalists standards
• Adoption of laws that limit media • Violent reprisals for such
independence protected speech
• Censorship and blocking of critical • Use of surveillance to monitor
outlets protected private speech

* These countries and territories received a score* These

of 0countries
on a 0–4 scale,received
and territories witha 0 representing
score of 0 on a 0–4 scale,the
with 0least degree
representing ofdegree
the least freedom.
of freedom.
This infographic is from the Freedom in the World 2023 report by freedomhouse.org

No country can match the scale and sophistication of China’s infrastructure, spyware targets a victim’s smartphone or
surveillance state, in which residents’ activities are invasively other electronic device regardless of its location, and allows
monitored by public security cameras, urban grid managers, the capture of phone records, contact lists, geolocation data,
and automated systems that detect suspicious and banned keyboard strokes, and even camera and microphone inputs.
behavior, including innocuous expressions of ethnic and The Pegasus spyware product has been found on devices in
religious identity. Workers at private digital platforms in China France, Hungary, India, Israel, Mexico, and Poland. Victims
are required to censor an ever-changing list of prohibited included journalists and politicians, while the perpetrators
terms and to notify authorities about users who dare to remained unknown and unaccountable for their abuses.
criticize the CCP. Those identified as dissidents can face
consequences including forced disappearance and torture. These pernicious encroachments on freedom of expression
pose an obvious threat to democracy. While professional
But surveillance has also chilled freedom of expression in journalists and media outlets disseminate information, ensure
countries rated Free and Partly Free. Technology companies transparency, and hold the powerful to account, the freedom
are generally required to maintain a log of their users’ online of personal expression reinforces individual autonomy and
activities, and in many countries, they must share it with facilitates discussion of differing opinions. It is also crucial
authorities through a process that lacks judicial oversight and to fostering associations and communities within a larger
guardrails against abuse. The growing and unregulated global society, including those based on ethnic, cultural, sexual,
market for commercial spyware has enabled infringements gender, and religious identities. The denial of press freedom
on the right to private expression that often stretch across and freedom of personal expression bolsters authoritarian
international borders. Rather than collecting data or control by cutting citizens off from accurate information and,
intercepting traffic at fixed points in the telecommunications just as importantly, from one another.

FreedomHouse.org 15
 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
THE WORLD 2023 Struggle for Democracy

Lessons from 50 years of

Freedom in the World

O ver the past five decades, people in every region of the

world have demanded and built democracies even under
extremely difficult circumstances. Once fully established,
many military dictatorships were giving way to elected civilian
leaders. A military junta in Greece collapsed in 1974 amid
a confrontation with Turkey over control of Cyprus. Greek
most democratic systems have stood strong against a wide democracy was restored through general elections that were
array of challenges. held just 142 days after the beginning of the crisis.

In 1973, when Freedom House published its first comprehensive After right-wing dictator Francisco Franco died in 1975, Spain
assessment of political rights and civil liberties, only 44 of 148 began its own transition to democracy, which took years and
countries were classified as Free. Today, 84 of 195 countries required overcoming the commitment of the armed forces
are Free. The varied paths that these countries followed show to the old regime. The transition was confirmed through
there is no single method for improving or protecting political a free general election in 1977 and the adoption of a new
rights and civil liberties. However, popular self-government constitution the following year. Spain’s democracy proved
through credible, competitive, free, and fair elections continues resilient in the early 1980s, when the government survived
to be the hallmark of democracy and a guarantee of its a coup attempt and a second general election resulted in a
associated benefits. peaceful transfer of power to the socialist opposition.

Positive change followed in Latin America. After a

A record of progress disastrous invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982, the
The first editions of Freedom in the World coincided with military leaders who had presided over Argentina’s “dirty
the beginning of the “third wave” of democratization, when war”—a bloody campaign of state terrorism against political

The Ebb and Flow of Democratization

THE EBB AND FLOW OFThe share of countries rated Free has generally increased over the past
DEMOCRATIZATION
50 years, but progress faltered beginning in the early 2000s.
The share of countries rated Free has generally increased over the past 50 years, but progress faltered beginning
in the early 2000s.
100%

NOT FREE
80%

2011
1991 Despite the initial promise of
60% 1988–89 In the 1990s, the fall of the Soviet
Union and a wave of democratization
the Arab Spring, few
countries in the region
PARTLY
1978–79 While efforts to roll back
communism, such as
in Africa enabled several countries to experienced sustained FREE
South America joined move out of the Not Free category. democratic change.
a global wave of Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution,
democratization, made gains across Europe, there
driving the transition was a spike in transitions to Not
40% of countries from Not Free in regions like Central America
Free to Partly Free. and the Middle East.

FREE
20%

0%
1972 1982 1992 2002 2012 2022

16 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
Freedom House

dissidents—finally stepped down, allowing for a general However, the possibility of progress does not make it inevitable.
election that returned the country to civilian rule. Democracy The overall decline in global freedom over the last two
also returned to Brazil after the military, which had begun decades has created a more hostile environment for individual
to oversee gradual political liberalization, lost control in the countries’ democratization efforts and provided transnational
1985 elections. A military regime that caused Uruguay to be support for illiberal leaders. Freedom in the World data
called “the torture chamber of Latin America” faltered after a show that consolidating and protecting nascent democratic
failed attempt to reform the constitution in 1980, and ended institutions has become more difficult than in the heyday of
with elections four years later. Augusto Pinochet’s military democratization following the end of the Cold War. More and
dictatorship in Chile also came to an end through the power more countries are remaining Partly Free instead of continuing
of the ballot box when referendum voters rejected a proposal their march to Free status. Worryingly, some Free countries are
to give the general eight more years in office. losing ground, including India, which was downgraded to Partly
Free two years ago, and Peru, which was downgraded in this
In the 1990s, Taiwan cemented a status of Free after holding edition after its latest, one-year stint in the Free category.
its first direct presidential election, having previously ended
38 years of martial law in 1988 and instituted full multiparty
legislative elections a few years later. In 1992, South Korea Popular self-government through
elected its first civilian president since 1961. South Africa, which
was rated Free for the first time in the 1994–95 edition of credible, competitive, free, and fair
Freedom in the World, broke from a violent and entrenched elections continues to be the hallmark
system of racist hierarchy in order to create the conditions
for an inclusive, free, and fair election. The balloting resulted of democracy and a guarantee of its
in the elevation of Nelson Mandela to the presidency and the associated benefits.
formation of a new government of national unity.

The fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and of the Soviet Union
itself in 1991 eventually brought freedom to a host of Central Democratization has also failed to take hold in certain clusters
and Eastern European states, many of which sought closer of countries. Most of the states that emerged from the
ties to their fellow democracies in Western Europe. In 2004 collapse of the Soviet Union remain dominated by strongmen
alone, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, who transformed Soviet-era connections into kleptocratic
Slovakia, and Slovenia all joined the European Union, with networks, which have enriched their members while
Romania and Bulgaria following in 2007. impoverishing ordinary citizens. These corrupt authoritarian
regimes have also fomented instability and threatened
democracies across the region. In addition to Moscow’s war
Despite pressure from illiberal forces since the mid-2000s,
against Ukraine, other recent conflicts include border clashes
the gains of the third wave of democratization have mostly
between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and the growing incursions
held. Consolidated democracies, where political rights and
by Azerbaijani forces into Armenia.
civil liberties have been secured, continue to endure in a
dangerous world.
The Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, which began by driving out
Tunisian dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and sparked new
hope for democratization in North Africa and the Middle East,
Setbacks and slowdowns ended in disappointment. Monarchs in Jordan and Morocco
The 50 years of data generated by Freedom in the World offer approved modest or illusory constitutional reforms in a bid to
heartening proof that democratic progress is always possible. defuse popular discontent with their rule, while the hereditary
Forty countries that exist today have always had the status of rulers of the wealthy Persian Gulf region moved to stamp
Free in the report, while only 12 countries that exist today have out any embers of dissent at home and assist authoritarian
always been Not Free. Whereas Free countries tend to stay partners elsewhere. Security forces cracked down on
Free for decades, Not Free and Partly Free countries are less prodemocracy protesters in Libya, Syria, and Yemen, and the
static, often experiencing waves of liberalization or repression ensuing violence devolved into civil wars that were made even
that move them from one category to another. more chaotic by multiple foreign interventions. Two years

FreedomHouse.org 17
 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
THE WORLD 2023 Struggle for Democracy

Still Waiting for a Chance at Freedom

STILL WAITING FOR A CHANCE AT FREEDOM
Most of the countries now rated Not Free have spent at least some time in the Partly Free band over the past 50
years,Most
but these 12 holdouts have never left the Not Free category since their first Freedom in the World analysis.
of the countries now rated Not Free have spent at least some time in the Partly Free band over the past 50 years,
but these 12 holdouts have never left the Not Free category since their first Freedom in the World analysis.

ONE-PARTY STATES

NORTH
KOREA VIETNAM
EQUATORIAL
CHINA GUINEA
ENTRENCHED AUTOCRATS
CUBA RWANDA
12 of 195
countries
CONGO SAUDI
(KINSHASA) have never moved out ARABIA
of the Not Free
catagory

PROTRACTED CONFLICTS
SOMALIA CHAD

SOUTH IRAQ
SUDAN

Vietnam and South Sudan have been

assessed since 1976 and 2011, respectively.
All other countries above have been
assessed
Vietnam since
and South 1972.
Sudan have been
assessed since 1976 and 2011, respectively.
All other countries above have been
assessed since 1972.

after the revolution in Egypt, the military removed the elected principles in their foreign policies. International solidarity and
This infographic is from the Freedom in the World 2023 report by freedomhouse.o
president through a coup, and instituted a new and even support will remain vital to the expansion of political rights
more repressive authoritarian regime. and civil liberties worldwide.

In Africa, countries such as Burundi, the Republic of the Advocacy for human rights norms must also be paired
Congo, Zimbabwe, and Uganda showed promise at times but with support for the key proponents of democratic values
later saw their status improvements reversed, while more within their respective countries: human rights defenders.
recent backsliding in Benin and Senegal led both to drop Today, in every region of the world, people striving to
from Free to Partly Free status. Mali, which had been rated build more democratic societies and expand the exercise
Free since 1995, was rocked by a military coup and rebel of fundamental freedoms are instead being subjected to
insurgencies in 2012 that pulled it down to Not Free. arbitrary detention and sentenced to lengthy terms in
prison, where they often experience torture and other cruel
or degrading treatment.
The imperative of solidarity
Democracies must maintain external pressure on Supporting the work of human rights defenders is essential
authoritarian regimes and make sure that in maneuvering to for the promotion of freedom in both open and closed
thwart one dictator’s acts of aggression, they do not cultivate political spaces. Human rights defenders are agents of
partnerships with other despots or downplay human rights change. In 2022, for instance, the Indonesian parliament

18 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
Freedom House

passed a law against sexual violence after a years-long Democratic governments must recommit not only to standing
advocacy campaign by civil society groups. The previous year, up for these activists in their public statements and diplomacy,
women’s rights activists in El Salvador secured a favorable but also to providing concrete support and protection in the
ruling at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights against form of emergency assistance, capacity-building programs, and
the country’s broad ban on abortion. democracy shelters. Though unarmed, human rights defenders
are on the front lines of the global struggle for freedom. They
Human rights defenders are sometimes the only ones in their should never be treated as if the struggle is theirs alone.
countries with the will and capacity to protect others against
severe abuses, expose official wrongdoing, and alert the rest
of the world to acts of repression, often at considerable The desire for freedom
risk to their safety. Activists in Cameroon have received More than anything else, five decades of Freedom in the
death threats for documenting human rights violations amid World reports demonstrate that the demand for freedom
a conflict between security forces and separatists in the is universal. The years have shown that popular challenges
country’s Anglophone regions. An activist and journalist in to authoritarian rule are a recurring theme in even the most
Vietnam who helped to expose the disastrous impact of a repressive societies.
2016 chemical spill was sentenced to seven years in prison
the following year. In addition to facing intimidation, legal Tanks smashed the prodemocracy movement that made its
censure, harassment, and physical assaults, hundreds of rights stand in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989, and the CCP’s
defenders are killed every year. fear of renewed calls for freedom has motivated escalating

PUTTING POINTS ON THE BOARD FOR DEMOCRACY

Putting
Despite the overall decline in freedom Points
in 2022, small on
winsthe Boardaround
occurred for Democracy
the world. Below are just a few examples of these
incremental gains for justice
Despiteand
the democracy.
overall decline in freedom in 2022, small wins occurred around the world.
Below are just a few examples of these incremental gains for justice and democracy.

SLOVENIA
The newly elected government
reversed declines that occurred under
its predecessor by strengthening KUWAIT
parliamentary oversight, promoting
judicial independence, and respecting A court overturned a repressive law
media freedoms. that had been used to prosecute
transgender people, finding that it
violated the right to personal autonomy.

HONDURAS
The new administration repealed a
secrecy law that had been criticized
for enabling corruption among
government officials.

SIERRA LEONE MALAYSIA

The president signed new legislation Longtime opposition leader Anwar
that will guarantee greater community Ibrahim won elections to become
input on land-lease agreements and the new prime minister, signaling
protect women’s rights to own and BOTSWANA increased competitiveness in
inherit land. Malaysia’s multiparty system.
The president vowed to fully implement a
2019 court ruling that decriminalized
same-sex sexual activity and promised that
he would protect LGBT+ citizens’ rights.

This infographic is from the Freedom in the World 2023 report by freedomhouse.org

FreedomHouse.org 19
 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
THE WORLD 2023 Struggle for Democracy

Recent events in Iran are another reminder that millions of

people are willing to call for democracy and defend their rights
The years have shown that popular even at great personal risk. The current regime itself took
challenges to authoritarian rule are power after popular protests brought down the monarchy
in 1979, and Iranians have repeatedly voiced their objections
a recurring theme in even the most over the years as it descended deeper into dictatorship. In
repressive societies. 2009, shortly before the Arab Spring, citizens protested for
the better part of a year in what came to be known as the
Green Movement, after a fraudulent election handed victory
to incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Conditions
campaigns of repression against targets including mainland
have worsened since then, with authorities using lethal violence
dissidents, ethnic and religious minority populations,
to put down successive waves of protests. In 2022, fresh
and the people of Hong Kong. But Beijing’s rejection of
demonstrations were sparked by the death in custody of Jina
direct executive elections in Hong Kong in 2014 led to a
Mahsa Amini, a young woman arrested by the morality police.
series of massive protests that signaled abiding public
The movement spread to more than 80 cities and was viciously
support for universal suffrage. And despite crackdowns on
opposed by the government, resulting in hundreds of deaths
demonstrations large and small, protests of all types continue
on the streets, thousands of arrests, and a growing number of
across the mainland.
summary executions.

Cuba, with its long history of repression and international Reflecting on the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Raymond Gastil wrote
isolation, has been shaken by growing resistance to the in the 1980 edition of the Freedom in the World report: “Iran will
regime. Demonstrations in July 2021 that drew attention to remain for generations a difficult land in which to institutionalize
a dearth of fundamental freedoms and serious economic democracy. Yet I suggest Iranians will repeatedly try, that
problems marked the largest antigovernment mobilization they will be unsatisfied with anything else.… If the Revolution
since the Maleconazo protests of 1994, which were sparked establishes a new tyranny, these people will soon feel cheated
by police blocking Cubans from fleeing the country by boat. In and strive again for freedom.” This prediction has certainly
both cases, security forces responded violently, yet outbreaks proven true for Iranians, and the same could be said for people
of dissent continue. People took to the streets again in everywhere. So long as human beings remain true to their
2022 to protest mismanaged infrastructure in the wake of natural yearning for liberty, authoritarians will never be secure,
hurricane-related blackouts. and the global movement for democracy will never be defeated.

20 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
Freedom House

What is democracy? both within and outside the state, for example,
from independent courts, an independent press,
Fundamental to the restoration of democracy is and civil society. It requires an openness to
a correct understanding of what it is. The word alternations in power, with rival candidates or
democracy has been applied, rightly or wrongly, to parties competing fairly to govern for the good of
states of all types, from the “Democratic People’s the public as a whole, not just themselves or those
Republic” of North Korea to the freest polities who voted for them. It creates a level playing field
in Scandinavia. A December 2021 joint op-ed by so that all people, no matter the circumstances of
the Russian and Chinese ambassadors to the their birth or background, can enjoy the universal
United States called both of their dictatorships human rights to which they are entitled and
“democratic.” Misappropriation of the word is participate in politics and governance.
a testament to democracy’s widespread appeal.
Yet this unfortunate practice has generated Democracy is also more than just an ideal.
confusion, allowing opponents to simultaneously It is a practical engine of self-correction and
claim democratic credentials and argue that actual improvement that empowers people to constantly,
democracies are ineffective or hypocritical. peacefully struggle toward that ideal. When one
part of the system falters, the others can be used
Moreover, it has contributed to a misperception as tools to repair and strengthen it. This unique
that all democracy requires is the regular and inherent capacity for self-correction is what
performance of elections. Democracy means makes democracy so successful at delivering
more than just majority rule, however. In its ideal long-term stability and prosperity. No democracy
form, it is a governing system based on the will in the real world is perfect, and those demanding
and consent of the governed, institutions that are democracy in places like Cuba and Hong Kong
accountable to all citizens, adherence to the rule of are not demanding perfection. What they desire
law, and respect for human rights. It is a network are the freedoms and the institutions that will
of mutually reinforcing structures in which allow them to create a better life and a more just
those exercising power are subject to checks society over time.

Freedom in the World Methodology

Freedom in the World 2023 evaluates the state of ethnic or religious composition, or level of economic
freedom in 195 countries and 15 territories during development.
calendar year 2022. Each country and territory is
assigned between 0 and 4 points on a series of 25 Freedom in the World assesses the real-world rights
indicators, for an aggregate score of up to 100. The and freedoms enjoyed by individuals, rather than
indicators are grouped into the categories of political governments or government performance per se.
rights (0–40) and civil liberties (0–60), whose totals Political rights and civil liberties can be affected by
are weighted equally to determine whether the country both state and nonstate actors, including insurgents
or territory has an overall status of Free, Partly Free, and other armed groups.
or Not Free.
For complete information on the methodology, visit
The methodology, which is derived from the Universal https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/
Declaration of Human Rights, is applied to all countries research-methodology.
and territories, irrespective of geographic location,

FreedomHouse.org 21
 FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2023

Status Countries Territories

FREE 84 1
PARTLY FREE 54 4
Freedom in the World 2023
NOT FREE 57 10
assessed 210 countries and
FREE PARTLY FREE NOT FREE Total 195 15 territories around the globe.

22 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld FreedomHouse.org 23

 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
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Regional Trends

AFRICA:
Transfers of power, for better or worse
AFRICA: STATUS BY POPULATION
AFRICA: STATUS BY POPULATION
AFRICA: STATUS BY COUNTRY
AFRICA: STATUS BY COUNTRY

AFRICA: STATUS BY POPULATION AFRICA: STATUS BY COUNTRY

TotalTotal population
population FREE
1.4 billion
1.4 billion PARTLY FREE
17% 17%
7% 7% NOT FREE

46% 46%
43% 43% Total Total FREE PARTLY FRE
countries
countries
54 54

50% 50%
37% 37%

Changes in leadership were a major tension point in Africa had been scheduled for February 2022. Under international
over the past year. Chronic problems such as corruption and pressure, they announced a transition plan that would
misgovernance, combined with the economic impacts of the culminate in a presidential vote in 2024. Tunisian president
COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have left African Kaïs Saïed, who had asserted extraordinary powers and
states more vulnerable to irregular seizures of power by suspended the parliament in 2021, pressed ahead with his
military or executive officials. Despite these threats, however, unilateral overhaul of the political system, mounting a flawed
several countries held free and fair elections that ushered in constitutional referendum and parliamentary elections that
new governments and reinforced democratic institutions. were boycotted by the opposition and the vast majority of
eligible voters.
In Burkina Faso, the year’s two military coups eliminated many
of the gains from a 2014 political transition, sidelined electoral Other power transfers have been far more democratic.
bodies and accountability mechanisms, and exacerbated a Kenya’s election featured increased transparency, fresh
security crisis in which Islamist militant activity has displaced evidence of judicial independence, and a peaceful handover
millions of people. But the country is not an outlier in the of the presidency from one political bloc to another. The
region: coup attempts were also made during 2022 in Guinea- process represented a stark improvement over previous
Bissau, The Gambia, and São Tomé and Príncipe. balloting, which has repeatedly been marred by ethnic
violence, electoral misconduct, and politicians’ refusal to
Past coups have had lasting repercussions for political accept defeat. In Lesotho, a newly established party secured a
rights and civil liberties. In Guinea, the military junta that legitimate victory in general elections, and Zambia’s successful
took control in 2021 has delayed a planned return to civilian rotation of power through elections in 2021 led to some
rule until January 2025, incarcerated its critics, and brutally progress in the fight against corruption, greater transparency
repressed street protests. Similarly, in the wake of Mali’s and access to information, and fewer restrictions on freedom
2021 coup, the military authorities scrapped elections that of assembly in 2022.

24 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
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Countries with a record of respecting term limits and ensuring which have led to successful prosecutions. And under
orderly presidential succession exhibited notable signs of good President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Tanzania, civil society groups
governance during the year. In Botswana, President Mokgweetsi enjoyed somewhat more space to operate after a period of
Masisi held a historic meeting with representatives of a leading intense repression under the previous administration. These
LGBT+ rights organization and promised to work toward examples underscore the potential for further democratic
decriminalizing same-sex relations. Liberia’s government gains in the region if the virtuous circle of free elections and
implemented new initiatives to counter human trafficking, policy improvements is allowed to take hold.

AMERICAS:
Despite successful elections, freedom remains in jeopardy
AMERICAS: STATUS BY POPULATION AMERICAS: STATUS BY COUNTRY
AMERICAS: STATUS BY POPULATION AMERICAS: STATUS BY COUNTRY

AMERICAS: STATUS BY POPULATION AMERICAS: STATUS BY COUNTRY

Total Total population

population FREE
1.0 billion
1.0 billion 11% 11% PARTLY FREE
NOT FREE
23% 23%
72% 72%
Total Total FREE PARTLY FREE
countries
countries
35 35
22% 22% 66% 66%
6%
6%

Although Freedom in the World has recorded the downfall competitive balloting in two of the region’s most populous
of many long-standing dictatorships in the Americas over countries led to victories for opposition candidates. In
the last 50 years, the countries of the region continue Colombia, Gustavo Petro became the nation’s first left-
to grapple with serious threats to political stability and wing president, and his running mate, Francia Márquez,
fundamental rights. The relaxation of harsh or abusively became the first Black woman to serve as vice president.
enforced COVID-19 restrictions resulted in some Another leftist challenger, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, defeated
improvements to freedom of movement in 2022, but dire incumbent Jair Bolsonaro for the presidency of Brazil,
political, economic, and humanitarian crises in repressive and calls for a military coup to reverse this outcome were
settings such as Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have rebuffed amid violence by Bolsonaro’s supporters. But
reignited mass emigration. Independent media are also Pedro Castillo, who rose from obscurity to become Peru’s
under pressure as powerful figures resist public scrutiny: president in 2021, was impeached and arrested after an
authorities in Guatemala arrested the founder and president unsuccessful attempt to dissolve Congress, leaving his
of one of the country’s most prominent newspapers, successor, former vice president Dina Boluarte, to cope
and journalists in Uruguay faced threats and lawsuits for with widespread protests and a lethal crackdown by
their reporting. security forces.

Rotations of power through elections continued to provide Perennial weaknesses in the rule of law remained a challenge
opportunities for democratic progress, though the risk for many countries in the region. Amid a prolonged political
of antidemocratic breakdowns persisted. Free, fair, and vacuum in Haiti, gangs took over the capital and violently

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 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
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restricted people’s freedom of movement and access to similarly announced a state of exception and suspended
basic resources. President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador constitutional protections in many neighborhoods, ordering
declared a state of exception and suspended constitutional the military to lead the campaign against gang violence.
rights as part of a crackdown on gangs. The resulting These official responses were aimed at addressing a genuine
arbitrary arrests, deaths in custody, lack of due process, threat to public security, but their undemocratic methods
and restrictions on speech severely damaged civil liberties. made a poor foundation for the observance of basic
In neighboring Honduras, President Xiomara Castro freedoms in the future.

ASIA-PACIFIC:
Democracy movements contend with authoritarian retrenchment
ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY POPULATION ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY COUNTRY
ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY POPULATION ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY COUNTRY

ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY POPULATION ASIA-PACIFIC: STATUS BY COUNTRY

Total Total population

population FREE
4.3 billion
4.3 billion PARTLY FREE
5% 5% 23% NOT FREE
23%

44% 44%
54% 54% Total Total FREE PARTLY FRE
countries
countries
39 39

41% 41%
33% 33%

While some countries in the Asia-Pacific region have while the son of a former dictator won the presidency, the
overcome decades of dictatorship to establish resilient competitive campaign had the effect of mobilizing millions
democracies, authoritarian forces elsewhere continue to of young voters. In Myanmar, broad-based resistance to
push back against domestic calls for liberty and justice. the military junta that ousted elected leaders in 2021 kept
the regime from consolidating control over the country or
Examples of progress in 2022 were largely driven by gaining international legitimacy.
prodemocracy political movements and small improvements
in judicial independence, anticorruption efforts, and Residents of several countries, including India and Australia,
freedom of movement. In Sri Lanka, protesters persevered enjoyed greater freedom of movement following the
through police violence and ultimately forced the rollback of COVID-19 restrictions. However, democratic
resignation of the long-dominant Rajapaksa family from rights in India remain under pressure, particularly for
their multiple positions in government, though years of marginalized groups, with authorities in Uttar Pradesh
mismanagement left the country with serious economic and responding to Muslim-led protests by demolishing the
governance challenges. In Malaysia, the results of general property of Muslim citizens. In Vietnam, a one-party state
elections offered the promise of political and social reforms, where freedom is still heavily restricted, the government
and the judiciary displayed increased independence by made notable efforts to combat COVID-19-related
upholding the 2020 corruption conviction of former prime corruption, including by investigating and prosecuting
minister Najib Razak. The Philippines also held elections, and officials implicated in price-fixing and bribery scandals.

26 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
Freedom House

Despite these limited gains, the freedoms of expression, by extensively censoring educational materials and barring
belief, and association came under attack in other settings women from attending universities.
from across the democratic spectrum. In the Solomon
Islands, the government asserted greater financial The Communist Party regime in China remained one
and editorial control over the public broadcaster and of the world’s worst abusers of political rights and civil
threatened to prevent critical foreign journalists from liberties, and those who criticized the party received severe
entering the country. Religious freedom was hamstrung penalties. Chinese citizens did take to the streets to protest
in Hong Kong amid broader crackdowns on dissent, with the government’s harsh “zero COVID” policy in a rare
some churches and clergy self-censoring their sermons nationwide display of dissent that resulted in the abrupt
and limiting other religious activity. In Afghanistan, the abandonment of many restrictions. Nevertheless, protesters
Taliban regime dealt another blow to academic freedom continued to encounter pervasive surveillance, abusive
and gender equality interrogations, and intimidation at the hands of authorities.

EURASIA:
Military conflict and domestic unrest as autocracies stumble
EURASIA: STATUS BY POPULATION EURASIA: STATUS BY COUNTRY
EURASIA: STATUS BY POPULATION EURASIA: STATUS BY COUNTRY

EURASIA: STATUS BY POPULATION EURASIA: STATUS BY COUNTRY

Total population FREE

Total292.9
population
million
292.9 million PARTLY FREE

17% 17% NOT FREE

Total Total 33% 33%

FREE PARTLY FREE
countries
countries
83% 83% 67% 12 12
67%

Three decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, The war in Ukraine had significant repercussions for
authoritarianism dominates Eurasia, with no formerly Soviet Belarusian sovereignty, as Russian troops operated from
countries designated as Free aside from the three Baltic Belarusian soil. It also raised the threat of renewed conflict
states. This lack of democratic governance has destabilized in Moldova, whose separatist Transnistria region has
the region, as strongman rulers use military force to lash out long hosted a Russian garrison, and increased tensions in
at their neighbors and smother domestic dissent. In 2022, Georgia’s Russian-backed breakaway territories of Abkhazia
Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine took center stage and South Ossetia, from which Moscow withdrew some
amid a broader array of active and frozen conflicts between of its forces to help relieve units in Ukraine. The Kremlin’s
Eurasian governments. The February attack marked a preoccupation with Ukraine hampered its ability to manage
dramatic escalation after eight years of more limited or manipulate rivalries elsewhere. Azerbaijan’s regime
Russian aggression, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, stepped up its military aggression toward Armenia despite
Europe’s largest refugee crisis, and far-reaching economic a Russian security guarantee, and a surge in cross-border
and security implications for the entire world. shelling occurred between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in
September, killing approximately 100 people.

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 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
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The limited space for free media in Eurasia has diminished as local legal entities and empowered authorities to censor
further due to new criminal laws and legislative “undesired” information and ban media outlets without
restrictions. Russian authorities criminalized criticism of court approval.
the war in Ukraine, expanded a punitive “foreign agents”
law, and cracked down on the few independent outlets These efforts to suppress criticism did little to address
that still operated in Russia. Pro-Kremlin propaganda the root causes of public discontent, which continued
efforts have become more aggressive abroad, with to erupt into protests and elicit lethal responses from
officials in Belarus and Turkmenistan bolstering Moscow’s security forces. Mass demonstrations triggered by increased
image and criticizing democracies for supporting Kyiv. In fuel prices in Kazakhstan resulted in over 200 deaths,
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, lawmakers placed additional and protests in Uzbekistan over proposed constitutional
constraints on media outlets and journalists, passing new amendments left more than a dozen people dead and
legislation that obliged foreign online platforms to register hundreds injured.

EUROPE:
Illiberal forces challenge solidarity against external aggression
EUROPE: STATUS BY POPULATION EUROPE: STATUS BY COUNTRY
EUROPE: STATUS BY POPULATION EUROPE: STATUS BY COUNTRY

EUROPE: STATUS BY POPULATION EUROPE: STATUS BY COUNTRY

TotalTotal population
population
630.6630.6 million
million 2% 2% FREE
17% 17% PARTLY FREE
NOT FREE

82% 82% Total Total

countries
countries FREE PARTLY FRE
42 42

4% 4%
14% 81% 81%
14%

Peace and freedom in Europe have been threatened not only stray from democratic principles and seek cooperation with
by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, but also by far-right leaders authoritarian powers. In Italy, Giorgia Meloni and her Brothers
who could undermine democratic solidarity. of Italy party took the helm of a new governing coalition,
though she expressed more support for Ukraine than some
The war in Ukraine forced European democracies to rethink of her partners. In Sweden, the Sweden Democrats emerged
their security needs in 2022. Finland and Sweden dropped as the second-largest force in the parliament and enabled a
their long-standing policies of military neutrality and applied new right-leaning government to take office. In Hungary and
to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), while Serbia, entrenched illiberal nationalist leaders reasserted their
Germany moved to double its defense budget. The European power: Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán defeated a
Union (EU) stood firm and united in imposing sanctions united opposition front, winning a fourth consecutive term,
on Russia, providing billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine and and Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić secured a second
welcoming large numbers of Ukrainian refugees. five-year term after a decade in government. Nonetheless,
illiberal forces were defeated in some countries. French
At the same time, a series of important elections signaled the president Emmanuel Macron turned back a strong challenge
growing strength of right-wing populist parties, which often from far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, and Slovenians

28 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
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elected a new left-liberal government, rejecting the abuses authoritarian government in Turkey adopted a draconian
of power associated with right-wing populist prime minister “disinformation” law that hindered free speech and
Janez Janša. independent journalism ahead of elections in 2023. Despite
these setbacks, several European states strengthened
While free expression is generally protected across most safeguards for personal autonomy. San Marino decriminalized
of the region, the EU was plunged into spyware scandals in abortion, Andorra and Slovenia legalized same-sex marriage,
2022 after journalists and politicians came under surveillance and Liechtenstein passed a measure on full adoption equality
in Spain, Greece, Hungary, and Poland. In addition, the for same-sex couples.

MIDDLE EAST:
Searching for fresh hope in a bitter campaign for freedom
MIDDLE EAST: STATUS BY POPULATION MIDDLE EAST: STATUS BY COUNTRY
MIDDLE EAST: STATUS BY POPULATION MIDDLE EAST: STATUS BY COUNTRY
MIDDLE EAST: MIDDLE EAST:
STATUS BY POPULATION STATUS BY COUNTRY

Total population FREE

Total population
274.1 million
274.1 million 8% PARTLY FREE
3% 8%
3% NOT FREE
4% 4%
15% 15%
Total Total FREE PARTLY FREE
countriescountries
93% 93% 13 13
77%
77%

Popular demand for greater freedom in the Middle East international soccer’s World Cup in Qatar, a number of local
continues to run up against some of the most entrenched activists were given life sentences for their participation in
systems of repression in the world, many of which are peaceful protests.
propped up or shielded by foreign powers—including
democracies—with vested trade and security interests While political rights and civil liberties are few and far
in the region. between in a region dominated by despotic regimes, there
was some piecemeal progress during the year. In Kuwait,
In Iran, massive prodemocracy protests broke out following a court overturned a law used to prosecute transgender
the death of a Kurdish woman in police custody, bringing people, finding that it violated the right to personal
global attention to the Islamic Republic’s long history of freedom. In Lebanon, members of a rising civic opposition
discrimination and brutality. Citizens returned to the streets bloc gained representation in parliamentary elections,
again and again despite an acute risk that they would be eroding the dominance of established sectarian parties.
beaten, arrested, shot, or executed by security forces. But in Israel, the region’s only country ranked Free, election
results painted a grimmer picture: former prime minister
Elsewhere in the Middle East, journalists and human rights Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power at the head of a
defenders faced an uphill battle in their efforts to highlight coalition with far-right elements, and the new government’s
and address state abuses. A Palestinian-American journalist agenda posed a direct threat to judicial independence and
was killed by Israeli forces while covering a military raid other democratic principles, as well as to the basic rights of
on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. Ahead of Palestinians.

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GLOBAL DATA
WORLD:WORLD:
STATUS STATUS
BY POPULATION
BY POPULATION WORLD:WORLD:
STATUS STATUS
BY COUNTRY
BY COUNTRY

GLOBAL: STATUS BY POPULATION GLOBAL: STATUS BY COUNTRY

Total population
Total population FREE
7.9 billion
7.9 billion PARTLY FREE

20% 20% 29% NOT FREE

29%
43% 43%
41% 41% Total Total FREE PARTLY FRE
countries
countries
195 195

39% 39%
28% 28%

Freedom in the World 2023 Status Changes

Burkina Faso Lesotho
Burkina Faso’s status declined from Partly Free Lesotho’s status improved from Partly Free to Free
to Not Free due to the effects of two successive due to the formation of a new government
military coups, including the suspension of the following competitive parliamentary elections, though
constitution and dissolution of the legislature, and an the country continued to face serious security and
expanding conflict with Islamist militant groups. governance challenges.

Colombia Peru
Colombia’s status improved from Partly Free to Peru’s status declined from Free to Partly Free
Free due to more open and competitive national because the president was impeached and arrested
elections, a decline in restrictions on assembly and after attempting to dissolve the legislature and rule by
movement, and the decriminalization of abortion. decree, and protests by his supporters led to deadly
However, illegal armed groups remained active, and the clashes with police.
country was still one of the deadliest in the world for
human rights defenders.

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Countries in the Spotlight

The following countries featured important developments in 2022 that affected their democratic trajectory,
and they deserve special scrutiny in 2023.

Armenia: Azerbaijani forces continued to attack Turkey: The government manipulated electoral laws
and occupy Armenian territory along the border, and imposed harsh penalties for “disinformation” as
threatening the democratic government in Yerevan it worked to fend off the opposition ahead of planned
and raising the risk of full-scale war. 2023 general elections.

Brazil: Challenger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a United Kingdom: The ruling Conservative Party
presidential runoff against incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, cycled through three prime ministers in two
but the outgoing president’s supporters rejected the months, advanced new restrictions on strikes and
results and called for a military coup. protests, and attempted to remove certain asylum
seekers to Rwanda.
Haiti: A government with no electoral mandate
sought international support amid persistent protests
and a growing humanitarian crisis, with gang violence
displacing tens of thousands of residents. Worst of the Worst
Of the 57 countries designated as Not Free,
Israel: Elections resulted in a new government with the following 16 have the worst aggregate scores
far-right elements, and critics warned that its policy for political rights and civil liberties.
agenda could undermine judicial independence and
other core elements of democracy. Country Aggregate Score
South Sudan 1
Kenya: William Ruto’s election as president, and the
peaceful transfer of power that followed, marked a Syria 1
major improvement over the disputed contest of 2017 Turkmenistan 2
and strengthened Kenya’s democratic credentials.
Eritrea 3
Poland: The ruling Law and Justice party grappled North Korea 3
with the European Commission over judicial Equatorial Guinea 5
independence concerns as it prepared for crucial
Central African Republic 7
parliamentary elections in late 2023.
Tajikistan 7
Solomon Islands: After signing a security pact
Afghanistan 8
with Beijing, the government asserted control over
the media and postponed general elections from Belarus 8
2023 to 2024. Saudi Arabia 8

Sri Lanka: Following protests over a worsening Somalia 8

economic crisis, the president and prime minister Azerbaijan 9
fled their posts, and the ruling party was due to face China 9
frustrated voters in 2023 local elections.
Myanmar 9
Yemen 9

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Policy Recommendations

Political will is essential to the protection and expansion of Help Ukraine win. Achieving victory in Ukraine, on
freedom. The powerful and unified response to Moscow’s Ukraine’s terms, is an imperative not just for the people
unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine demonstrated of Ukraine or for Europe, but for the world. Beyond its
how rapidly democracies can take action—within a devastating physical destruction and emotional toll, the
matter of days—when there is political will to do so. That war is also a direct attack on Ukraine’s domestic efforts
same political will is needed globally to push back on to build a robust democracy. Anything less than victory in
clear authoritarian threats to democracy and freedom Ukraine will all but guarantee further Russian aggression in
around the world. the region, could discourage or undermine democratization
efforts in neighboring countries for fear of escalatory
Autocrats persist in flouting laws and norms in part coercive measures by the Kremlin and additional malign
because they do not believe democracies are serious about interference, and could encourage other authoritarian rulers
upholding them. For decades, Freedom House and others to undertake more brazen efforts to undermine democracy
have recommended that democratic governments work and human rights.
to defend fundamental freedoms, support and create
space for civil society, protect rights defenders at risk, Democratic governments must remain unwavering in their
and hold authoritarian regimes accountable for abuses. support for Ukraine and its people, including by providing
And for decades, democratic governments have failed to weapons and technical and security assistance to help
consistently muster the political will to implement these ensure victory on the battlefield. They must continue to
recommendations in a coordinated, sufficiently scaled, provide financial resources to the government of Ukraine,
sustainable manner, with political leaders too willing to turn with appropriate oversight, to help it withstand the
a blind eye to rights violations for the sake of perceived considerable economic and social shocks that the full-scale
short-term gains in prosperity or security. invasion has caused. Such funding is critical for keeping
basic government services operational, and for responding
But the protection of rights and democratic principles is to humanitarian need.
an economic and security imperative. Economic prosperity
and a more secure global community require a global Democratic countries must also continue to support
order based on the rule of law, anticorruption safeguards, individuals engaged in the vital wartime work of monitoring
and a willingness to abide by international security norms; and reporting on human rights violations and collecting
only democracies can maintain such an order. Democratic evidence of war crimes. Russian authorities and any other
leaders who ignore this fact imperil not just global freedom, individuals or entities that are materially supporting
but also security and economic growth. this illegal invasion must be held accountable through
sanctions, asset freezes or seizures that support Ukrainian
In 2023, as the deterioration of political rights and civil reconstruction, and justice in a court of law for the war
liberties slows and the limits of authoritarian power crimes that have been committed.
become clearer, democracies should prioritize the following
actions to help reverse the damage caused by the 17-year Finally, democracies must be prepared to support Ukraine
democratic recession. as it rebuilds and continues to strengthen its democratic
institutions and norms. Close partnership with Ukrainian
1. Help Ukraine win. civil society will be essential in this process.
2. Stop enabling authoritarians.
3. Be clear and unapologetic about the virtues of democracy Stop enabling authoritarians. Too often, democracies
and tireless in efforts to uphold and defend it. remain silent about authoritarian behavior because they
4. Protect press freedom and personal expression. have security or economic interests with the government
5. Dramatically ramp up support for human rights in question. They frequently take an “all or nothing”
defenders and for countries and regions at approach to bilateral engagement—either cutting off the
critical junctures. relationship entirely, out of concern for the authoritarian’s

32 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
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abusive practices, or engaging fully and muting any criticism entities that knowingly help authoritarians evade sanctions.
of human rights violations. In a globalized world in which Particularly in situations where those in power are violating
there are multiple overlapping interests, democracies human rights with impunity, such as in Afghanistan, Ethiopia,
must find ways to pursue economic and security goals and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or where large-
while simultaneously advancing democracy and freedom scale atrocities are occurring, as in China, democracies
agendas through their bilateral engagements. Prioritizing should work together to impose legal and financial
the economic and security matters without also exerting consequences.
pressure on regimes for their undemocratic behavior
only emboldens autocratic leaders, contributing to the At international forums, democracies should focus
continuation of their rule and the instability it produces. on deepening solidarity between Free and Partly Free
countries, working together to censure autocrats, promote
Democracies must stop legitimizing dictators. It is the election of democratic nations to positions of power,
often necessary for democratic leaders to engage with and give greater scrutiny to member-state compliance with
undemocratic counterparts while conducting diplomacy; charters and treaties.
they should not, however, provide them with the same
degree of symbolic recognition that freely elected Be clear and unapologetic about the virtues of
officials receive. Democratic leaders should refrain from democracy and tireless in efforts to uphold and
congratulating “winners” of rigged elections and should defend it. Leaders should communicate frequently with
work with partners and allies to swiftly denounce coups or the public about why and how democracy outperforms
the violation of legally established term limits, restricting more autocratic systems, citing its reliance on the will and
foreign assistance as appropriate. Significant international consent of the governed, deliberation and fair competition,
sporting and cultural events should not be held in countries mechanisms for accountability and self-correction, and the
governed by authoritarian regimes. inclusion of all people regardless of the circumstances of
their birth or background. Though no democracy is perfect,
Democracies must address corruption and kleptocracy democracies are safer and more stable because when one
head on by closing the many financial loopholes that allow institution falls short of democratic standards, the others
authoritarian rulers to hide or launder stolen assets in are used as tools to repair and strengthen the system.
democratic nations. Despots rely on their cash stores to
pay off the cronies who help keep them in power, and they Democracies, both Free and Partly Free, must address
are able to deploy massive financial resources to crush backsliding at home, working to reduce barriers to
democratic opposition. democratic participation, such as social exclusion and
poverty, and addressing polarization and extremism.
Democracies should significantly reduce their reliance The protection of free and fair elections, adherence to
on natural resources or manufactured goods from term limits by election officials, and respect for laws and
authoritarian regimes. Companies should adhere to the institutions are essential to a strong democracy.
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and
exercise caution when doing business in authoritarian Democracies should make the protection of freedom and
states, conducting periodic assessments to fully understand democratic governance a fundamental component of
how their products and actions might affect human rights. all international policy—including foreign, security, and
Members of the public should exert pressure on businesses economic policy—and of every diplomatic engagement.
by refusing to purchase goods from those that cannot Human rights concerns should be raised in meetings at
demonstrate that their practices ensure responsible all levels. Democratic leaders should routinely meet with
supply chains. exiled democracy activists and rights defenders from
authoritarian states before traveling to those countries,
When rights abuses or corrupt activity occur, democracies and with in-country activists while traveling, if they can do
should coordinate to impose meaningful penalties, including so without endangering their interlocutors. Democracies
targeted sanctions, suspension of nonhumanitarian should also guard against foreign influence and interference
economic support, and ostracization on the international and work together to build resilience against authoritarian
stage. Sanctions should also be imposed on individuals or economic coercion.

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 FREEDOM IN Marking 50 Years in the
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Democracies should collaborate to incentivize democratic for internet freedom should prioritize the provision of
progress. This effort must include a wide range of technologies that help individuals in closed environments
democracies, not just those in North America, Europe, circumvent government censorship, protect themselves
and East Asia, and must incorporate solutions driven by against surveillance, and overcome restrictions on
democratic governments all over the world. Democracies connectivity. Assistance should also include digital security
should use development finance and country compacts to and digital activism trainings for human rights defenders,
boost inclusive growth, encourage democratic governance, and programs that seek to strengthen judicial independence
and prevent debt traps. They should focus on negotiating and enhance technical literacy among judges and others
narrow, high-impact economic agreements that set high within the legal system. Governments should carefully
standards for governance and rights protection. scrutinize the export of technologies and products that
could be used to violate human rights, placing strict limits
Protect press freedom and personal expression. on the sale of those that enable monitoring, surveillance,
Among the many rights under attack globally over the interception, or collection of personal information and
last 17 years, Freedom House data show that freedom of communications.
expression, both for the media and for individuals, has
declined more than any other civil liberty, and infringement Democracies should reform domestic surveillance practices
on free expression is one of biggest drivers of global so that they adhere to the International Principles on
democratic decline. the Application of Human Rights to Communications
Surveillance; strictly regulate the use of surveillance tools;
Democracies should scale up efforts to support protect robust encryption, which is vital for the security of
independent media—including public-interest journalism activists, journalists, and ordinary people around the world;
and exile media—through financial assistance and and strengthen data-privacy protections.
innovative financing models, technical support, skills
training, and mentoring, and should condemn attacks Dramatically ramp up support for human rights
against journalists and media outlets. They should work to defenders and for countries and regions at critical
address disinformation and misinformation and support junctures. While governments, movements, and activists
technologies that allow for expanded transmission of working for democratic progress must lead the change in
fact-based reporting and information into countries their own countries, the odds may be stacked against them
where authoritarian regimes are controlling or limiting the without significant support from foreign governments
internet. They should also expand protections for journalists and organizations that are committed to the expansion
who face physical attacks and harassment, including by of democracy and human rights. If democracy assistance
supporting the creation of emergency visas for those at risk is to be effective, it must be provided at a sufficient scale
and bringing those who threaten or attack them to justice. and in a sustained manner. Those working on the front
Laws should protect the free flow of information, grant lines to uphold and protect fundamental freedoms for
journalists access to elected officials, allow the public to use their fellow citizens are the true agents of positive change
freedom of information requests, and guard against state in any country. But courageous action of the sort the
monopolization of media outlets. Governments and internet world has witnessed in Iran, where protesters are boldly
service providers should make every effort to support and defying a brutal regime, warrants a clear demonstration of
maintain reliable access to the internet. international solidarity.

Like media freedom, the freedom of personal expression Democratic governments should help human rights
faces growing threats, both online and off. The expression defenders and civil society groups remain in their countries
of individual identities, religious views, and political opinions of origin whenever possible. Technical assistance and
is a core component of being human. Democracies must training on issues like coalition and constituency building,
fiercely guard this right at home and vigorously work to advocacy, organizational development, and physical and
defend it abroad, as the climate of fear created by harsh digital security are particularly helpful, as is flexible funding
repression of personal expression helps dictators remain that affords groups the agility to respond to needs as they
in power. To protect expression online, foreign assistance arise. Government agencies that provide foreign assistance

34 @ FreedomHouse #FreedomInTheWorld
Freedom House

should seek to create opportunities for groups that the Partly Free or Not Free categories, it often struggles to
could play an important role in a future civic mobilization recover. This makes the provision of diplomatic, technical,
to connect with national, regional, and international and financial support especially important for countries
prodemocracy organizations—and with one another—to that have seen promising democratic development or
share strategies, tools, and approaches. are at risk of democratic deterioration. These include
Kenya and Zambia, which have experienced recent
When rights defenders come under threat, democracies improvements; Armenia, Sri Lanka, and El Salvador, where
should help provide medical, legal, and psychosocial democracy is under pressure; and Nigeria, Turkey, India,
support as needed. When these defenders are imprisoned, and Thailand, which face important upcoming elections,
democratic governments, international civil society among others. Democracies should help democratically
groups, and members of the public should condemn their inclined leaders and local civil society organizations in these
detention, seek their immediate and unconditional release, countries deliver tangible expansions of political rights and
and call for the dropping of all charges. Should it become civil liberties.
necessary for rights defenders to relocate, temporary
internal relocation is often most desirable. When a situation Democratic governments should also work with civil
becomes so dangerous that defenders and activists society to prepare for change. No authoritarian regime
need to be evacuated from their country, democratic is permanent; autocracies can seem durable until they
governments should be prepared to provide temporary suddenly collapse. Only 12 countries that exist today have
visas or long-term residency, and support for exiled always been rated Not Free in Freedom in the World. And
activists to resume their lives and vital work. Activists and even within those countries—including Cuba and China—
rights defenders from authoritarian states that have been protests against governance problems like corruption,
sanctioned also sometimes experience banking obstacles societal restrictions, and economic mismanagement
or other challenges related to private-sector risk aversion. can draw large numbers and broad support. Democratic
Democratic governments should work with the private governments should provide vocal, public endorsements
sector to minimize such inadvertent impacts. of grassroots prodemocracy movements and respond
to any violent crackdown by authorities with targeted
Democracies must remain vigilant to combat transnational sanctions, reduced or conditioned foreign assistance if the
repression. Between 2014 and 2021, Freedom House found country had been receiving any, and public condemnation.
that authorities in at least 36 origin countries had reached Democracies must be prepared for political upheaval in
beyond their own borders to intimidate, harass, and even Not Free countries and draw up serious contingency plans
kidnap or murder exiled dissidents and members of diaspora for responding to political change, both negative and
communities across 84 countries. Democratic governments positive, including the emergence of widespread popular
should guard against the commission of transnational movements for a more open society. More broadly, policy
repression on their soil by ensuring that laws are updated strategies for Not Free countries should not rely on the
as needed, providing officials with training to recognize assumption that the current systems and conditions will
and respond to transnational repression, reaching out to persist indefinitely.
diaspora groups that may be targeted, and prosecuting or
imposing sanctions on perpetrators. Detailed policy recommendations can be found here:
https://freedomhouse.org/policy-recommendations
In addition, democracy assistance should be focused on
countries and regions facing critical junctures. Freedom
House research has shown that once a country tips into

FreedomHouse.org 35
More than anything
else, five decades of
Freedom in the World
reports demonstrate
that the demand for
freedom is universal.
Freedom House is a nonprofit,
freedomhouse.org
nonpartisan organization that works
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to create a world where all are free. 1850 M Street NW, 11th Floor
@FreedomHouse
We inform the world about threats to Washington, DC 20036
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freedom, mobilize global action, and
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support democracy’s defenders.