Introduction
The Human Freedom Index is a comprehensive measurement tool developed by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in the United States, in the form of a global ranking of countries based on their levels of personal, civil, and economic freedom. The Human Freedom Index is based on a broad definition of freedom that encompasses personal, civil, and economic freedoms. The index takes into account 79 distinct indicators of freedom, such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, property rights, and access to the internet. The Human Freedom Index’s purpose is to provide policymakers, researchers, and citizens with a reliable, objective, and comparative measurement of human freedom around the world.
The Human Freedom Index is measured on a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents the highest level of freedom. Countries are ranked according to their scores, and the results are presented in a report that includes an analysis of trends, regional comparisons, and case studies of countries with particularly high or low scores. The Human Freedom Index is updated annually, and the data used to calculate the index comes from a variety of sources, such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum.
Critics of the Human Freedom Index have pointed out several limitations of the index. Some argue that the Human Freedom Index’s definition of freedom is too narrow, as it doesn’t account for other factors that can affect the well-being of citizens, such as access to education, healthcare, or social services. Others claim that the Human Freedom Index’s methodology is flawed, as it relies heavily on subjective judgments and subjective weights assigned to different indicators. Some critics also point out that the Human Freedom Index’s rankings can be influenced by political biases, as the Cato Institute is known for its libertarian views. Despite these limitations, the Human Freedom Index remains a valuable tool for measuring human freedom around the world, and its annual reports provide valuable insights into the state of freedom in different countries.
# | Country | Human Freedom Index | System of Government | Liberal Democracy Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Switzerland | 9.11 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.84 |
2 | New Zealand | 9.01 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.84 |
3 | Denmark | 8.98 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.88 |
4 | Estonia | 8.91 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.84 |
5 | Ireland | 8.9 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.82 |
6 | Canada | 8.85 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.76 |
7 | Finland | 8.85 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.83 |
8 | Australia | 8.84 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.81 |
9 | Sweden | 8.83 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.88 |
10 | Luxembourg | 8.8 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.8 |
11 | Netherlands | 8.78 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.81 |
12 | Iceland | 8.77 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.75 |
13 | Norway | 8.76 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.86 |
14 | United Kingdom | 8.75 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.78 |
15 | Germany | 8.73 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.82 |
16 | Japan | 8.73 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.74 |
17 | United States of America | 8.73 | Presidential | 0.74 |
18 | Portugal | 8.69 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.81 |
19 | Lithuania | 8.68 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.74 |
20 | Taiwan | 8.68 | Semi-presidential | 0.7 |
21 | Austria | 8.67 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.75 |
22 | Latvia | 8.67 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.73 |
23 | Belgium | 8.61 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.82 |
24 | Czech Republic | 8.61 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.71 |
25 | Spain | 8.56 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.78 |
26 | Italy | 8.49 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.77 |
27 | Malta | 8.45 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.64 |
28 | Chile | 8.44 | Presidential | 0.77 |
29 | Cyprus | 8.42 | Presidential | 0.69 |
30 | Hong Kong | 8.41 | 0.2 | |
31 | South Korea | 8.39 | Presidential | 0.79 |
32 | Slovenia | 8.37 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.6 |
33 | Uruguay | 8.36 | Presidential | 0.76 |
34 | France | 8.34 | Semi-presidential | 0.8 |
35 | Romania | 8.33 | Semi-presidential | 0.64 |
36 | Costa Rica | 8.25 | Presidential | 0.85 |
37 | The Bahamas | 8.22 | Constitutional Monarchies | |
38 | Slovakia | 8.21 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.77 |
39 | Armenia | 8.2 | Presidential | 0.56 |
40 | Georgia | 8.2 | Presidential | 0.49 |
41 | Croatia | 8.16 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.63 |
42 | Albania | 8.14 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.4 |
43 | Panama | 8.12 | Presidential | 0.56 |
44 | Bulgaria | 8.08 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.55 |
45 | Mauritius | 8.07 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.46 |
46 | Mongolia | 8 | Semi-presidential | 0.49 |
47 | Singapore | 7.98 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.33 |
48 | Poland | 7.96 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.41 |
49 | Peru | 7.93 | Presidential | 0.65 |
50 | Barbados | 7.92 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.68 |
51 | Jamaica | 7.91 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.69 |
52 | Botswana | 7.9 | Presidential | 0.49 |
53 | Dominican Republic | 7.88 | Presidential | 0.47 |
54 | Montenegro | 7.88 | Semi-presidential | 0.39 |
55 | Greece | 7.86 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.67 |
56 | Seychelles | 7.84 | Presidential | 0.57 |
57 | Republic of Macedonia | 7.75 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.4 |
58 | Hungary | 7.73 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.36 |
59 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7.7 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.66 |
60 | Moldova | 7.68 | Semi-presidential | 0.62 |
61 | Israel | 7.66 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.65 |
62 | Belize | 7.64 | Constitutional Monarchies | |
63 | Suriname | 7.64 | Presidential | 0.65 |
64 | Guatemala | 7.63 | Presidential | 0.32 |
65 | Namibia | 7.56 | Presidential | 0.51 |
66 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7.54 | Semi-presidential | 0.35 |
67 | Paraguay | 7.54 | Presidential | 0.43 |
68 | Serbia | 7.54 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.24 |
69 | Ghana | 7.49 | Presidential | 0.57 |
70 | Guyana | 7.49 | Semi-presidential | 0.37 |
71 | Ecuador | 7.43 | Presidential | 0.47 |
72 | El Salvador | 7.39 | Presidential | 0.22 |
73 | Argentina | 7.38 | Presidential | 0.66 |
74 | Fiji | 7.36 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.27 |
75 | Benin | 7.32 | Presidential | 0.28 |
76 | South Africa | 7.3 | Semi-presidential | 0.59 |
77 | Brazil | 7.22 | Presidential | 0.51 |
78 | East Timor | 7.22 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.49 |
79 | Haiti | 7.21 | Presidential | 0.21 |
80 | Kyrgyzstan | 7.18 | Presidential | 0.27 |
81 | Malaysia | 7.17 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.29 |
82 | Papua New Guinea | 7.17 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.34 |
83 | Nepal | 7.12 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 0.46 |
84 | Indonesia | 7.1 | Presidential | 0.43 |
85 | Honduras | 7.09 | Presidential | 0.24 |
86 | Senegal | 7.07 | Presidential | 0.55 |
87 | Madagascar | 7.02 | Presidential | 0.24 |
88 | Colombia | 7.01 | Presidential | 0.47 |
89 | Lesotho | 7.01 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.5 |
90 | Malawi | 6.99 | Presidential | 0.53 |
91 | Bolivia | 6.94 | Presidential | 0.37 |
92 | Mexico | 6.92 | Presidential | 0.39 |
93 | Jordan | 6.91 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 0.25 |
94 | Ivory Coast | 6.9 | Presidential | 0.24 |
95 | Thailand | 6.89 | Military Junta | 0.17 |
96 | The Gambia | 6.88 | Presidential | 0.41 |
97 | Bhutan | 6.86 | Absolute Monarchies | 0.48 |
98 | Ukraine | 6.86 | Semi-presidential | 0.32 |
99 | Burkina Faso | 6.85 | Presidential | 0.48 |
100 | Philippines | 6.83 | Presidential | 0.28 |
101 | Zambia | 6.82 | Presidential | 0.3 |
102 | Liberia | 6.81 | Presidential | 0.46 |
103 | Gabon | 6.8 | Presidential | 0.21 |
104 | Mozambique | 6.8 | Presidential | 0.24 |
105 | Guinea-Bissau | 6.77 | Presidential | 0.36 |
106 | Kazakhstan | 6.77 | Presidential | 0.13 |
107 | Lebanon | 6.76 | Semi-presidential | 0.28 |
108 | Belarus | 6.73 | Presidential | 0.04 |
109 | Kenya | 6.73 | Presidential | 0.4 |
110 | Sierra Leone | 6.7 | Presidential | 0.43 |
111 | Sri Lanka | 6.58 | Semi-presidential | 0.38 |
112 | Togo | 6.5 | Presidential | 0.2 |
113 | Tanzania | 6.48 | Presidential | 0.31 |
114 | Cambodia | 6.47 | Constitutional Monarchies | 0.07 |
115 | Brunei | 6.46 | Absolute Monarchies | |
116 | Tunisia | 6.46 | Presidential | 0.46 |
117 | Niger | 6.41 | Presidential | 0.4 |
118 | India | 6.39 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.36 |
119 | Rwanda | 6.36 | Presidential | 0.12 |
120 | Kuwait | 6.34 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 0.27 |
121 | Uganda | 6.32 | Presidential | 0.21 |
122 | Nigeria | 6.28 | Presidential | 0.34 |
123 | Mali | 6.25 | Presidential | 0.18 |
124 | Nicaragua | 6.24 | Presidential | 0.06 |
125 | Russia | 6.23 | Semi-presidential | 0.1 |
126 | Azerbaijan | 6.16 | Presidential | 0.07 |
127 | Qatar | 6.15 | Absolute Monarchies | 0.09 |
128 | Angola | 6.09 | Semi-presidential | 0.19 |
129 | Comoros | 6.07 | Presidential | 0.13 |
130 | United Arab Emirates | 6.06 | Absolute Monarchies | 0.08 |
131 | Ethiopia | 5.95 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.15 |
132 | Oman | 5.92 | Absolute Monarchies | 0.14 |
133 | Morocco | 5.9 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 0.24 |
134 | Vietnam | 5.9 | One-party | 0.13 |
135 | Laos | 5.85 | One-party | 0.1 |
136 | Djibouti | 5.84 | Presidential | 0.12 |
137 | Guinea | 5.82 | Presidential | 0.11 |
138 | Turkey | 5.79 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.12 |
139 | Eswatini | 5.79 | 0.11 | |
140 | Myanmar | 5.78 | Military Junta | 0.08 |
141 | Bangladesh | 5.75 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.12 |
142 | Bahrain | 5.73 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 0.05 |
143 | Mauritania | 5.73 | Military Junta | 0.17 |
144 | Cameroon | 5.63 | Presidential | 0.13 |
145 | Pakistan | 5.63 | Semi-presidential | 0.23 |
146 | Central African Republic | 5.62 | Presidential | 0.16 |
147 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 5.62 | Presidential | 0.16 |
148 | Zimbabwe | 5.6 | Presidential | 0.19 |
149 | Chad | 5.57 | Presidential | 0.07 |
150 | People's Republic of China | 5.57 | One-party | 0.04 |
151 | Republic of the Congo | 5.55 | Presidential | 0.11 |
152 | Tajikistan | 5.52 | Presidential | 0.05 |
153 | Algeria | 5.26 | Semi-presidential | 0.15 |
154 | Saudi Arabia | 5.12 | Absolute Monarchies | 0.04 |
155 | Libya | 5.05 | Military Junta | 0.15 |
156 | Burundi | 5.02 | Presidential | 0.08 |
157 | Iraq | 5.02 | Parliamentary Republic | 0.22 |
158 | Somalia | 4.93 | 0.09 | |
159 | Iran | 4.53 | Theocracies | 0.12 |
160 | Egypt | 4.49 | Semi-presidential | 0.12 |
161 | Sudan | 4.48 | Presidential | 0.08 |
162 | Yemen | 4.08 | Semi-presidential | 0.03 |
163 | Venezuela | 4.03 | Presidential | 0.07 |
164 | Syria | 3.66 | One-party | 0.04 |
Freedom Index by Country
The Human Freedom Index ranks Switzerland as the country with the highest level of freedom, followed by New Zealand and Denmark. These countries score high in personal and economic freedom, allowing citizens to pursue their own lives and make their own choices. On the other hand, the countries with the lowest scores are those with repressive governments and economies that stifle individual freedom.
In the top ten countries, the Human Freedom Index ranges from 9.11 in Switzerland to 8.8 in Luxembourg. All of these countries share similar characteristics, such as strong rule of law, democracy, and economic stability. These factors contribute to an environment where individual freedom is respected and protected. In contrast, countries with low Human Freedom Index scores, such as Ethiopia, Oman, and Morocco, have weak legal systems, little economic freedom, and often a history of political instability or authoritarianism.
It is interesting to note that neighboring countries can have vastly different scores on the Human Freedom Index. For example, Estonia scores 8.91 on the Human Freedom Index, Latvia scores 8.67, while neighboring Russia scores 6.23. This shows just how much a country’s level of freedom is determined by factors beyond its geography or culture. It is also important to note that HFI scores are not necessarily indicative of quality of life or economic prosperity, but rather the level of individual freedom that citizens have in their daily lives.
Countries Ranked by Freedom
Ranking | Countries | Human Freedom Index by Country |
1 | Switzerland | 9.11 |
2 | New Zealand | 9.01 |
3 | Denmark | 8.98 |
4 | Estonia | 8.91 |
5 | Ireland | 8.9 |
6 | Canada | 8.85 |
7 | Finland | 8.85 |
8 | Australia | 8.84 |
9 | Sweden | 8.83 |
10 | Luxembourg | 8.8 |
11 | Netherlands | 8.78 |
12 | Iceland | 8.77 |
13 | Norway | 8.76 |
14 | United Kingdom | 8.75 |
15 | Germany | 8.73 |
16 | Japan | 8.73 |
17 | United States of America | 8.73 |
18 | Portugal | 8.69 |
19 | Lithuania | 8.68 |
20 | Taiwan | 8.68 |
21 | Austria | 8.67 |
22 | Latvia | 8.67 |
23 | Belgium | 8.61 |
24 | Czech Republic | 8.61 |
25 | Spain | 8.56 |
26 | Italy | 8.49 |
27 | Malta | 8.45 |
28 | Chile | 8.44 |
29 | Cyprus | 8.42 |
30 | Hong Kong | 8.41 |
31 | South Korea | 8.39 |
32 | Slovenia | 8.37 |
33 | Uruguay | 8.36 |
34 | France | 8.34 |
35 | Romania | 8.33 |
36 | Costa Rica | 8.25 |
37 | The Bahamas | 8.22 |
38 | Slovakia | 8.21 |
39 | Armenia | 8.2 |
40 | Georgia | 8.2 |
41 | Croatia | 8.16 |
42 | Albania | 8.14 |
43 | Panama | 8.12 |
44 | Bulgaria | 8.08 |
45 | Mauritius | 8.07 |
46 | Mongolia | 8 |
47 | Singapore | 7.98 |
48 | Poland | 7.96 |
49 | Peru | 7.93 |
50 | Barbados | 7.92 |
51 | Jamaica | 7.91 |
52 | Botswana | 7.9 |
53 | Dominican Republic | 7.88 |
54 | Montenegro | 7.88 |
55 | Greece | 7.86 |
56 | Seychelles | 7.84 |
57 | Republic of Macedonia | 7.75 |
58 | Hungary | 7.73 |
59 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7.7 |
60 | Moldova | 7.68 |
61 | Israel | 7.66 |
62 | Belize | 7.64 |
63 | Suriname | 7.64 |
64 | Guatemala | 7.63 |
65 | Namibia | 7.56 |
66 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 7.54 |
67 | Paraguay | 7.54 |
68 | Serbia | 7.54 |
69 | Ghana | 7.49 |
70 | Guyana | 7.49 |
71 | Ecuador | 7.43 |
72 | El Salvador | 7.39 |
73 | Argentina | 7.38 |
74 | Fiji | 7.36 |
75 | Benin | 7.32 |
76 | South Africa | 7.3 |
77 | Brazil | 7.22 |
78 | East Timor | 7.22 |
79 | Haiti | 7.21 |
80 | Kyrgyzstan | 7.18 |
81 | Malaysia | 7.17 |
82 | Papua New Guinea | 7.17 |
83 | Nepal | 7.12 |
84 | Indonesia | 7.1 |
85 | Honduras | 7.09 |
86 | Senegal | 7.07 |
87 | Madagascar | 7.02 |
88 | Colombia | 7.01 |
89 | Lesotho | 7.01 |
90 | Malawi | 6.99 |
91 | Bolivia | 6.94 |
92 | Mexico | 6.92 |
93 | Jordan | 6.91 |
94 | Ivory Coast | 6.9 |
95 | Thailand | 6.89 |
96 | The Gambia | 6.88 |
97 | Bhutan | 6.86 |
98 | Ukraine | 6.86 |
99 | Burkina Faso | 6.85 |
100 | Philippines | 6.83 |
101 | Zambia | 6.82 |
102 | Liberia | 6.81 |
103 | Gabon | 6.8 |
104 | Mozambique | 6.8 |
105 | Guinea-Bissau | 6.77 |
106 | Kazakhstan | 6.77 |
107 | Lebanon | 6.76 |
108 | Belarus | 6.73 |
109 | Kenya | 6.73 |
110 | Sierra Leone | 6.7 |
111 | Sri Lanka | 6.58 |
112 | Togo | 6.5 |
113 | Tanzania | 6.48 |
114 | Cambodia | 6.47 |
115 | Brunei | 6.46 |
116 | Tunisia | 6.46 |
117 | Niger | 6.41 |
118 | India | 6.39 |
119 | Rwanda | 6.36 |
120 | Kuwait | 6.34 |
121 | Uganda | 6.32 |
122 | Nigeria | 6.28 |
123 | Mali | 6.25 |
124 | Nicaragua | 6.24 |
125 | Russia | 6.23 |
126 | Azerbaijan | 6.16 |
127 | Qatar | 6.15 |
128 | Angola | 6.09 |
129 | Comoros | 6.07 |
130 | United Arab Emirates | 6.06 |
131 | Ethiopia | 5.95 |
132 | Oman | 5.92 |
133 | Morocco | 5.9 |
134 | Vietnam | 5.9 |
135 | Laos | 5.85 |
136 | Djibouti | 5.84 |
137 | Guinea | 5.82 |
138 | Turkey | 5.79 |
139 | Eswatini | 5.79 |
140 | Myanmar | 5.78 |
141 | Bangladesh | 5.75 |
142 | Bahrain | 5.73 |
143 | Mauritania | 5.73 |
144 | Cameroon | 5.63 |
145 | Pakistan | 5.63 |
146 | Central African Republic | 5.62 |
147 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 5.62 |
148 | Zimbabwe | 5.6 |
149 | Chad | 5.57 |
150 | People’s Republic of China | 5.57 |
151 | Republic of the Congo | 5.55 |
152 | Tajikistan | 5.52 |
153 | Algeria | 5.26 |
154 | Saudi Arabia | 5.12 |
155 | Libya | 5.05 |
156 | Burundi | 5.02 |
157 | Iraq | 5.02 |
158 | Somalia | 4.93 |
159 | Iran | 4.53 |
160 | Egypt | 4.49 |
161 | Sudan | 4.48 |
162 | Yemen | 4.08 |
163 | Venezuela | 4.03 |
164 | Syria | 3.66 |
Freest Countries in the World
According to the Human Freedom Index, Switzerland is the freest country in the world with a Human Freedom Index score of 9.11 out of 10. The country is known for its strong democratic institutions, independent judiciary, and high level of economic freedom. New Zealand is the second freest country in the world, with a Human Freedom Index score of 9.01, thanks to its strong rule of law, respect for individual rights, and open market policies. Denmark, Estonia, and Ireland round out the top five list of freest countries in the world, with Human Freedom Index scores of 8.98, 8.91, and 8.9 respectively.
Canada, Finland, and Australia all have scores of 8.85 for the Human Freedom Index and are tied for sixth,seventh, and eighth place for freest countries in the world. These countries are known for their high levels of political and civil rights, as well as their commitment to free market economics. Sweden comes in ninth place for freest country, with a Human Freedom Index score of 8.83, while Luxembourg rounds out the top 10 for freest countries in the world, with a Human Freedom Index score of 8.8.
When comparing these countries, it’s clear that they share many commonalities. They all have strong democratic institutions, respect for individual rights, and open market policies. However, there are also some key differences between them. For example, Switzerland has a higher score for economic freedom, while Denmark and Finland have higher scores for rule of law. Overall however, these countries set a high standard for human freedom and serve as a model for other nations to follow.
Freest Countries
The ten freest countries in the world, according to the Human Freedom Index, are :
1. Switzerland – 9.11
2. New Zealand – 9.01
3. Denmark – 8.98
4. Estonia – 8.91
5. Ireland – 8.9
6. Canada – 8.85
7. Finland – 8.85
8. Australia – 8.84
9. Sweden – 8.83
10. Luxembourg – 8.8
Freest Country in the World
Switzerland is widely recognized as the freest country in the world, as reflected in its impressive Human Freedom Index score of 9.11 out of 10. This small, landlocked nation boasts an excellent reputation for its high level of political, economic, and personal freedoms. Switzerland has a robust system of democratic governance, with a long-standing tradition of direct democracy and strong rule of law. The country’s open-market economy and liberal policies attract foreign investment and support a high standard of living for its citizens. The Swiss are also known for their emphasis on personal responsibility and self-sufficiency, which has contributed to a culture of strong individual freedoms. Overall, Switzerland’s high ranking on the Human Freedom Index is a testament to its commitment to human rights, individual liberties, and democratic principles.
Human Freedom Index by Country
Albania
Ranked in the World
#42
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#80
Algeria
Ranked in the World
#153
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#131
Angola
Ranked in the World
#128
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#122
Argentina
Ranked in the World
#73
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#37
Armenia
Ranked in the World
#39
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#53
Australia
Ranked in the World
#8
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#14
The human freedom index of Australia is 8.84, making Australia the eighth country with the highest human freedom index. This indicates that citizens are afforded ample civil liberties and enjoy one of the highest degrees of political and economic freedom in the world. Australia has a detailed legal system that upholds its citizens' rights and freedoms through constitutional protection, as well as an independent judiciary to ensure those rights remain protected. The Australian federal government also actively works to protect its citizens against infringements of their rights, providing a strong legal support network for any issues arising.
Austria
Ranked in the World
#21
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#26
Azerbaijan
Ranked in the World
#126
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#158
Bahrain
Ranked in the World
#142
System of Government
Semi-constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#164
Bangladesh
Ranked in the World
#141
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#142
Barbados
Ranked in the World
#50
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#35
Belarus
Ranked in the World
#108
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#170
Belgium
Ranked in the World
#23
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#11
Belize
Ranked in the World
#62
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
The human freedom index of Belize is 7.64, making Belize the sixty-second country with the highest human freedom index. Belize maintains its high score due to its steady commitment to an independent judiciary and strict laws against bribery and other forms of corruption. Additionally, Belizeans enjoy freedoms of speech, press, and assembly without interference from external forces or the government. This makes Belize one of the most democratic countries in Central America and provides its citizens with a level of personal autonomy and political stability that is rare in many other parts of the world.
Benin
Ranked in the World
#75
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#103
Bhutan
Ranked in the World
#97
System of Government
Absolute Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#64
Bolivia
Ranked in the World
#91
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#87
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ranked in the World
#66
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#92
Botswana
Ranked in the World
#52
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#63
Brazil
Ranked in the World
#77
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#58
Brunei
Ranked in the World
#115
System of Government
Absolute Monarchies
The human freedom index of Brunei is 6.46, making Brunei the one-hundred-fifteenth country with the highest human freedom index. In terms of respect for civil and political liberties, citizens of Brunei enjoy some degree of freedom with regard to expression and association. However, issues such as religious freedom and LGBT rights remain severely restricted. Furthermore, the country's legal system does not grant individuals many rights with regard to privacy or due process protections. Ultimately, Brunei's human freedom index reflects a moderately restrictive environment.
Bulgaria
Ranked in the World
#44
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#55
Burkina Faso
Ranked in the World
#99
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#65
Burundi
Ranked in the World
#156
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#156
Cambodia
Ranked in the World
#114
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#160
Cameroon
Ranked in the World
#144
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#135
Canada
Ranked in the World
#6
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#24
Central African Republic
Ranked in the World
#146
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#127
Chad
Ranked in the World
#149
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#159
Chile
Ranked in the World
#28
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#21
Colombia
Ranked in the World
#88
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#68
Comoros
Ranked in the World
#129
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#136
Costa Rica
Ranked in the World
#36
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#4
Croatia
Ranked in the World
#41
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#45
Cyprus
Ranked in the World
#29
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#34
Czech Republic
Ranked in the World
#24
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#31
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ranked in the World
#147
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#128
Denmark
Ranked in the World
#3
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#2
Djibouti
Ranked in the World
#136
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#138
Dominican Republic
Ranked in the World
#53
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#67
East Timor
Ranked in the World
#78
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#62
Ecuador
Ranked in the World
#71
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#69
Egypt
Ranked in the World
#160
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#140
El Salvador
Ranked in the World
#72
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#116
Estonia
Ranked in the World
#4
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#5
Eswatini
Ranked in the World
#138
Ranked in the World
#145
Ethiopia
Ranked in the World
#131
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#129
Fiji
Ranked in the World
#74
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#105
Finland
Ranked in the World
#7
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#8
France
Ranked in the World
#34
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#16
Gabon
Ranked in the World
#103
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#119
Georgia
Ranked in the World
#40
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#61
Germany
Ranked in the World
#15
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#9
Ghana
Ranked in the World
#69
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#51
Greece
Ranked in the World
#55
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#36
Guatemala
Ranked in the World
#64
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#96
Guinea
Ranked in the World
#137
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#144
Guinea-Bissau
Ranked in the World
#105
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#90
Guyana
Ranked in the World
#70
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#88
Haiti
Ranked in the World
#79
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#118
Honduras
Ranked in the World
#85
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#113
Hong Kong
Ranked in the World
#30
Ranked in the World
#120
Hungary
Ranked in the World
#58
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#89
Iceland
Ranked in the World
#12
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#25
India
Ranked in the World
#118
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#91
The human freedom index of India is 6.39, making India the one-hundred-eighteenth country with the highest human freedom index. This below-average figure can be attributed to numerous factors including India's lack of government transparency and its relatively weak judicial system. In addition, India continues to have one of the highest levels of poverty in the world, with an estimated 22% of Indians living on less than US$1.90 a day according to World Bank data. There are also deep-rooted structural inequalities that limit the economic opportunities for many Indians, such as those from historically underrepresented communities like lower castes and religious minorities. These issues all contribute to the low human freedom index score in the country, despite some recent improvements in civil liberties and economic freedom over the past decade.
Indonesia
Ranked in the World
#84
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#75
Iran
Ranked in the World
#159
System of Government
Theocracies
Ranked in the World
#139
Iraq
Ranked in the World
#157
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#115
Ireland
Ranked in the World
#5
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#10
Israel
Ranked in the World
#61
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#41
Italy
Ranked in the World
#26
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#20
Ivory Coast
Ranked in the World
#94
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#109
Jamaica
Ranked in the World
#51
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#33
Japan
Ranked in the World
#16
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#27
Jordan
Ranked in the World
#93
System of Government
Semi-constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#107
Kazakhstan
Ranked in the World
#106
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#134
Kenya
Ranked in the World
#109
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#81
Kuwait
Ranked in the World
#120
System of Government
Semi-constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#104
Kyrgyzstan
Ranked in the World
#80
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#106
Laos
Ranked in the World
#135
System of Government
One-party
Ranked in the World
#148
Latvia
Ranked in the World
#22
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#30
Lebanon
Ranked in the World
#107
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#101
Lesotho
Ranked in the World
#89
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#59
Liberia
Ranked in the World
#102
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#72
Libya
Ranked in the World
#155
System of Government
Military Junta
Ranked in the World
#130
Lithuania
Ranked in the World
#19
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#28
Luxembourg
Ranked in the World
#10
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#15
Madagascar
Ranked in the World
#87
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#110
Malawi
Ranked in the World
#90
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#56
Malaysia
Ranked in the World
#81
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#100
Mali
Ranked in the World
#123
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#124
Malta
Ranked in the World
#27
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#44
Mauritania
Ranked in the World
#143
System of Government
Military Junta
Ranked in the World
#126
Mauritius
Ranked in the World
#45
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#70
Mexico
Ranked in the World
#92
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#85
Moldova
Ranked in the World
#60
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#46
Mongolia
Ranked in the World
#46
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#60
Montenegro
Ranked in the World
#54
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#84
Morocco
Ranked in the World
#133
System of Government
Semi-constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#111
Mozambique
Ranked in the World
#104
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#112
Myanmar
Ranked in the World
#140
System of Government
Military Junta
Ranked in the World
#152
Namibia
Ranked in the World
#65
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#57
Nepal
Ranked in the World
#83
System of Government
Semi-constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#71
Netherlands
Ranked in the World
#11
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#12
New Zealand
Ranked in the World
#2
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#6
Nicaragua
Ranked in the World
#124
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#162
Niger
Ranked in the World
#117
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#82
Nigeria
Ranked in the World
#122
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#93
Norway
Ranked in the World
#13
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#3
Oman
Ranked in the World
#132
System of Government
Absolute Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#133
The human freedom index of Oman is 5.92, making Oman the one-hundred-thirty-second country with the highest human freedom index. This means that the citizens of Oman are restricted in their civil liberties and personal autonomy, particularly when it comes to political processes. Freedom of expression is also significantly limited, with a media landscape that is heavily influenced by the government. In addition, there are restrictions on religious practices as well as limits placed on women's rights and equality in access to opportunities and resources. The overall score for Oman reflects its status as a monarchy ruled by a Sultan who has a heavy hand in governing social, political, and economic policies.
Pakistan
Ranked in the World
#145
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#114
Panama
Ranked in the World
#43
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#52
Papua New Guinea
Ranked in the World
#82
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#94
Paraguay
Ranked in the World
#67
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#76
People's Republic of China
Ranked in the World
#150
System of Government
One-party
Ranked in the World
#166
Peru
Ranked in the World
#49
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#40
Philippines
Ranked in the World
#100
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#102
Poland
Ranked in the World
#48
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#78
Portugal
Ranked in the World
#18
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#13
Qatar
Ranked in the World
#127
System of Government
Absolute Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#151
Republic of Macedonia
Ranked in the World
#57
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#83
Republic of the Congo
Ranked in the World
#151
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#146
Romania
Ranked in the World
#35
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#43
Russia
Ranked in the World
#125
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#147
Rwanda
Ranked in the World
#119
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#141
Saudi Arabia
Ranked in the World
#154
System of Government
Absolute Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#167
Senegal
Ranked in the World
#86
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#54
Serbia
Ranked in the World
#68
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#108
Seychelles
Ranked in the World
#56
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#50
Sierra Leone
Ranked in the World
#110
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#77
Singapore
Ranked in the World
#47
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#95
Slovakia
Ranked in the World
#38
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#22
Slovenia
Ranked in the World
#32
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#47
Somalia
Ranked in the World
#158
Ranked in the World
#149
South Africa
Ranked in the World
#76
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#48
South Korea
Ranked in the World
#31
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#17
Spain
Ranked in the World
#25
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#18
Sri Lanka
Ranked in the World
#111
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#86
Sudan
Ranked in the World
#161
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#153
Suriname
Ranked in the World
#63
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#42
Sweden
Ranked in the World
#9
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#1
Switzerland
Ranked in the World
#1
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#7
Syria
Ranked in the World
#164
System of Government
One-party
Ranked in the World
#169
Taiwan
Ranked in the World
#20
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#32
Tajikistan
Ranked in the World
#152
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#165
Tanzania
Ranked in the World
#113
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#98
Thailand
Ranked in the World
#95
System of Government
Military Junta
Ranked in the World
#125
The Bahamas
Ranked in the World
#37
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
The Gambia
Ranked in the World
#96
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#79
Togo
Ranked in the World
#112
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#121
Trinidad and Tobago
Ranked in the World
#59
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#39
Tunisia
Ranked in the World
#116
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#73
Turkey
Ranked in the World
#139
System of Government
Parliamentary Republic
Ranked in the World
#143
Uganda
Ranked in the World
#121
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#117
Ukraine
Ranked in the World
#98
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#97
United Arab Emirates
Ranked in the World
#130
System of Government
Absolute Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#154
United Kingdom
Ranked in the World
#14
System of Government
Constitutional Monarchies
Ranked in the World
#19
United States of America
Ranked in the World
#17
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#29
The human freedom index of the United States is 8.73, making the U.S. the seventeenth country with the highest human freedom index. The high score shows that the United States guarantees numerous freedoms to its citizens that are enshrined in its Constitution; these include religious liberty, freedom of speech and press rights, right to assemble peacefully, right to bear arms, and other fundamental rights that give citizens a great amount of autonomy.
Uruguay
Ranked in the World
#33
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#23
Venezuela
Ranked in the World
#163
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#157
Vietnam
Ranked in the World
#134
System of Government
One-party
Ranked in the World
#137
Yemen
Ranked in the World
#162
System of Government
Semi-presidential
Ranked in the World
#171
Zambia
Ranked in the World
#101
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#99
Zimbabwe
Ranked in the World
#148
System of Government
Presidential
Ranked in the World
#123
FAQs
What is the freest country in the world ?
Switzerland is the freest country in the world, with a Human Freedom Index score of 9.11.
What are the top 10 freest countries ?
The top 10 freest countries, based on the Human Freedom Index, are :
1. Switzerland – 9.11
2. New Zealand – 9.01
3. Denmark – 8.98
4. Estonia – 8.91
5. Ireland – 8.9
6. Canada – 8.85
7. Finland – 8.85
8. Australia – 8.84
9. Sweden – 8.83
10. Luxembourg – 8.8
What are the freest countries in the world ?
The fifteen freest countries in the world are Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Canada, Finland, Australia, Sweden, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Iceland, Norway, the UK, and Germany.