Freedom Index by Country

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Interactive MapIntroductionFreedom Index by CountryCountries Ranked by FreedomFreest Countries in the WorldFreest CountriesFreest Country in the WorldHuman Freedom Index by CountryAlbaniaAlgeriaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCentral African RepublicChadChileColombiaComorosCosta RicaCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFijiFinlandFranceGabonGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaliMaltaMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorwayOmanPakistanPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeople's Republic of ChinaPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRepublic of MacedoniaRepublic of the CongoRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandThe BahamasThe GambiaTogoTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaUruguayVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabweFAQsWhat is the freest country in the world ?What are the top 10 freest countries ?What are the freest countries in the world ?

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.

#CountryHuman Freedom IndexSystem of GovernmentLiberal Democracy Index
1Switzerland9.11Parliamentary Republic0.84
2New Zealand9.01Constitutional Monarchies0.84
3Denmark8.98Constitutional Monarchies0.88
4Estonia8.91Parliamentary Republic0.84
5Ireland8.9Parliamentary Republic0.82
6Canada8.85Constitutional Monarchies0.76
7Finland8.85Parliamentary Republic0.83
8Australia8.84Constitutional Monarchies0.81
9Sweden8.83Constitutional Monarchies0.88
10Luxembourg8.8Constitutional Monarchies0.8
11Netherlands8.78Constitutional Monarchies0.81
12Iceland8.77Parliamentary Republic0.75
13Norway8.76Constitutional Monarchies0.86
14United Kingdom8.75Constitutional Monarchies0.78
15Germany8.73Parliamentary Republic0.82
16Japan8.73Constitutional Monarchies0.74
17United States of America8.73Presidential0.74
18Portugal8.69Parliamentary Republic0.81
19Lithuania8.68Parliamentary Republic0.74
20Taiwan8.68Semi-presidential0.7
21Austria8.67Parliamentary Republic0.75
22Latvia8.67Parliamentary Republic0.73
23Belgium8.61Constitutional Monarchies0.82
24Czech Republic8.61Parliamentary Republic0.71
25Spain8.56Constitutional Monarchies0.78
26Italy8.49Parliamentary Republic0.77
27Malta8.45Parliamentary Republic0.64
28Chile8.44Presidential0.77
29Cyprus8.42Presidential0.69
30Hong Kong8.410.2
31South Korea8.39Presidential0.79
32Slovenia8.37Parliamentary Republic0.6
33Uruguay8.36Presidential0.76
34France8.34Semi-presidential0.8
35Romania8.33Semi-presidential0.64
36Costa Rica8.25Presidential0.85
37The Bahamas8.22Constitutional Monarchies
38Slovakia8.21Parliamentary Republic0.77
39Armenia8.2Presidential0.56
40Georgia8.2Presidential0.49
41Croatia8.16Parliamentary Republic0.63
42Albania8.14Parliamentary Republic0.4
43Panama8.12Presidential0.56
44Bulgaria8.08Parliamentary Republic0.55
45Mauritius8.07Parliamentary Republic0.46
46Mongolia8Semi-presidential0.49
47Singapore7.98Parliamentary Republic0.33
48Poland7.96Parliamentary Republic0.41
49Peru7.93Presidential0.65
50Barbados7.92Constitutional Monarchies0.68
51Jamaica7.91Constitutional Monarchies0.69
52Botswana7.9Presidential0.49
53Dominican Republic7.88Presidential0.47
54Montenegro7.88Semi-presidential0.39
55Greece7.86Parliamentary Republic0.67
56Seychelles7.84Presidential0.57
57Republic of Macedonia7.75Parliamentary Republic0.4
58Hungary7.73Parliamentary Republic0.36
59Trinidad and Tobago7.7Parliamentary Republic0.66
60Moldova7.68Semi-presidential0.62
61Israel7.66Parliamentary Republic0.65
62Belize7.64Constitutional Monarchies
63Suriname7.64Presidential0.65
64Guatemala7.63Presidential0.32
65Namibia7.56Presidential0.51
66Bosnia and Herzegovina7.54Semi-presidential0.35
67Paraguay7.54Presidential0.43
68Serbia7.54Parliamentary Republic0.24
69Ghana7.49Presidential0.57
70Guyana7.49Semi-presidential0.37
71Ecuador7.43Presidential0.47
72El Salvador7.39Presidential0.22
73Argentina7.38Presidential0.66
74Fiji7.36Parliamentary Republic0.27
75Benin7.32Presidential0.28
76South Africa7.3Semi-presidential0.59
77Brazil7.22Presidential0.51
78East Timor7.22Parliamentary Republic0.49
79Haiti7.21Presidential0.21
80Kyrgyzstan7.18Presidential0.27
81Malaysia7.17Constitutional Monarchies0.29
82Papua New Guinea7.17Constitutional Monarchies0.34
83Nepal7.12Semi-constitutional Monarchies0.46
84Indonesia7.1Presidential0.43
85Honduras7.09Presidential0.24
86Senegal7.07Presidential0.55
87Madagascar7.02Presidential0.24
88Colombia7.01Presidential0.47
89Lesotho7.01Constitutional Monarchies0.5
90Malawi6.99Presidential0.53
91Bolivia6.94Presidential0.37
92Mexico6.92Presidential0.39
93Jordan6.91Semi-constitutional Monarchies0.25
94Ivory Coast6.9Presidential0.24
95Thailand6.89Military Junta0.17
96The Gambia6.88Presidential0.41
97Bhutan6.86Absolute Monarchies0.48
98Ukraine6.86Semi-presidential0.32
99Burkina Faso6.85Presidential0.48
100Philippines6.83Presidential0.28
101Zambia6.82Presidential0.3
102Liberia6.81Presidential0.46
103Gabon6.8Presidential0.21
104Mozambique6.8Presidential0.24
105Guinea-Bissau6.77Presidential0.36
106Kazakhstan6.77Presidential0.13
107Lebanon6.76Semi-presidential0.28
108Belarus6.73Presidential0.04
109Kenya6.73Presidential0.4
110Sierra Leone6.7Presidential0.43
111Sri Lanka6.58Semi-presidential0.38
112Togo6.5Presidential0.2
113Tanzania6.48Presidential0.31
114Cambodia6.47Constitutional Monarchies0.07
115Brunei6.46Absolute Monarchies
116Tunisia6.46Presidential0.46
117Niger6.41Presidential0.4
118India6.39Parliamentary Republic0.36
119Rwanda6.36Presidential0.12
120Kuwait6.34Semi-constitutional Monarchies0.27
121Uganda6.32Presidential0.21
122Nigeria6.28Presidential0.34
123Mali6.25Presidential0.18
124Nicaragua6.24Presidential0.06
125Russia6.23Semi-presidential0.1
126Azerbaijan6.16Presidential0.07
127Qatar6.15Absolute Monarchies0.09
128Angola6.09Semi-presidential0.19
129Comoros6.07Presidential0.13
130United Arab Emirates6.06Absolute Monarchies0.08
131Ethiopia5.95Parliamentary Republic0.15
132Oman5.92Absolute Monarchies0.14
133Morocco5.9Semi-constitutional Monarchies0.24
134Vietnam5.9One-party0.13
135Laos5.85One-party0.1
136Djibouti5.84Presidential0.12
137Guinea5.82Presidential0.11
138Turkey5.79Parliamentary Republic0.12
139Eswatini5.790.11
140Myanmar5.78Military Junta0.08
141Bangladesh5.75Parliamentary Republic0.12
142Bahrain5.73Semi-constitutional Monarchies0.05
143Mauritania5.73Military Junta0.17
144Cameroon5.63Presidential0.13
145Pakistan5.63Semi-presidential0.23
146Central African Republic5.62Presidential0.16
147Democratic Republic of the Congo5.62Presidential0.16
148Zimbabwe5.6Presidential0.19
149Chad5.57Presidential0.07
150People's Republic of China5.57One-party0.04
151Republic of the Congo5.55Presidential0.11
152Tajikistan5.52Presidential0.05
153Algeria5.26Semi-presidential0.15
154Saudi Arabia5.12Absolute Monarchies0.04
155Libya5.05Military Junta0.15
156Burundi5.02Presidential0.08
157Iraq5.02Parliamentary Republic0.22
158Somalia4.930.09
159Iran4.53Theocracies0.12
160Egypt4.49Semi-presidential0.12
161Sudan4.48Presidential0.08
162Yemen4.08Semi-presidential0.03
163Venezuela4.03Presidential0.07
164Syria3.66One-party0.04

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

RankingCountriesHuman Freedom Index by Country
1Switzerland9.11
2New Zealand9.01
3Denmark8.98
4Estonia8.91
5Ireland8.9
6Canada8.85
7Finland8.85
8Australia8.84
9Sweden8.83
10Luxembourg8.8
11Netherlands8.78
12Iceland8.77
13Norway8.76
14United Kingdom8.75
15Germany8.73
16Japan8.73
17United States of America8.73
18Portugal8.69
19Lithuania8.68
20Taiwan8.68
21Austria8.67
22Latvia8.67
23Belgium8.61
24Czech Republic8.61
25Spain8.56
26Italy8.49
27Malta8.45
28Chile8.44
29Cyprus8.42
30Hong Kong8.41
31South Korea8.39
32Slovenia8.37
33Uruguay8.36
34France8.34
35Romania8.33
36Costa Rica8.25
37The Bahamas8.22
38Slovakia8.21
39Armenia8.2
40Georgia8.2
41Croatia8.16
42Albania8.14
43Panama8.12
44Bulgaria8.08
45Mauritius8.07
46Mongolia8
47Singapore7.98
48Poland7.96
49Peru7.93
50Barbados7.92
51Jamaica7.91
52Botswana7.9
53Dominican Republic7.88
54Montenegro7.88
55Greece7.86
56Seychelles7.84
57Republic of Macedonia7.75
58Hungary7.73
59Trinidad and Tobago7.7
60Moldova7.68
61Israel7.66
62Belize7.64
63Suriname7.64
64Guatemala7.63
65Namibia7.56
66Bosnia and Herzegovina7.54
67Paraguay7.54
68Serbia7.54
69Ghana7.49
70Guyana7.49
71Ecuador7.43
72El Salvador7.39
73Argentina7.38
74Fiji7.36
75Benin7.32
76South Africa7.3
77Brazil7.22
78East Timor7.22
79Haiti7.21
80Kyrgyzstan7.18
81Malaysia7.17
82Papua New Guinea7.17
83Nepal7.12
84Indonesia7.1
85Honduras7.09
86Senegal7.07
87Madagascar7.02
88Colombia7.01
89Lesotho7.01
90Malawi6.99
91Bolivia6.94
92Mexico6.92
93Jordan6.91
94Ivory Coast6.9
95Thailand6.89
96The Gambia6.88
97Bhutan6.86
98Ukraine6.86
99Burkina Faso6.85
100Philippines6.83
101Zambia6.82
102Liberia6.81
103Gabon6.8
104Mozambique6.8
105Guinea-Bissau6.77
106Kazakhstan6.77
107Lebanon6.76
108Belarus6.73
109Kenya6.73
110Sierra Leone6.7
111Sri Lanka6.58
112Togo6.5
113Tanzania6.48
114Cambodia6.47
115Brunei6.46
116Tunisia6.46
117Niger6.41
118India6.39
119Rwanda6.36
120Kuwait6.34
121Uganda6.32
122Nigeria6.28
123Mali6.25
124Nicaragua6.24
125Russia6.23
126Azerbaijan6.16
127Qatar6.15
128Angola6.09
129Comoros6.07
130United Arab Emirates6.06
131Ethiopia5.95
132Oman5.92
133Morocco5.9
134Vietnam5.9
135Laos5.85
136Djibouti5.84
137Guinea5.82
138Turkey5.79
139Eswatini5.79
140Myanmar5.78
141Bangladesh5.75
142Bahrain5.73
143Mauritania5.73
144Cameroon5.63
145Pakistan5.63
146Central African Republic5.62
147Democratic Republic of the Congo5.62
148Zimbabwe5.6
149Chad5.57
150People’s Republic of China5.57
151Republic of the Congo5.55
152Tajikistan5.52
153Algeria5.26
154Saudi Arabia5.12
155Libya5.05
156Burundi5.02
157Iraq5.02
158Somalia4.93
159Iran4.53
160Egypt4.49
161Sudan4.48
162Yemen4.08
163Venezuela4.03
164Syria3.66

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

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Ranked in the World

#42

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#80

Algeria

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Ranked in the World

#153

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#131

Angola

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Ranked in the World

#128

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#122

Argentina

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Ranked in the World

#73

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#37

Armenia

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Ranked in the World

#39

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#53

Australia

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Ranked in the World

#8

System of Government

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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

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Ranked in the World

#21

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#26

Azerbaijan

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Ranked in the World

#126

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#158

Bahrain

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Ranked in the World

#142

System of Government

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Semi-constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#164

Bangladesh

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Ranked in the World

#141

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#142

Barbados

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Ranked in the World

#50

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#35

Belarus

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Ranked in the World

#108

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#170

Belgium

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Ranked in the World

#23

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#11

Belize

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Ranked in the World

#62

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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

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Ranked in the World

#75

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#103

Bhutan

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Ranked in the World

#97

System of Government

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Absolute Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#64

Bolivia

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Ranked in the World

#91

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#87

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Ranked in the World

#66

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#92

Botswana

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Ranked in the World

#52

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#63

Brazil

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Ranked in the World

#77

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#58

Brunei

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Ranked in the World

#115

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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

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Ranked in the World

#44

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#55

Burkina Faso

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Ranked in the World

#99

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#65

Burundi

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Ranked in the World

#156

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#156

Cambodia

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Ranked in the World

#114

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#160

Cameroon

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Ranked in the World

#144

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#135

Canada

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Ranked in the World

#6

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#24

Central African Republic

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Ranked in the World

#146

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#127

Chad

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Ranked in the World

#149

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#159

Chile

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Ranked in the World

#28

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#21

Colombia

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Ranked in the World

#88

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#68

Comoros

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Ranked in the World

#129

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#136

Costa Rica

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Ranked in the World

#36

System of Government

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Ranked in the World

#4

Croatia

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Ranked in the World

#41

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#45

Cyprus

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Ranked in the World

#29

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#34

Czech Republic

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Ranked in the World

#24

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#31

Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Ranked in the World

#147

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#128

Denmark

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Ranked in the World

#3

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#2

Djibouti

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Ranked in the World

#136

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#138

Dominican Republic

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Ranked in the World

#53

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#67

East Timor

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Ranked in the World

#78

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#62

Ecuador

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Ranked in the World

#71

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#69

Egypt

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Ranked in the World

#160

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#140

El Salvador

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Ranked in the World

#72

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#116

Estonia

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Ranked in the World

#4

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#5

Eswatini

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Ranked in the World

#138

Ranked in the World

#145

Ethiopia

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Ranked in the World

#131

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#129

Fiji

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Ranked in the World

#74

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#105

Finland

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Ranked in the World

#7

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#8

France

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Ranked in the World

#34

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#16

Gabon

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Ranked in the World

#103

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#119

Georgia

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Ranked in the World

#40

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#61

Germany

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Ranked in the World

#15

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#9

Ghana

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Ranked in the World

#69

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#51

Greece

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Ranked in the World

#55

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#36

Guatemala

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Ranked in the World

#64

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#96

Guinea

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Ranked in the World

#137

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#144

Guinea-Bissau

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Ranked in the World

#105

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#90

Guyana

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Ranked in the World

#70

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#88

Haiti

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Ranked in the World

#79

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#118

Honduras

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Ranked in the World

#85

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#113

Hong Kong

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Ranked in the World

#30

Ranked in the World

#120

Hungary

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Ranked in the World

#58

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#89

Iceland

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Ranked in the World

#12

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#25

India

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Ranked in the World

#118

System of Government

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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

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Ranked in the World

#84

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#75

Iran

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Ranked in the World

#159

System of Government

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Theocracies

Ranked in the World

#139

Iraq

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Ranked in the World

#157

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#115

Ireland

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Ranked in the World

#5

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#10

Israel

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Ranked in the World

#61

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#41

Italy

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Ranked in the World

#26

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#20

Ivory Coast

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Ranked in the World

#94

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#109

Jamaica

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Ranked in the World

#51

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#33

Japan

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Ranked in the World

#16

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#27

Jordan

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Ranked in the World

#93

System of Government

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Semi-constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#107

Kazakhstan

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Ranked in the World

#106

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#134

Kenya

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Ranked in the World

#109

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#81

Kuwait

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Ranked in the World

#120

System of Government

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Semi-constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#104

Kyrgyzstan

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Ranked in the World

#80

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#106

Laos

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Ranked in the World

#135

System of Government

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One-party

Ranked in the World

#148

Latvia

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Ranked in the World

#22

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#30

Lebanon

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Ranked in the World

#107

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#101

Lesotho

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Ranked in the World

#89

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#59

Liberia

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Ranked in the World

#102

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#72

Libya

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Ranked in the World

#155

System of Government

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Military Junta

Ranked in the World

#130

Lithuania

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Ranked in the World

#19

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#28

Luxembourg

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Ranked in the World

#10

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#15

Madagascar

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Ranked in the World

#87

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#110

Malawi

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Ranked in the World

#90

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#56

Malaysia

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Ranked in the World

#81

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#100

Mali

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Ranked in the World

#123

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#124

Malta

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Ranked in the World

#27

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#44

Mauritania

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Ranked in the World

#143

System of Government

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Military Junta

Ranked in the World

#126

Mauritius

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Ranked in the World

#45

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#70

Mexico

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Ranked in the World

#92

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#85

Moldova

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Ranked in the World

#60

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#46

Mongolia

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Ranked in the World

#46

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#60

Montenegro

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Ranked in the World

#54

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#84

Morocco

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Ranked in the World

#133

System of Government

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Semi-constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#111

Mozambique

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Ranked in the World

#104

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#112

Myanmar

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Ranked in the World

#140

System of Government

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Military Junta

Ranked in the World

#152

Namibia

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Ranked in the World

#65

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#57

Nepal

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Ranked in the World

#83

System of Government

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Semi-constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#71

Netherlands

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Ranked in the World

#11

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#12

New Zealand

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Ranked in the World

#2

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#6

Nicaragua

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Ranked in the World

#124

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#162

Niger

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Ranked in the World

#117

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#82

Nigeria

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Ranked in the World

#122

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#93

Norway

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Ranked in the World

#13

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#3

Oman

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Ranked in the World

#132

System of Government

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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

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Ranked in the World

#145

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#114

Panama

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Ranked in the World

#43

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#52

Papua New Guinea

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Ranked in the World

#82

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#94

Paraguay

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Ranked in the World

#67

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#76

People's Republic of China

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Ranked in the World

#150

System of Government

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One-party

Ranked in the World

#166

Peru

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Ranked in the World

#49

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#40

Philippines

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Ranked in the World

#100

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#102

Poland

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Ranked in the World

#48

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#78

Portugal

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Ranked in the World

#18

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#13

Qatar

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Ranked in the World

#127

System of Government

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Absolute Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#151

Republic of Macedonia

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Ranked in the World

#57

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#83

Republic of the Congo

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Ranked in the World

#151

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#146

Romania

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Ranked in the World

#35

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#43

Russia

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Ranked in the World

#125

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#147

Rwanda

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Ranked in the World

#119

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#141

Saudi Arabia

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Ranked in the World

#154

System of Government

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Absolute Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#167

Senegal

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Ranked in the World

#86

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#54

Serbia

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Ranked in the World

#68

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#108

Seychelles

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Ranked in the World

#56

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#50

Sierra Leone

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Ranked in the World

#110

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#77

Singapore

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Ranked in the World

#47

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#95

Slovakia

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Ranked in the World

#38

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#22

Slovenia

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Ranked in the World

#32

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#47

Somalia

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Ranked in the World

#158

Ranked in the World

#149

South Africa

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Ranked in the World

#76

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#48

South Korea

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Ranked in the World

#31

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#17

Spain

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Ranked in the World

#25

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#18

Sri Lanka

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Ranked in the World

#111

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#86

Sudan

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Ranked in the World

#161

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#153

Suriname

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Ranked in the World

#63

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#42

Sweden

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Ranked in the World

#9

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#1

Switzerland

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Ranked in the World

#1

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#7

Syria

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Ranked in the World

#164

System of Government

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One-party

Ranked in the World

#169

Taiwan

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Ranked in the World

#20

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#32

Tajikistan

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Ranked in the World

#152

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#165

Tanzania

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Ranked in the World

#113

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#98

Thailand

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Ranked in the World

#95

System of Government

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Military Junta

Ranked in the World

#125

The Bahamas

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Ranked in the World

#37

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

The Gambia

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Ranked in the World

#96

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#79

Togo

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Ranked in the World

#112

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#121

Trinidad and Tobago

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Ranked in the World

#59

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#39

Tunisia

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Ranked in the World

#116

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#73

Turkey

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Ranked in the World

#139

System of Government

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Parliamentary Republic

Ranked in the World

#143

Uganda

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Ranked in the World

#121

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#117

Ukraine

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Ranked in the World

#98

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#97

United Arab Emirates

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Ranked in the World

#130

System of Government

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Absolute Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#154

United Kingdom

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Ranked in the World

#14

System of Government

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Constitutional Monarchies

Ranked in the World

#19

United States of America

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Ranked in the World

#17

System of Government

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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

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Ranked in the World

#33

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#23

Venezuela

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Ranked in the World

#163

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#157

Vietnam

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Ranked in the World

#134

System of Government

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One-party

Ranked in the World

#137

Yemen

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Ranked in the World

#162

System of Government

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Semi-presidential

Ranked in the World

#171

Zambia

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Ranked in the World

#101

System of Government

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Presidential

Ranked in the World

#99

Zimbabwe

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Ranked in the World

#148

System of Government

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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.