Asia-Pacific
Countries & Territories: 43
3.9 billion people
44% free
Press:
5% free
Democratic Governance
Freedom of Association
Human Rights Defense

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia
Countries & Territories: 33
408 million people
28% free
Press:
15% free
Democratic Governance
Human Rights Defense
Rule of Law

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Middle East and North Africa
Countries & Territories: 20
392 million people
2% free
Press:
2% free
Freedom of Expression
Media Freedom
Women's Rights

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Sub-Saharan Africa
Countries & Territories: 50
882 million people
12% free
Press:
5% free
Elections
Human Rights Defense
Rule of Law

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Americas
Countries & Territories: 36
937 million people
71% free
Press:
39% free
Civil Society
Human Rights Defense
Rule of Law

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Western Europe
Countries & Territories: 26
487 million people
85% free
Press:
72% free
Democratic Governance
Elections
Human Rights Defense

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Release of "Freedom of the Press 2012" Findings

Freedom House released the findings of Freedom of the Press 2012, its annual press freedom survey, at a press conference held in front of the World Press Freedom map at the Newseum.

Freedom of the Press 2012: Breakthroughs and Pushback in the Middle East

Freedom House hosted a panel to discuss the findings of its 2012 press freedom survey at the National Press Club on May 3. See event photos on Facebook.

Release of "Freedom of the Press 2012" Findings
Freedom of the Press 2012: Breakthroughs and Pushback in the Middle East

News & Updates

Policy Briefs

Exercising U.S. Leadership: Democracy Funding in a Time of Global Change

May 15 2012 - 10:21am

The U.S. Congress should fully fund the Administration’s request for $56 billion to support international affairs for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, a 2% increase over FY 2012.[1]  This budget is one of the primary tools the United States uses to maintain leadership abroad, pursue its international priorities and promote American values.

As Americans display growing fatigue over costly military interventions abroad, the Obama Administration has appropriately placed greater emphasis on diplomacy and development to advance U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. In order to do so effectively, a robust foreign assistance budget is needed, along with carefully targeted use of available funds.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, U.S. Foreign Policy
Freedom Alert

Brazilian Truth Commission Begins Investigating Human Rights Abuses

May 17 2012 - 11:53am

Freedom House applauds Brazil’s launch of a national truth commission, which will investigate serious human rights violations committed during the period 1964 through 1988.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Americas
Freedom Alert

African Commission Criticizes Swaziland’s Human Rights Record

May 15 2012 - 11:30am

In a welcome move, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) has sharply criticized the human rights record of the government of Swaziland and has called on it to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly in accordance with their commitments under international law.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, Intergovernmental Bodies
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa
Freedom Alert

Freedom House Opposes Sale of Arms to Bahraini Government

May 14 2012 - 3:45pm

Freedom House opposes the Obama Administration’s decision to resume the sale of arms to government of Bahrain and calls on Congress to withhold approval on the transfer until the Bahraini government ends systematic rights abuses, allows unfettered access to media and international observers, and implements meaningful political reform.

Issues: 
Human Rights Defense, U.S. Foreign Policy
Regions: 
Middle East and North Africa

Latest Blog Post

The Pigs Are Flying in China
May 16, 2012

Earlier this month, Chinese authorities were forced to temporarily suspend trading of shares in the online unit of the People’s Daily newspaper, the official mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party. The price had soared so rapidly since the website’s April debut on the Shanghai Stock Exchange—giving it a greater market value than the New York Times—that it triggered regulatory rules aimed at halting speculative manipulation. This development is just the sort of absurd extreme that comes shortly before an economic bubble bursts.

Issues:
Civil Society, Internet Freedom, Media Freedom, U.S. Foreign Policy
Regions:
Asia-Pacific
View More Blog Posts
China Media Bulletin

China Media Bulletin: Issue No. 57

May 11 2012 - 4:03pm

Freedom House’s weekly update of press freedom and censorship news related to the People’s Republic of China

HIGHLIGHTS
* State media criticize U.S. role in Chen Guangcheng case
* Al-Jazeera reporter expelled, foreign journalists obstructed
* Propaganda official to head liberal media group
* Trading in People’s Daily Online shares halted after price surge
* Dismissing privacy risks, Evernote plans China data center

Issues: 
Internet Freedom, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific
Freedom Alert

Positive steps made on Secrecy Bill but reform still needed

May 11 2012 - 5:37pm

Freedom House is encouraged by the proposed changes to South Africa’s controversial Protection of State Information Bill. Amendments to the bill will provide better protections for journalists but do not go far enough to prevent retribution against journalists who report on official corruption. Moreover, the increasingly restrictive legal environment for independent media in South Africa remains a cause for serious concern.

Issues: 
Media Freedom, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa