Colombia
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
69 / 100
Free
Internet Freedom
64 / 100
Partly Free
Colombia is among the longest-standing democracies in Latin America, but one with a history of widespread violence and serious human rights abuses.
Research & Recommendations
Colombia
Free
69
100
| PR Political Rights | 31 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 38 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
70
100
Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60.
See the methodology.
Overview
Colombia is among the longest-standing democracies in Latin America, but one with a history of widespread violence and serious human rights abuses. Public institutions have demonstrated the capacity to check executive power, and the country’s main left-wing guerrilla group signed a peace accord in 2016. Nonetheless, Colombia faces enormous challenges in consolidating peace and guaranteeing political rights and civil liberties outside of major urban areas.
Freedom in the World 2026 Policy Recommendations
Strengthen democratic coordination and collective action in a contested global order
Democratic resilience will increasingly depend on stronger coordination among countries that share a commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and accountable governance.
Reimagine international democracy assistance to help reverse the global decline in freedom
International support for democratic institutions, civil society, and independent media has been associated with modest but meaningful improvements in democratic governance, and it is far less costly than the military outlays necessitated by rising authoritarian aggression.
Prioritize engagement with younger generations in the digital spaces where civic identity is now formed
Young people are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy—not because they reject its principles, but because they see institutions failing to deliver on them. Programmatic work should create clear pathways for meaningful political participation, from voting and policy engagement to community organizing and public leadership, so that young people can translate their expectations into agency.
Colombia
Partly Free
64
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 19 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 24 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 21 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
65
100
Partly Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Political Overview
Colombia is among the longest-standing democracies in Latin America, but one with a history of widespread violence and serious human rights abuses. Public institutions have demonstrated the capacity to check executive power, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country’s main left-wing guerrilla group, signed a peace accord with the government in 2016. Nonetheless, Colombia faces enormous challenges in consolidating peace and guaranteeing political rights and civil liberties outside of major urban areas.
Freedom on the Net 2026 Policy Recommendations
Undermine Authoritarian Internet Restrictions
Access to the internet is under threat as authoritarian powers continue to create barriers for people to freely express themselves online. Internet shutdowns, throttling, and platform blocking remain among the most common tools of digital repression. At the same time, digital technologies serve as a lifeline for people seeking to expose human rights violations to the outside world and hold dictators accountable.
Safeguard Privacy Online
Protecting privacy online is essential to safeguarding free expression in repressive contexts. Without strong privacy protections, journalists and human rights defenders may self-censor out of a fear of reprisal. Rapid advances in AI—and the growing threat of automated vulnerability exploitation—heighten these risks, leaving civil society organizations increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
69
/ 100
Free
Freedom on the Net Score
64
/ 100
Partly Free
Population: 51,870,000
Internet Facts
Status
Partly Free
Networks Restricted
No
Social Media Blocked
Yes
Websites Blocked
No
Pro-government Commentators
No
Users Arrested
No
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
May 29, 2022
Type of Election
Presidential
Internet Penetration
65.71%
Election Year
2022
Vulnerability Index
66
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
