Taiwan
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
93 / 100
Free
Internet Freedom
78 / 100
Free
Taiwan’s vibrant and competitive democratic system has allowed for regular peaceful transfers of power since 2000, and protections for civil liberties are generally robust. Ongoing concerns include inadequate safeguards against the exploitation of migrant workers and the Chinese government’s efforts to influence policymaking, media, and the democratic infrastructure.
Research & Recommendations
Taiwan
Free
93
100
| PR Political Rights | 38 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 55 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
94
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
Taiwan’s vibrant and competitive democratic system has allowed for regular peaceful transfers of power since 2000, and protections for civil liberties are generally robust. Ongoing concerns include increasing political polarization, inadequate safeguards against the exploitation of migrant workers, and the Chinese government’s efforts to influence policymaking, media, and the democratic infrastructure.
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.
Taiwan
Free
78
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 24 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 28 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 26 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
79
100
Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Taiwan remained one of the freest online environments in Asia, though concerns about overbroad and nontransparent website blocking persisted. The information landscape was characterized by affordable internet access and diverse content, and Taiwanese groups continued to take innovative action to counter the impact of influence operations originating in China.
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.
The China Media Bulletin provides unique insight on censorship, disinformation, media freedom, and internet freedom issues related to the People's Republic of China, drawing on both English and Chinese-language sources.
Sign up to receive the China Media Bulletin
The China Media Bulletin is a monthly email newsletter that provides unique insight on censorship, disinformation, media freedom, and internet freedom issues related to the People's Republic of China, drawing on both English and Chinese-language sources.
Despite increasingly repressive rule under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), dissent in China occurs regularly and is geographically widespread. The China Dissent Monitor features interactive research on collective action in public spaces and cases of online dissent, filling a critical information gap in a country with severe media restrictions and risks associated with exposing dissent.
News and Updates
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
93
/ 100
Free
Freedom on the Net Score
78
/ 100
Free
Population: 23,570,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
January 13, 2024
Type of Election
Presidential
Internet Penetration
90.70%
Election Year
2024
Vulnerability Index
87
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
