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
395 million people
2% free
Press:
0% free
Freedom of Expression
Media Freedom
Women's Rights

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Sub-Saharan Africa
Countries & Territories: 50
901 million people
13% free
Press:
3% free
Elections
Human Rights Defense
Rule of Law

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Americas
Countries & Territories: 36
943 million people
71% free
Press:
38% free
Civil Society
Human Rights Defense
Rule of Law

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

Western Europe
Countries & Territories: 26
489 million people
85% free
Press:
70% free
Democratic Governance
Elections
Human Rights Defense

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

U.S. Government Surveillance Programs Spark Debate over Privacy and Security

The U.S. government’s access to Verizon customers’ phone records and the internet data collection operation code-named PRISM have sparked debate over the tradeoffs between national security and citizens' privacy rights.

American NGOs Under Attack in Morsi’s Egypt

In testimony to the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Freedom House Director of MENA programs Charles Dunne, one of 43 NGO employees unjustly convicted last week by an Egyptian court, called for the U.S. government to conduct a top-to-bottom review of its...

US and European Leaders Condemn Egyptian NGO Trial Verdict

Freedom House thanks U.S. and European democratic leaders for their support in response to the Egyptian authorities sentencing 43 NGO workers to prison on Tuesday, including six currently with Freedom House and a former staff member....

Freedom House Grantee Holds First-Ever Internet Freedom Forum in Burma

Last weekend, Freedom House grantee Myanmar ICT for Development Organization (MIDO) hosted the first-ever Internet Freedom Forum in Burma.

What if al-Assad prevails?

Let’s imagine a world in which Bashar al-Assad wins a military victory, remains in power, and defies the world to deal with him. Because, unfortunately, it appears to be an all too plausible scenario. Read Charles Dunne's...

Press Freedom Sharply Declines in Latin America

Honduras is the third worst country for press freedom in Latin America, only rated higher than Venezuela and Cuba, according to the findings of Freedom of the Press 2013. Freedom House and the Metropolitan University of Honduras in Tegucigalpa hosted an event on May 22 to present the...

New Report Finds Only 1 in 6 People Have Access to a Free Press

Press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade, according to Freedom of the Press 2013, Freedom House's annual assessment of media independence worldwide.

We're Now Tweeting in Spanish: @FHespanol

Freedom House is proud to announce the launch a Spanish-language Twitter account: @FHespanol (www.twitter.com/fhespanol) and we look forward to sharing our insights with Latin American audiences.

'No Más!' Campaign


Today, more than 2 billion people live under oppressive rule. We can change the world when we speak up.
What will you say  'No Más'  to?

U.S. Government Surveillance Programs Spark Debate over Privacy and Security
American NGOs Under Attack in Morsi’s Egypt
US and European Leaders Condemn Egyptian NGO Trial Verdict
Freedom House Grantee Holds First-Ever Internet Freedom Forum in Burma
What if al-Assad prevails?
Press Freedom Sharply Declines in Latin America
New Report Finds Only 1 in 6 People Have Access to a Free Press
We're Now Tweeting in Spanish: @FHespanol
'No Más!' Campaign

News & Updates

Press Release

Credibility of Upcoming Elections Further Damaged in Zimbabwe

Jun 14 2013 - 11:26am

President Mugabe’s unilateral proclamation of an election date is a clear violation of the terms of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and Zimbabwe’s constitution and threatens to undermine the democratic rights of the country’s citizens. Freedom House calls on all members of Zimbabwe’s government to ensure that the necessary electoral reforms are implemented before elections take place. Furthermore, Freedom House urges the member nations of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to uphold their responsibility as the guarantor of the GPA to ensure the credibility of these important elections.

Issues: 
Democratic Governance, Elections
Regions: 
Sub-Saharan Africa
Freedom Alert

Closure of Greek Public Broadcaster Further Stifles Media Freedom

Jun 13 2013 - 10:20am

The Greek government’s sudden decision to shut down the state broadcaster, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), is the most serious in a series of worrying developments for media freedom in the country. The move deals another devastating blow to the ability of the media to provide citizens with information from a variety of viewpoints in a country that is already suffering due to an unprecedented economic crisis.

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Western Europe
Press Release

Freedom House Denounces Escalating Crackdown in Turkey

Jun 11 2013 - 5:33pm

As antigovernment protests in Turkey go into their second week, Freedom House is alarmed that the government has continued to escalate the crisis through inflammatory rhetoric and use of riot police against protesters, and urges the government of Turkey to deescalate a dangerous situation by respecting freedom of assembly, refraining from the use of force, and engaging with protesters in Istanbul, Ankara, and other cities across the country.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights Defense, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Western Europe

Latest Blog Post

Russia Banishes LGBT People to ‘Fields and Forests’
Matthew Schaaf
June 14, 2013

During a recent visit to the Netherlands, Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed that “sexual minority rights are not violated in Russia,” using the term sexual minorities to refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Putin’s words contradict his own actions and the policies of his administration. The Russian government encourages violent attacks on LGBT people, enforces a nearly universal de facto ban on efforts by LGBT activists to hold events in public spaces, and restricts the basic rights of LGBT people and their advocates by outlawing the so-called propaganda of homosexuality and “nontraditional sexual relations.”

Issues:
Civil Society, Freedom of Association, Human Rights Defense, LGBTI Rights, Rule of Law
Regions:
Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia
View More Blog Posts
China Media Bulletin

China Media Bulletin: Issue No. 88

Jun 14 2013 - 11:23pm

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

HIGHLIGHTS
* Party outlets reject constitutionalism amid ideological clampdown
* Online censors seen testing new tactics before Tiananmen anniversary
* Officials’ evolving responses to pollution protests play out online and off
* Little progress on cybersecurity, human rights at Obama-Xi summit
* Chinese diplomats harass French journalist, TV station after Tibet report
 

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression, Internet Freedom, Media Freedom
Regions: 
Asia-Pacific
Press Release

Sweeping U.S. Surveillance Program Raises Privacy Concerns

Jun 6 2013 - 3:54pm

The revelation that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Security Agency have been carrying out a secret surveillance program of American cell phone calls raises serious concerns and important questions about individual privacy in a digital age.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Freedom of Expression, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Americas

Research & Reports

Explore Our Signature Reports

Just Released...

Countries We're Watching

Iran