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Around the World

South Africa
A Protection of Information Bill being pursued by the African National Congress would threaten press freedom by allowing the government to classify broad categories of information in the “national interest.” Read more on South Africa at Freedom in the World 2010: South Africa

Somalia
Journalist Barkhad Awale Adan was killed in Mogadishu when he was caught in the crossfire between the government and the Islamist group Al-Shabaab. Growing violence in the city has reduced the ability of the media to function. Read more on Somalia at Freedom in the World 2010: Somalia

Uganda
The Constitutional Court scrapped the law on sedition, thus protecting the population’s basic right to freedom of speech and expression, including the right to criticize those in power. Read more on Uganda at Freedom in the World 2010: Uganda

Iran
Three judiciary officials have been suspended due to the mistreatment of detainees at a holding center following last year’s disputed presidential election. Read more on Iran at Freedom in the World 2010: Iran

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Freedom in the World

2006 Edition
Edition:

To view Freedom in the World reports, select a year from the pull down menu above. Note that each edition of Freedom in the World reflects developments that took place in the previous calendar year.

NEW: On January 12, 2010, Freedom House released the findings (political rights and civil liberties scores) for Freedom in the World 2010. The full survey, including the individual country reports, will be available in late spring 2010.

About the Survey

Freedom in the World, Freedom House’s flagship publication, is the standard-setting comparative assessment of global political rights and civil liberties. Published annually since 1972, the survey ratings and narrative reports on 193 countries and 15 related and disputed territories are used by policymakers, the media, international corporations, civic activists, and human rights defenders to monitor trends in democracy and track improvements and setbacks in freedom worldwide.  The Freedom in the World data and reports are available in their entirety on the Freedom House website.

Comparative and Historical Data

Please click here to access a range of comparative and historical Freedom in the World data, including charts displaying the status and ratings of countries and territories from 1972 to the present, as well as aggregate and subcategory scores, and information on electoral democracies.

Notable Reviews

"An essential source, Freedom in the World works from the assumption that freedom is a universal value, not reserved for the rich."

-Francis Fukuyama, Johns Hopkins University

"Freedom In the World is the Michelin Guide to democracy's development."

-Daniel Henninger, Wall Street Journal

"While there are many sources of economic data, good political data is hard to find. Freedom House's survey is an exception. For anyone concerned with the state of freedom, or simply with the state of the world, Freedom in the World is an indispensible guide."

-Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek

Additional Resources