Georgia
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
51 / 100
Partly Free
Internet Freedom
68 / 100
Partly Free
Georgia holds regular competitive elections and hosts lively media and civil society sectors. However, oligarchic influence affects the country’s political affairs, and opposition figures have faced physical attacks. Corruption in government persists and media freedom is undermined by intimidation and pressure against journalists.
NOTE: The numerical scores and status listed above do not reflect conditions in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are examined in separate reports. Freedom in the World reports assess the level of political rights and civil liberties in a given geographical area, regardless of whether they are affected by the state, nonstate actors, or foreign powers. Disputed territories are sometimes assessed separately if they meet certain criteria, including boundaries that are sufficiently stable to allow year-on-year comparisons. For more information, see the report methodology and FAQ.
Research & Recommendations
Georgia
Partly Free
51
100
| PR Political Rights | 19 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 32 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
55
100
Partly 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
Georgia holds regular elections and hosts lively media and civil society sectors. However, oligarchic influence affects the country’s political affairs, and opposition figures have faced violence and imprisonment. Corruption in government persists, and violence and intimidation of journalists undermines media freedom. Executive and legislative interference in the courts remains a substantial problem, as does lack of transparency and professionalism surrounding judicial proceedings. These negative patterns have all grown worse in recent years.
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.
Georgia
Partly Free
68
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 19 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 25 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 24 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
70
100
Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Internet freedom in Georgia declined during the coverage period, resulting in the country’s status change from Free to Partly Free. Although the country’s internet penetration rate improved, authorities extended its crackdown on online and offline activism related to protests over the ruling Georgia Dream (GD) party’s decision not to pursue integration talks with the European Union. Online journalists and social media users critical of the GD increasingly faced retaliation in the form of fines, raids, summons, and investigations.
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.
Georgia
Transitional or Hybrid Regime
34
100
| DEMOCRACY-PERCENTAGE Democracy Percentage | 33.93 100 |
| DEMOCRACY-SCORE Democracy Score | 3.04 7 |
Last Year's Democracy Percentage & Status
34
100
Transitional or Hybrid Regime
The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 representing the highest level of democratic progress and 1 the lowest. The Democracy Score is an average of ratings for the categories tracked in a given year. The Democracy Percentage, introduced in 2020, is a translation of the Democracy Score to the 0-100 scale, where 0 equals least democratic and 100 equals most democratic.
See the methodology.
Executive Summary
Political polarization and party-led radicalization continued to shape Georgian politics in 2023. The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party faced a choice between expanding its grip on power and advancing necessary reforms to achieve EU candidate status. Most opposition parties pushed their narrow political agendas and therefore failed to persuade the politically disenfranchised electorate to vote for them. Public opinion surveys showed that much of the electorate remained undecided on which party they would vote for, showcasing the failure of most political parties to attract new supporters. Polarization and partisanship has also pervaded the media landscape, including a number of key media outlets that have been accused of biased coverage. This divisiveness has also created a hostile environment for the media. Many journalists and media professionals have faced intimidation, violence, and harassment.
Nations in Transit 2024 Policy Recommendations
Ensure that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is soundly defeated.
The future of European democracy and security is now inextricably linked to the fate of Ukraine. European Union (EU) and NATO member states must not only invest far more—and more efficiently—in their collective defense, but also provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs to roll back Russian advances and build a durable democracy of its own.
Support democratic renewal and reform.
In addition to defending the international order from emboldened autocrats, democratic governments must attend to democratic renewal within Europe, particularly among nascent democracies.
Provide consistent messaging and support to Europe’s aspiring democracies.
Military aggression from autocracies in the region has underscored the dangers of exclusion from democracy-based organizations like the EU and NATO, galvanizing the political will of policymakers in aspiring member states and generating further public pressure to undertake long-sought democratic reforms.
Election Watch for the Digital Age equips technology companies, civil society organizations, and policymakers with a data-driven resource for evaluating the human rights impact of internet platforms on a country’s electoral process.
Our Election Vulnerability Index consists of key election-related indicators regarding a country’s political rights and internet freedom. Derived from our annual Freedom in the World and Freedom on the Net reports, the data and accompanying analysis allows users to identify specific areas of concern ahead of a country’s election, including online influence operations, internet shutdowns, or intercommunal tensions fanned by social media.
News and Updates
Featured
Freedom House Perspectives
News Releases & Media Coverage
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
51
/ 100
Partly Free
Freedom on the Net Score
68
/ 100
Partly Free
Nations in Transit Score
34
/ 100
Transitional or Hybrid Regime
Population: 3,713,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
October 26, 2024
Type of Election
Parliamentary
Internet Penetration
78.70%
Election Year
2024
Vulnerability Index
65
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
