Venezuela
Freedom at a Glance
Global Freedom
13 / 100
Not Free
Internet Freedom
26 / 100
Not Free
Venezuela’s democratic institutions have been deteriorating since 1999, but conditions have grown sharply worse in recent years. The authorities have closed off virtually all channels for political dissent, restricting civil liberties and prosecuting perceived opponents without regard for due process.
Research & Recommendations
Venezuela
Not Free
13
100
| PR Political Rights | 0 40 |
| CL Civil Liberties | 13 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
13
100
Not 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
Venezuela’s democratic institutions have been deteriorating since 1999, but conditions have grown sharply worse in recent years due to harsher government crackdowns on the opposition and the ruling party’s use of flawed elections to seize full control of state institutions. The authorities have closed off virtually all channels for political dissent, restricting civil liberties and prosecuting perceived opponents without regard for due process. Although the country’s economy has returned to growth after years of recession, a severe, politically driven humanitarian crisis continues to cause hardship and stimulate mass emigration.
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.
Venezuela
Not Free
26
100
| A Obstacles to Access | 9 25 |
| B Limits on Content | 9 35 |
| C Violations of User Rights | 8 40 |
Last Year's Score & Status
26
100
Not Free
Scores are based on a scale of 0 (least free) to 100 (most free).
See the methodology and report acknowledgements.
Overview
Internet freedom remained restricted in Venezuela during the coverage period. While President Nicolás Maduro, who had overseen a campaign of severe repression since 2013, was captured by US special forces in January 2026, the interim government that succeeded him retained tight control over online expression and access to online information. Widespread and prolonged blocking of news sites, social media and communications platforms, and anticensorship tools continued, although several long-blocked news websites were made accessible in September 2026 after the coverage period. The manipulation of online content, arrests and imprisonment for social media posts, and mass digital surveillance also continued to be pervasive.
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.
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
Policy & Advocacy
Country Facts
Basic Facts
Freedom in the World Score
13
/ 100
Not Free
Freedom on the Net Score
26
/ 100
Not Free
Population: 28,300,000
Election Facts
Status
Past Election
Date of Election
July 28, 2024
Type of Election
Presidential
Internet Penetration
61.60%
Election Year
2024
Vulnerability Index
18
/ 100
Transnational Repression
Status
Not Tracked
