Bernardo Arevalo supporters cheer after their presidential victory in Guatemala.

Expanding and Defending Freedom Around the World

A child is loaded into a truck taking people fleeing from Joda on the Sudanese border

Perspectives

Two Years of War in Sudan

Freedom House is founded on the core conviction that freedom flourishes in democratic nations where governments are accountable to their people.

The Effects of the US Foreign Aid Freeze on Freedom House

On January 20, 2025, the Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid froze all programs funded by US foreign assistance and ultimately led to the termination of more than 80 percent of Freedom House’s programs and activities in more than 140 countries. Despite these setbacks, we remain steadfast in the pursuit of our mission, and we are adapting to meet the moment.

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Explore Freedom in the World 2025

Students gather in Dhaka, Bangladesh to protest the police and the ruling party, the Awami League.

Read the Report

Violence and the repression of political opponents during elections, ongoing armed conflicts, and the spread of authoritarian practices contributed to the 19th year of declining freedom. In the year to come, all those who understand the value of political rights and civil liberties must work together in the defense of democracy.

Protesters with placards that say “Insurrection, Yoon Suk-yeol, Impeachment” gather outside the National Assembly. Demonstrators called for President Yoon Suk-yeol's resignation after he declared martial law.

Policy Recommendations

Democratic governments, donors, and the private sector must deepen their solidarity with front-line allies, hold dictators accountable for rights abuses and corruption, and invest in democratic institutions at home and abroad.

Explore the Map

Explore the interactive Freedom in the World 2025 map, where you can see country scores, Freedom Status, and trends.

Tracking Freedom Around the World

Explore Our Interactive Map

Latest Research

People at Dulles International Airport in the Unites States await the arrival of the 222 political prisoners who were expelled from Nicaragua on February 9, 2023.

No Way In or Out: Authoritarian Controls on the Freedom of Movement

Authoritarian governments around the world are restricting freedom of movement in retribution for political activism and dissent, subjecting people to a variety of repressive tactics, including travel bans, revocation of citizenship, confiscation of passports. Read our latest report, No Way In or Out: Authoritarian Controls on the Freedom of Movement.

Election Watch

Freedom House’s Election Watch project offers in-depth analysis ahead of key elections around the world, including those in Partly Free and Not Free countries. Each assessment informs technology companies, policymakers, and civil society organizations about the risks of human rights violations and digital interference ahead of an election.

Free Them All: The Fred Hiatt Program to Free Political Prisoners

Entrenched autocratic leaders are intensifying efforts to silence human rights defenders and democracy activists. Free Them All: The Fred Hiatt Program to Free Political Prisoners aims to document and study the cases of the thousands of activists who have been imprisoned or otherwise deprived of their liberty, and to advocate for their immediate release.