Ranked: The World’s Most and Least Free Countries

[Hamartia Antidote]

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-where-people-have-the-most-and-least-freedom/

Which Countries Have the Most and Least Freedom?​

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Key Takeaways​

• Denmark ranks as the world’s freest country, scoring 93.7 out of 100.
• Nine of the world’s 10 freest countries are in Europe, with Australia the only exception.
• The U.S. fell 15 places to 37th globally, recording one of the world’s largest annual declines in freedom.

Political freedom has been declining globally for more than a decade, raising questions about the strength of democratic institutions and individual rights, even in advanced economies.

This visualization ranks 171 countries using the Atlantic Council’s 2026 Freedom Index, which measures the freedom to participate in politics, own property, and live under fair and predictable laws. Scores reflect conditions in 2025.

Where Freedom Is Strongest​

Luxembourg (91.8) and Sweden (91.5) follow Denmark at the top of the index. Just 3.6 points separate the world’s 10 freest countries, highlighting how closely clustered the leading nations are.

Several Asian economies have also moved up the rankings. South Korea climbed from 33rd to 25th, recovering some of the ground lost during its recent political crisis. Japan advanced from 18th to 14th.

Freedom also carries economic implications. According to Atlantic Council research, countries undergoing democratization see GDP per capita rise by 8.8% over 20 years, on average, relative to autocratic peers.

Where Freedom Is Most Restricted​

Afghanistan ranks last with a score of 19.0, followed by Turkmenistan (24.3). Many of the lowest-ranked countries face longstanding authoritarian rule, conflict, or fragile institutions.
China ranks 147th globally, alongside Guinea and DR Congo, despite having the world’s second-largest economy. Its freedom score fell from 42.9 in 2024 to 41.7 in 2025, highlighting the contrast between its economic influence and restrictions on individual freedoms.

Russia ranks 154th, with its freedom score falling from 47.3 in 2019 to 39.2 in 2025. The 8.1-point decline reflects growing restrictions on political opposition, independent media, and public dissent, particularly since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

America’s Eroding Freedoms​

The United States has a freedom score of 79.9, ranking behind Canada (19th), the UK (20th), and Japan (14th). Its decline from 22nd to 37th represents one of the largest annual drops in the index.

Other measures point to a longer-term trend. In 2025, America’s democracy score fell to its lowest level since 1965.

The U.S. decline illustrates how even established democracies can experience setbacks in political rights and institutional safeguards.

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[Maira La]

It's very very subjective though.. in Denmark you'd get arrested for possessing a firearm, whereas in Yemen you could sport a gun anywhere on the street and no one's gonna bat an eyelid.

In Sweden you MUST pay taxes that are almost half your income.. in Eritrea no one cares if you paid your taxes.

One could argue that these developed countries have stronger laws, better regulations and higher taxes to keep people safe and provide better life, but then again the ranking is about freedom and not about better governance.

 

[Vikramaditya1]

In Sweden you MUST pay taxes that are almost half your income.. in Eritrea no one cares if you paid your taxes.

But you can study from elementary school to achieve PhD at 0 Tuition fee.

in Denmark you'd get arrested for possessing a firearm,

What's the point of being armed in a country that's the safest in the world?

whereas in Yemen you could sport a gun anywhere on the street and no one's gonna bat an eyelid.

Obviously one of the most unsafe place in the world.

One could argue that these developed countries have stronger laws, better regulations and higher taxes to keep people safe and provide better life, but then again the ranking is about freedom and not about better governance

I don't think freedom means snort cocaine, chew khat and grab a gun. Ask that Yemeni if he wants to live in Denmark or Yemen for its "freedom".

 

[Viet]

But you can study from elementary school to achieve PhD at 0 Tuition fee.


What's the point of being armed in a country that's the safest in the world?

Obviously one of the most unsafe place in the world.

I don't think freedom means snort cocaine, chew khat and grab a gun. Ask that Yemeni if he wants to live in Denmark or Yemen for its "freedom".

I hope those freedom loving gun people in Yemen or elsewhere don’t come to Denmark. They will burn Copenhagen to the ground like we seeing now in France.
Freedom means nothing without laws and order. Uncontrolled immigration destroys countries. Marcon is helpless. Europe now pays the price. That’s a big warning for Japan, Korea, China and other.