






















 TABL E OF CO NTENTS

Acknowledgments .....................................................................................................................................................................1

Foreword .................................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................................. 9

On Our Fourth Annual Report .................................................................................................................................................13

..........................................................................................................................................14

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


              
    
           
           
     
        
 
             
 
 
 
        
        
 
 
         
 
 
    
        
         
        
       

 FOREWORD

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      
 
 

       
 
         
 
     

 
 
     
               
 
 
               
 

          
       
       
                

        
 
      
              
       
        
 

        
                  
       

 
 
          
 

 
        
       
         
        
 
      

 


        
        
        
        
 
         
       
       
 
    

 
            
      
  
       
          

  
      

 
  

  
         
        
   

        
  

          
       
          

      
          
                 
      
         
          
 
 
        
         
        
      
 
 
               
          
 
         
           

 
          
       
      
 
         
         
           
      
       
       

 REASONS FOR HOPE?
             
 
         
 
 
          
 
      
     
 
          
 
 
                  
                 
        
 
 
         

THE ARGUMENT FOR FREEDOM
          

     
  
        
 
 
        
            
            
 
 
  
 
 
      
          
          
 
                 
 
        





 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 


 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 




 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY


             
               
               
     
 
 
 
 
        
         
         
 
 
         

 
 

LESS FREEDOM MORE FREEDOM NO DATA

      
       
      
             
            
       
             

  
       
       
     
           
      
     
       
      
       
        
 
            
 


The Human Freedom Index

Freedom Freedom
Rank Change Personal Economic Human ScoreChange
Rank (2015–16) Country Freedom Freedom Freedom (2015–16)

1 0 9.28 8.49 8.89

2  9.19 8.39 8.79
3 8.58 8.97 8.78
4 9.18 7.98 8.58
5 9.15 7.98 8.57
6 9.40 7.71 8.55
6 Denmark 9.33 7.77 8.55 0.00
8 8.94 8.07 8.50
8 9.00 8.00 8.50
10 9.29 7.65 8.47
10 0 9.34 7.60 8.47
10 9.04 7.89 8.47
13 0 Germany 9.24 7.69 8.46
14 9.01 7.86 8.44
15 9.26 7.60 8.43
16 9.25 7.58 8.41
17 8.75 8.03 8.39
17 9.33 7.44 8.39
19 8.98 7.73 8.35
20 0 Lithuania 8.82 7.86 8.34
21 9.03 7.56 8.29
The Human Freedom Index Continued
Freedom Freedom
Rank Change Personal Economic Human ScoreChange
Rank (2015–16) Country Freedom Freedom Freedom (2015–16)

22 0 9.04 7.51 8.28

23 0 Latvia 8.85 7.64 8.25
24 Romania 8.65 7.69 8.17
25 0 7.48 8.84 8.16
25 Spain 8.76 7.56 8.16
27 8.99 7.32 8.15
27 0 9.08 7.22 8.15
27 8.77 7.53 8.15
30 8.51 7.71 8.11
31 0 Japan 8.73 7.47 8.10
32 France 8.77 7.25 8.01 0.00
32 0 Chile 8.22 7.80 8.01
34 0 Italy 8.69 7.27 7.98
35 Slovenia 8.82 7.05 7.94
36 8.54 7.30 7.92 0.00
37 7.72 8.01 7.86
37 8.17 7.55 7.86
39 8.35 7.27 7.81
40 7.58 8.02 7.80
41 0 8.16 7.41 7.78
42 8.26 7.22 7.74
43 8.30 7.16 7.73
44 Croatia 8.46 6.96 7.71
45 0 8.00 7.40 7.70
46 Panama 7.72 7.58 7.65
47 Peru 7.72 7.43 7.58
48 7.60 7.54 7.57
49 7.54 7.49 7.52
50 7.45 7.34 7.40
51 7.85 6.85 7.35
52 7.63 7.04 7.34
53 7.99 6.68 7.33
54 7.37 7.23 7.30
55 Fiji 7.79 6.79 7.29
56 7.41 7.13 7.27
57 Armenia 6.91 7.57 7.24
57 Ghana 7.87 6.60 7.24
59 7.86 6.60 7.23
60 Jamaica 7.27 7.18 7.22
61 7.24 7.17 7.20
61 Greece 7.95 6.46 7.20
63 7.70 6.65 7.17
64 6.88 7.43 7.15
64 7.43 6.86 7.15
66 Guatemala 6.55 7.64 7.09
67 Suriname 7.79 6.36 7.07
67 7.71 6.43 7.07
69 6.94 7.18 7.06
70 6.92 7.15 7.03
71 6.47 7.48 6.97
72 6.97 6.95 6.96
73 6.50 7.34 6.92
The Human Freedom Index Continued
Freedom Freedom
Rank Change Personal Economic Human ScoreChange
Rank (2015–16) Country Freedom Freedom Freedom (2015–16)

74 7.39 6.40 6.90

75 6.43 7.27 6.85
75 7.06 6.64 6.85
75 6.24 7.46 6.85
75 6.14 7.56 6.85
75 0 6.80 6.90 6.85
75 Haiti 7.18 6.51 6.85
81 6.92 6.73 6.83
82 6.45 7.20 6.82
83 6.60 7.02 6.81
83 0 7.55 6.06 6.81
85 6.38 7.16 6.77
85 6.13 7.41 6.77
87 7.02 6.50 6.76
88 7.46 6.05 6.75
88 7.25 6.25 6.75
90 6.38 7.11 6.74
90 7.50 5.98 6.74
92 6.39 7.06 6.72
92 Nepal 6.91 6.53 6.72 0.00
92 0 7.21 6.23 6.72
95 6.43 6.99 6.71
96 Guyana 7.04 6.31 6.68
97 7.45 5.86 6.65
98 6.40 6.85 6.62 0.00
99 6.25 6.93 6.59
100 6.69 6.38 6.53
100 7.06 6.00 6.53
102 0 6.13 6.92 6.52
103 6.84 6.19 6.51
103 Qatar 5.53 7.49 6.51 0.00
105 6.77 6.22 6.50 0.00
106 6.40 6.56 6.48
107 0 8.10 4.84 6.47
107 6.09 6.84 6.47
109 6.58 6.29 6.43
110 6.20 6.63 6.41
110 5.90 6.92 6.41
112 Sierra Leone 7.04 5.75 6.40
113 5.86 6.91 6.39
114 6.19 6.55 6.37
115 0 5.30 7.34 6.32
116 6.01 6.61 6.31
117 0 5.07 7.50 6.29
118 Ukraine 6.59 5.98 6.28
119 6.73 5.82 6.27
119 5.71 6.83 6.27
119 Sri Lanka 6.04 6.49 6.27
122 6.02 6.46 6.24
123 6.67 5.75 6.21
124 Vietnam 5.97 6.42 6.19
124 5.63 6.75 6.19
The Human Freedom Index Continued
Freedom Freedom
Rank Change Personal Economic Human ScoreChange
Rank (2015–16) Country Freedom Freedom Freedom (2015–16)

124 5.65 6.72 6.19

127 5.99 6.37 6.18
128 N/A 6.06 6.23 6.14 N/A
129 Oman 5.51 6.76 6.13
130 5.68 6.49 6.08
130 6.66 5.50 6.08
132 5.82 6.32 6.07
133 6.86 5.25 6.05
134 6.06 5.80 5.93
135 China 5.35 6.46 5.91
136 6.78 5.02 5.90
137 5.71 6.01 5.86
138 5.30 6.30 5.80
138 0 4.66 6.93 5.80
140 5.32 6.00 5.66
141 Guinea 5.37 5.93 5.65 0.00
142 6.11 5.17 5.64
143 5.17 6.06 5.62
144 5.32 5.84 5.58
144 0 Cameroon 5.33 5.82 5.58
146 4.44 6.52 5.48
147 5.51 5.44 5.47
147 0 4.99 5.96 5.47
149 5.46 5.42 5.44
150 Ethiopia 5.06 5.73 5.40
151 4.95 5.67 5.31
152 5.47 5.11 5.29
153 Iran 4.53 6.03 5.28
154 4.41 5.92 5.17
155 5.28 4.99 5.14
156 3.89 5.72 4.81 0.00
157 N/A 4.25 5.36 4.80 N/A
158 3.88 4.74 4.31
159 N/A 3.12 5.40 4.26 N/A
160 2.17 6.34 4.25
161 5.52 2.88 4.20
162 Syria 2.51 5.02 3.77

ON OUR FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT 

       
 
        
       
      
       
        
 

  
         
 
The contest
      
between  
liberty  
and power  
      
has been         
ongoing for  
millennia.         

            
     
        
 
               
       
      
 
 
  
            
             
       
          
       
        
     
          
          
      
     
       
      
DEFINING AND MEASURING       
FREEDOM       
 
 
      
      
       
     
 

             
 

 
 
Freedom in
        
         our usage is
       a social
        concept that
       
      
recognizes
          the dignity of
  individuals.
      
            
      

      
        
 
    
    
 
            
       
 
       
 
               
  
 
        
      
              
  
   
     
 
         
 
       
        
 
 
      
    
 
 
             
 
         
       
Economic       
 
freedom  
is not just                
inherently         
valuable,         
 
it also            
empowers         
individuals        
     
to exercise        
other  
freedoms.  
         

             
 
    
       
           
       
            
 
       
 

      
        

        
              
              
       
 
 
 
        
  
       
      
        


              
     
 
Table 1.

PERSONAL FREEDOM ECONOMIC FREEDOM

1. LEGAL PROTECTION AND SECURITY A. Size of Government
A. Rule of Law
i. Procedural Justice
ii. Civil Justice
iii. Criminal Justice

B. Security and Safety

i. Homicide
B. Legal System and Property Rights
a. Disappearances

iii. Women’s Security and Safety vi. Legal Enforcement of Contracts

ix. Business Costs of Crime

- Widows
C. Sound Money

2. SPECIFIC PERSONAL FREEDOMS

A. Movement

D. Freedom to Trade Internationally

B. Religion

C. Association, Assembly, and Civil Society

i. Association
ii. Assembly

b. Capital Controls

and Cultural Organizations

E. Regulation
D. Expression and Information
i. Press Killed
ii. Press Jailed b. Private-Sector Credit

v. Access to Cable/Satellite

c. Centralized Collective Bargaining

E. Identity and Relationships

f. Conscription

b. After Divorce b. Bureaucracy Costs

c. Starting a Business

iv. Divorce




              
Without 

      

security or      
the rule            
of law, 
    
      
      
liberty is        
degraded
or even  
meaning-  
less.      
 
 
 

 WHAT THE INDEX MEASURES
         
       
               
        
       
         
             
              
      
        
            
     
 
 

 
        
           

             
        
 
 
        
 Rule of Law
        
    
      
 
           
      
               
      
The rule of law
       
       is an essential
       condition of
  freedom that
 

protects
  the
 individual
 
from coercion
     
              by others.
  
 
 

 
              
        
 
  
              
              
      
       
      
        


      Security and Safety

 
       
      
      
       
         
 
       


 
     
        
       
      
            
      
              
Governments  
that restrict       
      
people’s       
movement         
greatly limit        
     
the scope
 
of overall          
liberty.  
     
         
    

 Movement
        
          
          
 
             
                

     

    
 


 Religion
      
 
 
 


              
      
      
 
 

         
      
         


     
            
        
                 One of
  the most

Association, Assembly, and Civil Society       personal
       decisions
      individuals
             
         can make
     regards their
        sexual and
        gender
      

identity.
    Identity and Relationships
     
     
    
 
      
Expression and Information 
       
 
 
 
       
 
 
   
              
          

       
          
            
        
      
 
             
        
       
           
 
 
      
 Economic Freedom Measures
        

 
 

      

       
       
     
 
 
 

 

 FINDINGS
            
       
        
     


Table 2.

Personal PF Economic EF Human HF

Freedom Rank Freedom Rank Freedom Rank

7.60 57 7.54 34 7.57 48

5.28 147 4.99 159 5.14 155
6.11 117 5.17 155 5.64 142
8.10 42 4.84 160 6.47 107
Armenia 6.91 84 7.57 29 7.24 57
9.18 11 7.98 10 8.58 4
9.25 8 7.58 27 8.41 16
5.68 131 6.49 106 6.08 130
7.45 64 7.34 49 7.40 50
6.14 114 7.56 30 6.85 75
5.30 146 6.30 120 5.80 138
7.71 54 6.43 111 7.07 67
6.06 120 6.23 123 6.14 128
8.99 19 7.32 52 8.15 27
7.43 66 6.86 83 7.15 64
7.50 61 5.98 134 6.74 90
6.60 96 7.02 73 6.81 83
7.21 73 6.23 123 6.72 92
7.86 47 6.60 98 7.23 59
6.88 86 7.43 44 7.15 64
6.67 94 5.75 144 6.21 123
4.66 153 6.93 77 5.80 138
8.16 41 7.41 46 7.78 41
7.46 63 6.05 129 6.75 88
4.41 156 5.92 138 5.17 154
Table 2 Continued
Personal PF Economic EF Human HF
Freedom Rank Freedom Rank Freedom Rank

7.24 72 7.17 64 7.20 61

Cameroon 5.33 142 5.82 141 5.58 144
9.15 12 7.98 10 8.57 5
7.99 44 6.68 93 7.33 53
5.47 138 5.11 156 5.29 152
5.51 136 5.44 150 5.47 147
Chile 8.22 39 7.80 15 8.01 32
China 5.35 141 6.46 108 5.91 135
7.02 79 6.50 105 6.76 87
4.95 152 5.67 148 5.31 151
6.78 90 5.02 157 5.90 136
8.17 40 7.55 33 7.86 37
Cô 7.06 75 6.00 132 6.53 100
Croatia 8.46 35 6.96 75 7.71 44
8.51 34 7.71 18 8.11 30
9.03 16 7.56 30 8.29 21
Denmark 9.33 4 7.77 16 8.55 6
6.94 81 7.18 62 7.06 69
7.55 59 6.06 127 6.81 83
3.89 158 5.72 147 4.81 156
6.92 83 7.15 67 7.03 70
9.01 17 7.86 13 8.44 14
Ethiopia 5.06 150 5.73 146 5.40 150
Fiji 7.79 49 6.79 88 7.29 55
9.29 5 7.65 22 8.47 10
France 8.77 25 7.25 57 8.01 32
5.32 144 5.84 140 5.58 144
5.30 145 7.34 49 6.32 115
7.58 58 8.02 7 7.80 40
Germany 9.24 9 7.69 20 8.46 13
Ghana 7.87 46 6.60 98 7.24 57
Greece 7.95 45 6.46 108 7.20 61
Guatemala 6.55 99 7.64 23 7.09 66
Guinea 5.37 140 5.93 137 5.65 141
6.86 87 5.25 154 6.05 133
Guyana 7.04 78 6.31 119 6.68 96
Haiti 7.18 74 6.51 104 6.85 75
6.39 107 7.06 70 6.72 92
8.58 32 8.97 1 8.78 3
8.26 38 7.22 59 7.74 42
9.08 13 7.22 59 8.15 27
6.20 112 6.63 96 6.41 110
6.38 108 7.16 65 6.77 85
Iran 4.53 154 6.03 130 5.28 153
3.12 160 5.40 152 4.26 159
8.94 21 8.07 5 8.50 8
7.54 60 7.49 38 7.52 49
Italy 8.69 30 7.27 54 7.98 34
Jamaica 7.27 70 7.18 62 7.22 60
Japan 8.73 29 7.47 41 8.10 31
6.24 111 7.46 42 6.85 75
6.38 109 7.11 69 6.74 90
6.45 102 7.20 61 6.82 82
Table 2 Continued
Personal PF Economic EF Human HF
Freedom Rank Freedom Rank Freedom Rank

8.77 26 7.53 35 8.15 27

5.63 133 6.75 90 6.19 124
6.25 110 6.93 77 6.59 99
5.86 127 6.91 81 6.39 113
Latvia 8.85 22 7.64 23 8.25 23
6.43 104 6.99 74 6.71 95
6.69 93 6.38 114 6.53 100
6.40 105 6.56 100 6.48 106
3.88 159 4.74 161 4.31 158
Lithuania 8.82 24 7.86 13 8.34 20
9.26 7 7.60 25 8.43 15
7.41 67 7.13 68 7.27 56
6.84 88 6.19 126 6.51 103
7.45 65 5.86 139 6.65 97
5.90 126 6.92 79 6.41 110
6.06 119 5.80 143 5.93 134
8.98 20 7.73 17 8.35 19
4.99 151 5.96 136 5.47 147
7.72 52 8.01 8 7.86 37
6.80 89 6.90 82 6.85 75
7.06 76 6.64 95 6.85 75
8.00 43 7.40 48 7.70 45
7.63 56 7.04 72 7.34 52
5.99 124 6.37 115 6.18 127
6.66 95 5.50 149 6.08 130
5.46 139 5.42 151 5.44 149
7.39 68 6.40 113 6.90 74
Nepal 6.91 85 6.53 102 6.72 92
9.40 1 7.71 18 8.55 6
9.28 6 8.49 3 8.89 1
6.43 103 7.27 54 6.85 75
5.71 129 6.01 131 5.86 137
5.82 128 6.32 118 6.07 132
9.34 2 7.60 25 8.47 10
Oman 5.51 137 6.76 89 6.13 129
5.32 143 6.00 132 5.66 140
Panama 7.72 53 7.58 27 7.65 46
7.25 71 6.25 122 6.75 88
6.97 80 6.95 76 6.96 72
Peru 7.72 51 7.43 44 7.58 47
6.50 100 7.34 49 6.92 73
8.35 36 7.27 54 7.81 39
9.04 14 7.51 36 8.28 22
Qatar 5.53 134 7.49 38 6.51 103
Romania 8.65 31 7.69 20 8.17 24
5.71 130 6.83 87 6.27 119
6.47 101 7.48 40 6.97 71
4.44 155 6.52 103 5.48 146
6.77 91 6.22 125 6.50 105
7.85 48 6.85 84 7.35 51
7.37 69 7.23 58 7.30 54
Sierra Leone 7.04 77 5.75 144 6.40 112
7.48 62 8.84 2 8.16 25
Table 2 Continued
Personal PF Economic EF Human HF
Freedom Rank Freedom Rank Freedom Rank

8.54 33 7.30 53 7.92 36

Slovenia 8.82 23 7.05 71 7.94 35
7.70 55 6.65 94 7.17 63
Spain 8.76 27 7.56 30 8.16 25
Sri Lanka 6.04 121 6.49 106 6.27 119
4.25 157 5.36 153 4.80 157
Suriname 7.79 50 6.36 116 7.07 67
6.02 122 6.46 108 6.24 122
9.33 3 7.44 43 8.39 17
9.19 10 8.39 4 8.79 2
Syria 2.51 161 5.02 157 3.77 162
9.04 15 7.89 12 8.47 10
5.65 132 6.72 92 6.19 124
6.13 116 6.92 79 6.52 102
6.40 106 6.85 84 6.62 98
6.19 113 6.55 101 6.37 114
6.73 92 5.82 141 6.27 119
6.92 82 6.73 91 6.83 81
6.58 98 6.29 121 6.43 109
6.09 118 6.84 86 6.47 107
6.13 115 7.41 46 6.77 85
Ukraine 6.59 97 5.98 134 6.28 118
5.07 149 7.50 37 6.29 117
9.00 18 8.00 9 8.50 8
8.75 28 8.03 6 8.39 17
8.30 37 7.16 65 7.73 43
5.52 135 2.88 162 4.20 161
Vietnam 5.97 125 6.42 112 6.19 124
2.17 162 6.34 117 4.25 160
6.01 123 6.61 97 6.31 116
5.17 148 6.06 127 5.62 143

       

       
           
     
            
 
 

Figure 1.

TOP COUNTRIES BOTTOM COUNTRIES

1. New Zealand 8.89 155. Libya 4.31
2. Switzerland 8.79 156. Iraq 4.26
3. Hong Kong 8.78 157. Yemen, Rep. of 4.25
4. Australia 8.58 158. Venezuela 4.20
5. Canada 8.57 159. Syria 3.77
  Figure 3.
Some 15 
percent of      
       
the world’s         0.44
Ukraine
population 
0.34
       Iran
lives in the        
Timor-Leste 0.26
top quartile       
of nations in         Belize 0.19

the index.  Niger 0.19

    
       0.18 Poland
 0.18 Cape Verde

      0.19 Turkey
 0.23 Suriname

 0.24 Seychelles

 
     
 
          
        
      
              
      


       

      
        
      
Figure 2. 


HUMAN 
FREEDOM      
      
ECONOMIC
FREEDOM

PERSONAL 
FREEDOM        
    
        
     
 
Figure 4.
Religion,
10
Movement,
Singapore
Hong Kong
and Rule of
New Zealand
Mauritius USA
Law saw the
8
UAE largest
decreases
ECONOMIC FREEDOM

Brunei Darussalam Russia

Yemen, Rep.
Croatia
in freedom
6 since
Sudan 2008.
Syria Central Afr. Rep. Argentina
Libya
4

Venezuela

2
2 4 6 8 10

PERSONAL FREEDOM




 Figure 5.
      

 7.65
       6.65 6.78
ECONOMIC FREEDOM

6.08
      
      

       
       


 LEAST MOST
        FREE FREE
 PERSONAL FREEDOM


 
 

            
       
     
      
 Figure 6.
Since 2008,
FREEDOM SCORE CHANGE
the largest
RULE OF LAW 5.11 0.41
deteriorations
SECURITY & SAFETY 8.07 0.26
in freedom MOVEMENT 7.66 0.54
occurred in the RELIGION 7.48 0.65
Caucasus and ASSOC., ASSEMBLY, & CIVIL SOCIETY 7.11 0.31
Central Asia EXPRESSION & INFORMATION 7.59 0.27
and the Middle IDENTITY & RELATIONSHIPS 7.33 0.19
East and North SIZE OF GOVERNMENT 6.48 0.08
Africa. LEGAL SYSTEM & PROPERTY RIGHTS 5.21 0.19
SOUND MONEY 8.24 0.42
FREEDOM TO TRADE INT. 7.02 0.00
REGULATION 7.02 0.11






        

       
  
        

   



Figure 7.

FREEDOM SCORE CHANGE

NORTH AMERICA 8.48 0.07

WESTERN EUROPE 8.37 0.01
OCEANIA 7.88 0.13
EAST ASIA 7.85 0.11
EASTERN EUROPE 7.55 0.16
LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN 6.95 0.16
CAUCASUS & CENTRAL ASIA 6.77 0.25
SOUTH ASIA 6.47 0.02
6.27 0.11
5.76 0.58


            
     The freest
              countries in
             
      
the world have
     a much
  higher per
      

capita
 Figure 9. income
 than those

$39,249
that are less

free.
 INCOME PER CAPITA

       

     
$13,722

$12,147
       
$12,026


LEAST MOST
FREE FREE
HUMAN FREEDOM

 
 

       

       


Figure 8.

NORTH AMERICA 10.00

WESTERN EUROPE 9.92
EASTERN EUROPE 9.61
EAST ASIA 9.46
OCEANIA 9.38
LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN 9.14
CAUCASUS & CENTRAL ASIA 8.39
SOUTH ASIA 6.69
6.66
4.09
 Figure 10.
There is a
strong $60,000

correlation North America

$50,000
between Western Europe
freedom and

INCOME PER CAPITA

$40,000
democracy
East Asia
Middle East & North Africa
$30,000

Oceania
$20,000
Eastern Europe
South Asia
Latin America & the Caribbean
$10,000 Caucasus & Central Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa

0
5 6 7 8 9

HUMAN FREEDOM






      
       
       
               
 
      
            
 
        
     

             
      
 
              
      
 
 
          
     
     
              
 
Figure 11.
42 percent
10
Iceland
Norway of the world’s
New Zealand population
8 India
Israel
lives in the
Taiwan bottom
Lithuania
Brazil
quartile
DEMOCRACY

6
Bangladesh Montenegro
Hong Kong
of countries
Myanmar
Cambodia
that have the
Iraq
4
Russia lowest
Sudan
Rwanda
levels of
2 Libya
Guinea-Bissau freedom.
Chad

0
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

HUMAN FREEDOM





 
          
 
             

 
   

 
 
      
 
       
             
 
   
        
 
      
CONCLUSION: TOWARD A BETTER       
APPRECIATION OF FREEDOM 
 
      
        

 
           
           
 

 
       
      
           
          
 
      
 
      
     
       
 

COUNTRIES BY REGION
CAUCASUS & CENTRAL ASIA
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank
1. Georgia 7.80 7.58 8.02 40
2. Armenia 7.24 6.91 7.57 57
3. Kazakhstan 6.74 6.38 7.11 90
4. Kyrgyz Republic 6.59 6.25 6.93 99
5. Tajikistan 6.19 5.65 6.72 124
6. Azerbaijan 6.08 5.68 6.49 130

Kazakhstan

Georgia
Kyrgyz Republic

Azerbaijan
Armenia

Tajikistan

Most Free II III Least Free

EAST ASIA
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank
1. Hong Kong 8.78 8.58 8.97 3
2. Taiwan 8.47 9.04 7.89 10
3. Korea, Republic of 8.15 8.77 7.53 27
4. Japan 8.10 8.73 7.47 31
5. Mongolia 7.70 8.00 7.40 45
6. China 5.91 5.35 6.46 135

Mongolia

Japan

Korea,
Republic of

China

Taiwan

Hong Kong

Most Free II III Least Free

EASTERN EUROPE
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank

1. Estonia 8.44 9.01 7.86 14

2. Lithuania 8.34 8.82 7.86 20
3. Czech Republic 8.29 9.03 7.56 21
4. Latvia 8.25 8.85 7.64 23
5. Romania 8.17 8.65 7.69 24
6. Cyprus 8.11 8.51 7.71 30
7. Slovenia 7.94 8.82 7.05 35
8. Slovak Republic 7.92 8.54 7.30 36
9. Poland 7.81 8.35 7.27 39
10. Bulgaria 7.78 8.16 7.41 41
11. Hungary 7.74 8.26 7.22 42
12. Croatia 7.71 8.46 6.96 44
13. Albania 7.57 7.60 7.54 48
14. Serbia 7.35 7.85 6.85 51
15. Montenegro 7.34 7.63 7.04 52
16. Macedonia 7.27 7.41 7.13 56
17. Bosnia and Herzegovina 7.23 7.86 6.60 59
18. Greece 7.20 7.95 6.46 61
19. Moldova 6.85 7.06 6.64 75
20. Ukraine 6.28 6.59 5.98 118
21. Russia 6.27 5.71 6.83 119
22. Belarus 6.14 6.06 6.23 128
EASTERN EUROPE

Most Free II III Least Free

Estonia Russia

Latvia

Lithuania

Belarus

Poland

Czech Republic Ukraine

Slovak Republic

Hungary
Slovenia
Romania
Croatia
Moldova
Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia

Bulgaria
Montenegro

Macedonia
Greece

Albania

Cyprus
LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank
1. Chile 8.01 8.22 7.80 32
2. Costa Rica 7.86 8.17 7.55 37
3. Uruguay 7.73 8.30 7.16 43
4. Panama 7.65 7.72 7.58 46
5. Peru 7.58 7.72 7.43 47
6. Bahamas 7.40 7.45 7.34 50
7. Jamaica 7.22 7.27 7.18 60
8. Belize 7.15 7.43 6.86 64
9. Guatemala 7.09 6.55 7.64 66
10. Barbados 7.07 7.71 6.43 67
10. Suriname 7.07 7.79 6.36 67
12. Dominican Republic 7.06 6.94 7.18 69
13. El Salvador 7.03 6.92 7.15 70
14. Paraguay 6.96 6.97 6.95 72
15. Haiti 6.85 7.18 6.51 75
15. Mexico 6.85 6.80 6.90 75
15. Nicaragua 6.85 6.43 7.27 75
18. Trinidad and Tobago 6.83 6.92 6.73 81
19. Ecuador 6.81 7.55 6.06 83
20. Colombia 6.76 7.02 6.50 87
21. Bolivia 6.72 7.21 6.23 92
21. Honduras 6.72 6.39 7.06 92
23. Guyana 6.68 7.04 6.31 96
24. Argentina 6.47 8.10 4.84 107
25. Brazil 6.21 6.67 5.75 123
26. Venezuela 4.20 5.52 2.88 161
LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

Most Free II III Least Free

Bahamas
Mexico

Jamaica
Haiti
Dominican Republic
Belize
Honduras Barbados
Guatemala Nicaragua
El Salvador
Guyana Trinidad and Tobago
Costa Rica
Venezuela Suriname
Panama

Colombia

Ecuador

Peru
Brazil

Bolivia

Chile
Paraguay

Uruguay
Argentina
MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank
1. Israel 7.52 7.54 7.49 49
2. Bahrain 6.85 6.14 7.56 75
2. Jordan 6.85 6.24 7.46 75
4. Lebanon 6.71 6.43 6.99 95
5. Qatar 6.51 5.53 7.49 103
6. Turkey 6.47 6.09 6.84 107
7. Tunisia 6.43 6.58 6.29 109
8. United Arab Emirates 6.29 5.07 7.50 117
9. Kuwait 6.19 5.63 6.75 124
10. Morocco 6.18 5.99 6.37 127
11. Oman 6.13 5.51 6.76 129
12. Saudi Arabia 5.48 4.44 6.52 146
13. Iran 5.28 4.53 6.03 153
14. Algeria 5.14 5.28 4.99 155
15. Egypt 4.81 3.89 5.72 156
16. Libya 4.31 3.88 4.74 158
17. Iraq 4.26 3.12 5.40 159
18. Yemen, Republic of 4.25 2.17 6.34 160
19. Syria 3.77 2.51 5.02 162

Turkey

Tunisia Syria
Lebanon
Iraq Iran
Morocco Israel
Kuwait

Algeria Bahrain
Egypt Jordan
Libya
Qatar
Saudi Arabia United Arab
Emirates

Oman

Yemen, Republic of

Most Free II III Least Free

NORTH AMERICA
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank
1. Canada 8.57 9.15 7.98 5
2. United States 8.39 8.75 8.03 17

Canada

United States

Most Free II III Least Free

OCEANIA
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank
1. New Zealand 8.89 9.28 8.49 1
2. Australia 8.58 9.18 7.98 4
3. Fiji 7.29 7.79 6.79 55
4. Papua New Guinea 6.75 7.25 6.25 88

Papua New Guinea

Fiji

Australia

New Zealand

Most Free II III Least Free

SOUTH ASIA
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank

1. Singapore 8.16 7.48 8.84 25

2. Cambodia 7.20 7.24 7.17 61
3. Philippines 6.92 6.50 7.34 73
4. Bhutan 6.81 6.60 7.02 83
5. Indonesia 6.77 6.38 7.16 85
6. Nepal 6.72 6.91 6.53 92
7. Thailand 6.62 6.40 6.85 98
8. India 6.41 6.20 6.63 110
8. Malaysia 6.41 5.90 6.92 110
10. Laos 6.39 5.86 6.91 113
11. Timor-Leste 6.37 6.19 6.55 114
12. Sri Lanka 6.27 6.04 6.49 119
13. Vietnam 6.19 5.97 6.42 124
14. Bangladesh 5.80 5.30 6.30 138
14. Brunei Darussalam 5.80 4.66 6.93 138
16. Pakistan 5.66 5.32 6.00 140
17. Myanmar 5.44 5.46 5.42 149

Most Free II III Least Free

Nepal Bhutan
Pakistan

India
Myanmar
Laos
Bangladesh

Thailand
Philippines
Vietnam

Sri Lanka Cambodia Brunei Darussalam

Malaysia
Singapore

Indonesia

Timor-Leste
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank

1. Mauritius 7.86 7.72 8.01 37

2. Cape Verde 7.33 7.99 6.68 53
3. Seychelles 7.30 7.37 7.23 54
4. Ghana 7.24 7.87 6.60 57
5. South Africa 7.17 7.70 6.65 63
6. Botswana 7.15 6.88 7.43 64
7. Rwanda 6.97 6.47 7.48 71
8. Namibia 6.90 7.39 6.40 74
9. Kenya 6.82 6.45 7.20 82
10. Uganda 6.77 6.13 7.41 85
11. Burkina Faso 6.75 7.46 6.05 88
12. Benin 6.74 7.50 5.98 90
13. Malawi 6.65 7.45 5.86 97
14. Côte d’Ivoire 6.53 7.06 6.00 100
14. Lesotho 6.53 6.69 6.38 100
16. Tanzania 6.52 6.13 6.92 102
17. Madagascar 6.51 6.84 6.19 103
18. Senegal 6.50 6.77 6.22 105
19. Liberia 6.48 6.40 6.56 106
20. Sierra Leone 6.40 7.04 5.75 112
21. Gambia, The 6.32 5.30 7.34 115
22. Zambia 6.31 6.01 6.61 116
23. Togo 6.27 6.73 5.82 119
24. Swaziland 6.24 6.02 6.46 122
25. Mozambique 6.08 6.66 5.50 130
26. Nigeria 6.07 5.82 6.32 132
27. Guinea-Bissau 6.05 6.86 5.25 133
28. Mali 5.93 6.06 5.80 134
29. Congo, Republic of 5.90 6.78 5.02 136
30. Niger 5.86 5.71 6.01 137
31. Guinea 5.65 5.37 5.93 141
32. Angola 5.64 6.11 5.17 142
33. Zimbabwe 5.62 5.17 6.06 143
34. Cameroon 5.58 5.33 5.82 144
34. Gabon 5.58 5.32 5.84 144
36. Chad 5.47 5.51 5.44 147
36. Mauritania 5.47 4.99 5.96 147
38. Ethiopia 5.40 5.06 5.73 150
39. Congo, Dem. Rep. of 5.31 4.95 5.67 151
40. Central African Rep. 5.29 5.47 5.11 152
41. Burundi 5.17 4.41 5.92 154
42. Sudan 4.80 4.25 5.36 157
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Burkina Faso

Senegal
Togo
Cameroon
The Gambia Benin

Guinea-Bissau
Mauritania Mali
Cape Verde Niger
Sudan
Chad

Guinea
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Central Ethiopia
Liberia African Rep.
Uganda
Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana Kenya
Gabon Rwanda
Dem.
Rep. of Burundi
Congo
Republic of Congo
Seychelles
Tanzania

Mozambique
Angola Malawi
Zambia Madagascar

Namibia Zimbabwe

Botswana Mauritius

Swaziland

South Lesotho
Africa

Most Free II III Least Free

WESTERN EUROPE
Personal Economic Freedom
Freedom Scores by Regional Ranking Freedom Freedom Rank
1. Switzerland 8.79 9.19 8.39 2
2. Denmark 8.55 9.33 7.77 6
2. Netherlands 8.55 9.40 7.71 6
4. Ireland 8.50 8.94 8.07 8
4. United Kingdom 8.50 9.00 8.00 8
6. Finland 8.47 9.29 7.65 10
6. Norway 8.47 9.34 7.60 10
8. Germany 8.46 9.24 7.69 13
9. Luxembourg 8.43 9.26 7.60 15
10. Austria 8.41 9.25 7.58 16
11. Sweden 8.39 9.33 7.44 17
12. Malta 8.35 8.98 7.73 19
13. Portugal 8.28 9.04 7.51 22
14. Spain 8.16 8.76 7.56 25
15. Belgium 8.15 8.99 7.32 27
15. Iceland 8.15 9.08 7.22 27
17. France 8.01 8.77 7.25 32
18. Italy 7.98 8.69 7.27 34
WESTERN EUROPE

Most Free II III Least Free

Iceland

Finland

Norway
Sweden

United Kingdom
Denmark
Ireland

Netherlands Germany
Belgium Austria
Luxembourg

France Switzerland

Italy

Spain

Portugal Malta