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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2025

NEW REPORT: Amid Unprecedented Wave of Elections, Political Violence and Armed Conflict Fueled 19th Consecutive Year of Decline in Global Freedom

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The 52nd edition of Freedom in the World finds that 60 countries experienced declines in their political rights and civil liberties, while only 34 registered improvements.



WASHINGTON—Political violence and manipulation of elections, ongoing armed conflicts, and deepening repression in 2024 resulted in the 19th consecutive year of decline in global freedom, according to a new report released today by Freedom House. The countries that recorded deterioration represented more than 40 percent of the global population.

The report, Freedom in the World 2025: The Uphill Battle to Safeguard Rights

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, found that of the 66 countries and territories that hosted national elections in 2024, some 40 percent featured election-related violence. Candidates were attacked in at least 20 countries, while polling places were attacked in at least 14. Many elections were contests in name only, as authoritarian incumbents from Azerbaijan to Rwanda ensured that their main opponents were disqualified or arrested to prevent them from participating. Today, only 20 percent of the world’s people live in countries rated Free, while 40 percent live in countries rated Not Free.

“Global freedom suffered another blow during a year that was replete with elections in every region,” said Gerardo Berthin, interim copresident of Freedom House. “Widespread violence targeted candidates and voters as billions went to the polls. Yet even in the face of these challenges, citizens continued to stand up and make their voices heard. It is increasingly clear that the only way to end the nearly two-decade recession in global freedom is for people in every sort of political environment to fight for their rights and security—and for democratic governments and institutions to work together to support them.”

Key report findings include the following:

Global freedom declined for the 19th consecutive year in 2024. Sixty countries experienced deterioration in their political rights and civil liberties, and only 34 secured improvements.

During an unprecedented year of elections, many contests were marred by violence and authoritarian efforts to restrict voters’ choices. In over 40 percent of the countries and territories that held national elections in 2024, including Free countries such as France, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, and the United States, candidates were targeted with assassination attempts or assaults, polling places were attacked, or postelection protests were suppressed with disproportionate force. Elections in authoritarian countries like Azerbaijan, Russia, Rwanda, and Tunisia were manipulated to prevent genuine opposition candidates from participating.

Ongoing armed conflicts made the world less safe and less free. Civil wars and interstate conflict in Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine—as well as violence perpetrated by armed militias, mercenaries, and criminal organizations across Latin America and Africa—undermined security and prevented the exercise of fundamental rights. People in 20 percent of the world’s countries and territories now live without even the most basic protections from the illegitimate use of force. In many places, armed conflict fuels the spread of illicit trading in drugs and arms and provides safe havens for criminal organizations.

Positive developments demonstrated the potential for democratic breakthroughs. Despite the overall decline in global freedom, bright spots emerged around the world as a result of competitive elections or following the collapse of long-standing authoritarian regimes. For example, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime in Syria after 13 years of civil war prompted immediate improvements in physical security, freedom of movement, and freedom of assembly in formerly regime-held areas. New governments in such countries will now face the difficult task of building and strengthening democratic institutions while also protecting individual rights.

Largest increases and best overall scores: On Freedom in the World’s 100-point scale for political rights and civil liberties, Bangladesh (+5), Bhutan (+5), Sri Lanka (+4), and Syria (+4) recorded the largest gains for 2024. The best overall country scores were those of Finland (100), Sweden (99), New Zealand (99), Norway (99), Canada (97), Denmark (97), San Marino (97), the Netherlands (97), Ireland (97), and Luxembourg (97).

Largest declines and worst overall scores: Kuwait (−7), Tunisia (−7), El Salvador (−6), and Haiti (−6) were the countries with the year’s largest score declines. The countries with the worst overall scores were Turkmenistan (1), South Sudan (1), Sudan (2), Eritrea (3), North Korea (3), Central African Republic (5), Tajikistan (5), Equatorial Guinea (5), Syria (5), Afghanistan (6), Azerbaijan (7), Belarus (7), and Myanmar (7).

Status changes: Two countries, Bhutan and Senegal, improved from Partly Free to Free status, while Jordan crossed the threshold from Not Free to Partly Free. Four countries declined from Partly Free to Not Free: Kuwait, Niger, Tanzania, and Thailand.

“With new governments taking over after major elections and authoritarian collapses, the world is at a crucial inflection point,” said Yana Gorokhovskaia, the report’s coauthor and Freedom House’s research director for strategy and design. “It is essential for all those who believe in democracy to invest in democratic institutions at home, call out attacks on rights abroad, work together to promote lasting security, and support human rights defenders wherever they operate.”

The report identifies a number of measures that democratic governments, civil society organizations, business leaders, and others hoping to protect democracy can implement to protect and expand political rights and civil liberties. The recommendations include:

Prioritize strengthening the rule of law and delivering economic dividends in the aftermath of political transitions. In countries where democratic forces have come to power after periods of antidemocratic rule, the new governments should pursue an agenda that protects and expands freedoms as it delivers tangible economic and social benefits to citizens.

In countries emerging from war or the collapse of authoritarian regimes, focus on reducing violence, undertaking reconciliation efforts, and reforming security services. Countries emerging from such devastation must act swiftly to release all political prisoners, build or revitalize democratic institutions, reform police and other security forces, organize and hold competitive multiparty elections, and ensure accountability for past human rights violations.

Address the root causes of conflict in fragile states, and coordinate efforts to cut financial and material support for nonstate armed groups. Nonstate armed groups—including rebel or partisan militias, terrorists, and criminal organizations—are responsible for much of the violence around the world, often fueling brutal wars, propping up authoritarian regimes, and co-opting democratic institutions. Because traditional diplomatic solutions to armed conflict are ill-suited to such groups, the democratic community must think creatively about how to increase security in the places where they operate.

View the report’s complete recommendations here

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Freedom in the World includes scores and detailed country reports on political rights and civil liberties for 195 countries and 13 territories around the globe. This edition, the 52nd in its annual series, covers developments in 2024 and provides a brief analysis of long-term trends. The report methodology is derived in large measure from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948.

For more information, please contact Maryam Iftikhar at [email protected]

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Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to create a world where all are free.

We inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize global action, and support democracy’s defenders.

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