FREEDOM IN
THE WORLD 2023
Marking 50 Years in the
Struggle for Democracy
GLOBAL DATA
WORLD:WORLD:
STATUS STATUS
BY POPULATION
BY POPULATION
WORLD:WORLD:
STATUS STATUS
BY COUNTRY
BY COUNTRY
GLOBAL: STATUS BY POPULATION
GLOBAL: STATUS BY COUNTRY
Total population
Total population
FREE
7.9 billion
7.9 billion
PARTLY FREE
20%
20% 29%
41%
41%
NOT FREE
29%
Total Total
countries
countries
195
39%
43%
43%
FREE
195
39%
28%
28%
Freedom in the World 2023 Status Changes
30
Burkina Faso
Lesotho
Burkina Faso’s status declined from Partly Free
to Not Free due to the effects of two successive
military coups, including the suspension of the
constitution and dissolution of the legislature, and an
expanding conflict with Islamist militant groups.
Lesotho’s status improved from Partly Free to Free
due to the formation of a new government
following competitive parliamentary elections, though
the country continued to face serious security and
governance challenges.
Colombia
Peru
Colombia’s status improved from Partly Free to
Free due to more open and competitive national
elections, a decline in restrictions on assembly and
movement, and the decriminalization of abortion.
However, illegal armed groups remained active, and the
country was still one of the deadliest in the world for
human rights defenders.
Peru’s status declined from Free to Partly Free
because the president was impeached and arrested
after attempting to dissolve the legislature and rule by
decree, and protests by his supporters led to deadly
clashes with police.
@ FreedomHouse
#FreedomInTheWorld
PARTLY FRE