Overview
- Global freedom remains well below pre‑pandemic levels, with 89.6% of the world’s population experiencing declines and a widening divide between the most‑ and least‑free countries.
- The index ranks 165 jurisdictions through 2023 using 87 indicators across 12 areas of personal, civil, and economic liberty.
- Only 14% of the global population lives in the freest quartile, compared with 39% in the least‑free group.
- Switzerland tops the 2025 rankings, followed by Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, and Luxembourg.
- Canada ranks 12th (personal 9.33, economic 7.92, overall 8.74), the United States is 15th, and the bottom tier includes Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, and Syria as Hong Kong drops to 53rd overall and 143rd in association and assembly.