People’s quality of life is greatly affected by how they can use their rights and freedoms. For more than just making it simpler to live your life, human liberty is intrinsically valued and crucial in human development.
Despite the significance of this issue, it is difficult to determine which nations’ residents have the greatest degree of liberty. Individual indices may evaluate which nations have the best amount of human freedom. Fortunately, this information is available.
Table of Contents
Human Freedom Index
The Human Freedom Index Report for 2021 was co-published by the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., and the Fraser Institute in Vancouver, Canada, and examines the connections between freedom and other social and economic events.
The 2021 Human Freedom Index Report evaluated 165 nations and territories over two subcategories: Personal Freedom and Economic Freedom, to arrive at a final Human Freedom score. Countries are ranked on their level of freedom by comparing this score with other countries.
Human Freedom Index 2021: World’s Freest 10 Countries and Territories
- Switzerland — 9.11
- New Zealand — 9.01
- Denmark — 8.98
- Estonia — 8.91
- Ireland — 8.90
- Finland — 8.85
- Canada — 8.85
- Australia — 8.84
- Sweden — 8.83
- Luxembourg — 8.80
Types of Individualism
Freedom of thought and speech, equality before the courts, protection of private property, or freedom to come and leave are all examples of personal freedom.
For instance, the United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights includes a list of personal liberties guaranteed to all citizens of the United States.
Personal choice, voluntary trade, freedom to participate in markets, and the security of person and property are all examples of economic liberty or economic freedom. People may thrive in a nation with economic freedom if the government or other economic authorities do not interfere.
Economies were the means of production (manufacturers and suppliers) are privately held and the government exerts little, or no influence over enterprises are examples of economic freedom.
Human Freedom Index – 2021 Ranking of the World’s Least Free Countries
- Syrian Arab Republic — 3.66
- Venezuela — 4.03
- Yemen — 4.08
- Sudan — 4.48
- Egypt — 4.49
- Iran — 4.53
- Somalia — 4.93
- Burundi — 5.02 (tie)
- Iraq — 5.02 (tie)
- Libya — 5.05
Personal Freedom Index, Economic Freedom Index, and Human Freedom Index rankings are shown in the table below.
| Country | Human Freedom | Ranking | Personal Freedom | Economic Freedom | Quartile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 9.1100 | 1 | 9.5600 | 8.4800 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 9.0100 | 2 | 9.3300 | 8.5600 | 1 |
| Denmark | 8.9800 | 3 | 9.5600 | 8.1700 | 1 |
| Estonia | 8.9100 | 4 | 9.4800 | 8.1100 | 1 |
| Ireland | 8.9000 | 5 | 9.4000 | 8.2100 | 1 |
| Finland | 8.8500 | 6 | 9.5200 | 7.9200 | 1 |
| Canada | 8.8500 | 6 | 9.4000 | 8.0600 | 1 |
| Australia | 8.8400 | 8 | 9.3000 | 8.2000 | 1 |
| Sweden | 8.8300 | 9 | 9.6300 | 7.7200 | 1 |
| Luxembourg | 8.8000 | 10 | 9.4800 | 7.8400 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 8.7800 | 11 | 9.3600 | 7.8600 | 1 |
| Iceland | 8.7700 | 12 | 9.4000 | 7.9000 | 1 |
| Norway | 8.7600 | 13 | 9.5000 | 7.7200 | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 8.7500 | 14 | 9.1900 | 8.1500 | 1 |
| Germany | 8.7300 | 15 | 9.3200 | 7.9100 | 1 |
| Japan | 8.7300 | 15 | 9.2600 | 7.9800 | 1 |
| United States | 8.7300 | 15 | 9.0900 | 8.2400 | 1 |
| Portugal | 8.6900 | 18 | 9.3300 | 7.7900 | 1 |
| Lithuania | 8.6800 | 19 | 9.0100 | 8.2100 | 1 |
| Taiwan | 8.6800 | 19 | 9.1400 | 9.0200 | 1 |
| Latvia | 8.6700 | 21 | 9.1800 | 7.9400 | 1 |
| Austria | 8.6700 | 21 | 9.2500 | 7.8600 | 1 |
| Czech Republic | 8.6100 | 23 | 9.1400 | 7.8700 | 1 |
| Belgium | 8.6100 | 23 | 9.3100 | 7.6200 | 1 |
| Spain | 8.5600 | 25 | 9.0400 | 7.8900 | 1 |
| Italy | 8.4900 | 26 | 9.1200 | 7.6100 | 1 |
| Malta | 8.4500 | 27 | 8.7500 | 8.0300 | 1 |
| Chile | 8.4400 | 28 | 8.8600 | 7.8500 | 1 |
| Cyprus | 8.4200 | 29 | 8.8000 | 7.8900 | 1 |
| Hong Kong | 8.4100 | 30 | 8.0600 | 8.9100 | 1 |
| South Korea | 8.3900 | 31 | 8.9400 | 7.6100 | 1 |
| Slovenia | 8.3700 | 32 | 9.0400 | 7.4300 | 1 |
| Uruguay | 8.3600 | 33 | 9.0800 | 7.3600 | 1 |
| France | 8.3400 | 34 | 8.9100 | 7.5500 | 1 |
| Romania | 8.3300 | 35 | 8.6500 | 7.8800 | 1 |
| Costa Rica | 8.2500 | 37 | 8.6600 | 7.6800 | 1 |
| Bahamas | 8.2200 | 38 | 8.6900 | 7.5600 | 1 |
| Slovakia | 8.2100 | 39 | 8.6300 | 7.6100 | 1 |
| Armenia | 8.2000 | 40 | 8.3200 | 8.0300 | 1 |
| Georgia | 8.2000 | 40 | 8.1500 | 8.2600 | 1 |
| Croatia | 8.1600 | 42 | 8.7300 | 7.3600 | 2 |
| Albania | 8.1400 | 43 | 8.3800 | 7.8100 | 2 |
| Panama | 8.1200 | 44 | 8.3500 | 7.7900 | 2 |
| Bulgaria | 8.0800 | 45 | 8.3000 | 7.7600 | 2 |
| Mauritius | 8.0700 | 46 | 8.0100 | 8.1600 | 2 |
| Mongolia | 8 | 47 | 8.4500 | 7.3800 | 2 |
| Singapore | 7.9800 | 48 | 7.3900 | 8.8100 | 2 |
| Poland | 7.9600 | 49 | 8.5000 | 7.2000 | 2 |
| Peru | 7.9300 | 50 | 8.0300 | 7.7800 | 2 |
| Barbados | 7.9200 | 51 | 8.6500 | 6.9100 | 2 |
| Jamaica | 7.9100 | 52 | 8.0600 | 7.7100 | 2 |
| Botswana | 7.9000 | 53 | 8.1000 | 7.6200 | 2 |
| Montenegro | 7.8800 | 54 | 8.0500 | 7.6400 | 2 |
| Dominican Republic | 7.8800 | 54 | 8.0900 | 7.5800 | 2 |
| Greece | 7.8600 | 56 | 8.3700 | 7.1500 | 2 |
| Seychelles | 7.8400 | 57 | 7.9900 | 7.6300 | 2 |
| North Macedonia | 7.7500 | 58 | 8.1800 | 7.1300 | 2 |
| Hungary | 7.7300 | 59 | 7.8800 | 7.5300 | 2 |
| Trinidad And Tobago | 7.7000 | 60 | 8.0100 | 7.2700 | 2 |
| Moldova | 7.6800 | 61 | 7.9500 | 7.3000 | 2 |
| Israel | 7.6600 | 62 | 7.6900 | 7.6300 | 2 |
| Belize | 7.6400 | 63 | 8.3100 | 6.7000 | 2 |
| Suriname | 7.6400 | 63 | 8.6300 | 6.1400 | 2 |
| Guatemala | 7.6300 | 65 | 7.5100 | 7.8000 | 2 |
| Namibia | 7.5600 | 66 | 8.1200 | 6.7600 | 2 |
| Bosnia And Herzegovina | 7.5400 | 67 | 8.0300 | 6.8600 | 2 |
| Paraguay | 7.5400 | 67 | 7.7800 | 7.2200 | 2 |
| Serbia | 7.5400 | 67 | 7.7700 | 7.2200 | 2 |
| Guyana | 7.4900 | 70 | 8.0600 | 6.5200 | 2 |
| Ghana | 7.4900 | 70 | 8.0700 | 6.6900 | 2 |
| Ecuador | 7.4300 | 72 | 7.9600 | 6.6800 | 2 |
| El Salvador | 7.3900 | 73 | 7.3900 | 7.3900 | 2 |
| Argentina | 7.3800 | 74 | 8.7300 | 5.5000 | 2 |
| Fiji | 7.3600 | 75 | 7.9000 | 6.5400 | 2 |
| Benin | 7.3200 | 76 | 7.8300 | 6.6200 | 2 |
| South Africa | 7.3000 | 77 | 7.5300 | 6.9700 | 2 |
| Timor-Leste | 7.2200 | 78 | 7.9700 | 6.1900 | 2 |
| Brazil | 7.2200 | 78 | 7.6400 | 6.6300 | 2 |
| Haiti | 7.2100 | 80 | 7.7100 | 6.5100 | 2 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 7.1800 | 81 | 7.1800 | 7.1700 | 2 |
| Papua New Guinea | 7.1700 | 82 | 7.7200 | 6.2300 | 3 |
| Malaysia | 7.1700 | 82 | 6.9200 | 7.5200 | 3 |
| Nepal | 7.1200 | 84 | 7.4100 | 6.7100 | 3 |
| Indonesia | 7.1000 | 85 | 6.9800 | 7.2600 | 3 |
| Honduras | 7.0900 | 86 | 6.9700 | 7.2600 | 3 |
| Senegal | 7.0700 | 87 | 7.6600 | 6.2500 | 3 |
| Madagascar | 7.0200 | 88 | 7.5100 | 6.3300 | 3 |
| Lesotho | 7.0100 | 89 | 7.3200 | 6.5700 | 3 |
| Colombia | 7.0100 | 89 | 7.1400 | 6.8200 | 3 |
| Malawi | 6.9900 | 91 | 7.7200 | 5.9600 | 3 |
| Bolivia | 6.9400 | 92 | 7.4100 | 6.2800 | 3 |
| Mexico | 6.9200 | 93 | 6.7200 | 7.2000 | 3 |
| Jordan | 6.9100 | 94 | 6.4200 | 7.5900 | 3 |
| Ivory Coast | 6.9000 | 95 | 7.4200 | 6.1800 | 3 |
| Thailand | 6.8900 | 96 | 6.9000 | 6.8700 | 3 |
| Gambia | 6.8800 | 97 | 6.7700 | 7.0400 | 3 |
| Bhutan | 6.8600 | 98 | 6.9000 | 6.8200 | 3 |
| Ukraine | 6.8600 | 98 | 7.3300 | 6.2000 | 3 |
| Burkina Faso | 6.8500 | 100 | 7.4400 | 6.0400 | 3 |
| Philippines | 6.8300 | 101 | 6.4200 | 7.4200 | 3 |
| Zambia | 6.8200 | 102 | 6.6200 | 7.0900 | 3 |
| Liberia | 6.8100 | 103 | 7.1400 | 6.3500 | 3 |
| Gabon | 6.8000 | 104 | 7.5100 | 5.8000 | 3 |
| Mozambique | 6.8000 | 104 | 7.2700 | 6.1500 | 3 |
| Kazakhstan | 6.7700 | 106 | 6.2400 | 7.5200 | 3 |
| Lebanon | 6.7600 | 108 | 6.7600 | 6.7600 | 3 |
| Belarus | 6.7300 | 109 | 6.6200 | 6.8800 | 3 |
| Kenya | 6.7300 | 109 | 6.5900 | 6.9400 | 3 |
| Sierra Leone | 6.7000 | 111 | 7.1200 | 6.1500 | 3 |
| Sri Lanka | 6.5800 | 112 | 6.4400 | 6.7800 | 3 |
| Togo | 6.5000 | 113 | 6.6000 | 6.3500 | 3 |
| Tanzania | 6.4800 | 114 | 6.2900 | 6.7500 | 3 |
| Cambodia | 6.4700 | 115 | 5.9400 | 7.2200 | 3 |
| Brunei | 6.4600 | 116 | 5.8700 | 7.3000 | 3 |
| Tunisia | 6.4600 | 116 | 6.8200 | 5.9700 | 3 |
| Niger | 6.4100 | 118 | 6.7800 | 5.9700 | 3 |
| India | 6.3900 | 119 | 6.2000 | 6.6600 | 3 |
| Rwanda | 6.3600 | 120 | 5.6500 | 7.3500 | 3 |
| Kuwait | 6.3400 | 121 | 6.0700 | 6.7200 | 3 |
| Uganda | 6.3200 | 122 | 5.5400 | 7.4200 | 3 |
| Nigeria | 6.2800 | 123 | 5.7900 | 6.9700 | 3 |
| Mali | 6.2500 | 124 | 6.5500 | 5.8300 | 4 |
| Nicaragua | 6.2400 | 125 | 5.6700 | 7.0400 | 4 |
| Russia | 6.2300 | 126 | 5.9000 | 6.7000 | 4 |
| Azerbaijan | 6.1600 | 127 | 5.9600 | 6.4400 | 4 |
| Qatar | 6.1500 | 128 | 5.4800 | 7.0900 | 4 |
| Angola | 6.0900 | 129 | 6.5000 | 5.5000 | 4 |
| Comoros | 6.0700 | 130 | 5.7300 | 6.5500 | 4 |
| United Arab Emirates | 6.0600 | 131 | 5.2000 | 7.2800 | 4 |
| Ethiopia | 5.9500 | 132 | 6 | 5.8700 | 4 |
| Oman | 5.9200 | 133 | 5.3600 | 6.6900 | 4 |
| Morocco | 5.9000 | 134 | 5.3300 | 6.6900 | 4 |
| Vietnam | 5.9000 | 134 | 5.6300 | 6.2600 | 4 |
| Laos | 5.8500 | 136 | 5.3000 | 6.6000 | 4 |
| Djibouti | 5.8400 | 137 | 5.2400 | 6.6800 | 4 |
| Guinea | 5.8200 | 138 | 5.9600 | 5.6200 | 4 |
| Eswatini | 5.7900 | 139 | 5.6000 | 6.0500 | 4 |
| Turkey | 5.7900 | 139 | 5.2500 | 6.5400 | 4 |
| Myanmar | 5.7800 | 141 | 5.7200 | 5.9400 | 4 |
| Bangladesh | 5.7500 | 142 | 5.5200 | 6.0500 | 4 |
| Bahrain | 5.7300 | 143 | 4.5900 | 7.3300 | 4 |
| Mauritania | 5.7300 | 143 | 5.1800 | 6.4900 | 4 |
| Cameroon | 5.6300 | 145 | 5.4700 | 5.8600 | 4 |
| Pakistan | 5.6300 | 145 | 5.4100 | 5.9500 | 4 |
| Central African Republic | 5.6200 | 147 | 5.8100 | 5.3600 | 4 |
| DR Congo | 5.6200 | 147 | 5.8100 | 5.3600 | 4 |
| Zimbabwe | 5.6000 | 149 | 6.0700 | 4.9400 | 4 |
| Chad | 5.5700 | 150 | 5.5400 | 5.6000 | 4 |
| China | 5.5700 | 150 | 4.8700 | 6.5300 | 4 |
| Republic of the Congo | 5.5500 | 152 | 5.8800 | 5.0800 | 4 |
| Tajikistan | 5.5200 | 153 | 4.8300 | 6.5000 | 4 |
| Algeria | 5.2600 | 154 | 5.5100 | 4.9000 | 4 |
| Saudi Arabia | 5.1200 | 155 | 3.8900 | 6.8500 | 4 |
| Libya | 5.0500 | 156 | 5.1700 | 4.7900 | 4 |
| Burundi | 5.0200 | 157 | 4.5700 | 5.6500 | 4 |
| Iraq | 5.0200 | 157 | 4.4900 | 5.7400 | 4 |
| Somalia | 4.9300 | 159 | 3.6800 | 6.6700 | 4 |
| Iran | 4.5300 | 160 | 4.1400 | 5.0600 | 4 |
| Egypt | 4.4900 | 161 | 3.6300 | 5.6800 | 4 |
| Sudan | 4.4800 | 162 | 4.7400 | 4.1900 | 4 |
| Yemen | 4.0800 | 163 | 3.1100 | 5.4500 | 4 |
| Venezuela | 4.0300 | 164 | 4.9000 | 2.8300 | 4 |
| Syria | 3.6600 | 165 | 2.6000 | 5.1900 | 4 |
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