US organisation Freedom House recorded a decline in freedom worldwide — including in the United States and Iran — for the 20th consecutive year, according to a report published today.
Titled “Freedom in the World 2026: The Growing Shadow of Autocracy,” the report assessed political rights and civil liberties in 195 countries and 13 territories, highlighting the fragility of democracies and the strengthening of authoritarian regimes.
Freedom House found that in 2025, 54 countries recorded setbacks in political rights and civil liberties, while only 35 improved. Just 21% of the world’s population now lives in countries considered “free” — a sharp fall from 46% twenty years ago. Beyond worsening repression by authoritarian regimes, the largest declines were driven by military coups, violence against peaceful protesters and attempts to weaken constitutional guarantees.
The United States, classified as “free,” saw its score fall three points to 81 out of 100 — the largest drop among the democracies analysed, tied with Bulgaria.
Read more about this topic: Guinea-Bissau drops in Freedom House index
The report attributed the decline to prolonged political gridlock in Congress, expansion of executive powers and growing intimidation of critical voices including foreign nationals, as well as weakening anti-corruption safeguards and conflicts of interest in the presidential administration. The country has lost 12 points over the past two decades — the largest decline among the 88 “free nations.”
In Iran, classified as “not free,” conditions worsened in 2025 when the regime detained more than 21,000 people in crackdown operations on suspicion of espionage and collaboration following the 12-day conflict with Israel in June, and expelled more than 1.8 million Afghan migrants and refugees. The country’s score fell to 10 out of 100, reflecting “intensified repression and disregard for basic rights.”
“Although 2026 has brought new opportunities for those living under authoritarian regimes, from Venezuela to Iran, the last 20 years have been a dark period for freedom worldwide,” said Freedom House executive director Jamie Fly.
Among the largest advances in the 53rd edition of the report are Syria, Sri Lanka, Bolivia and Gabon, while Guinea-Bissau, Tanzania, Burkina Faso and El Salvador recorded the steepest declines. The top rankings again went to Finland (100), Sweden, Norway and New Zealand (all 99). Portugal maintained 96 points — equal to Estonia, Japan and Switzerland.
