A new international study reveals a stark and accelerating decline in human freedoms across the globe, with nearly 90% of the world's population living under diminished liberty. The annual Human Freedom Index, co-published by Canada's Fraser Institute and the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., paints a concerning picture of a multi-decade trend that has recently worsened.
A Precipitous Global Decline
According to the report's co-author, Matthew D. Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Fraser Institute, the data shows freedoms were increasing for many years before entering a slow decline around 2007. "That really accelerated post-COVID and it's sort of really fallen off the cliff," Mitchell stated. The index, which uses 87 distinct indicators measuring rule of law, security, freedom of association, and economic regulations, suggests the backslide is now severe and widespread.
Canada's Consistent, But Not Top-Tier, Standing
In the 2025 rankings, Canada maintains its position at 13th globally. Mitchell noted that Canada's placement has been remarkably consistent, "bouncing around from 10th to 11th, 14th, for as long as we've been measuring it." The country performs strongly on measures of civil liberties and personal expression but is pulled down by its scores on economic freedom, preventing it from cracking the top ten.
The top ten freest nations are led by Switzerland, followed by Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, Luxembourg, Estonia, Finland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Australia.
Notable Climbers and Dramatic Fallers
The report highlights both inspiring recoveries and alarming regressions. Estonia, now in 6th place, is cited as a remarkable success story, having transformed from a former Soviet state into one of the world's freest nations since 1991.
In stark contrast, Hong Kong has experienced one of the most dramatic falls. Once ranked 3rd in 2011 and historically considered a beacon of liberty, it has plummeted to 53rd place. Mitchell directly attributes this decline to Beijing's imposition of the 2020 National Security Laws, which have eroded judicial independence, expanded surveillance, and suppressed dissent.
Other nations seeing significant drops in freedom include Egypt, Nicaragua, and Turkey. The report lists the least free countries, in descending order, as Egypt, Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, and Syria.
Other notable rankings include:
- United States: 15th
- Taiwan: 14th
- Japan & United Kingdom: Tied at 19th
- China: 149th
- Russia: 152nd
The findings underscore a challenging era for fundamental human freedoms, with established democracies like Canada holding steady but few regions of the world showing improvement.
