Pakistan’s political rights and civil liberties saw a decline last year, with the country dropping three points in Freedom House’s annual report, which was released on Wednesday. Despite the decline, Pakistan remains categorized as “partly free.”
The Washington, DC-based Freedom House, which tracks global democracy and freedom, reported that 2024 marked the 19th consecutive year of global freedom decline. Across the world, freedoms deteriorated in 60 countries, while only 34 nations recorded improvements.
According to the report, key factors behind the global decline included election-related violence, repression of political opponents, ongoing conflicts, and the spread of authoritarian practices.
Pakistan also ranked among the countries with the largest 10-year decline in freedom, dropping 10 points over the past decade. Countries with even steeper declines included Nicaragua (-40 points), Tunisia (-35 points), and El Salvador (-28 points).
South Asia: A Mixed Picture
While global freedom declined, South Asia had some notable improvements.
- Bhutan was upgraded to “free” status, becoming the only South Asian country in that category after conducting competitive elections.
- Senegal also achieved a “free” ranking after the opposition triumphed over an attempt to delay elections.
- Bangladesh and Sri Lanka showed progress in civil liberties, though they remained in the same categories. In Bangladesh, a political shift occurred as Sheikh Hasina stepped down amid unrest, while in Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake broke decades of political dominance by winning the presidency on an anti-corruption platform.
India’s Declining Freedom Score
The largest score improvement in the index came from Indian-administered Kashmir, which held its first elections since New Delhi revoked its special status in 2019.
However, India’s overall freedom score declined further, with concerns over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attempts to influence judicial appointments. India was downgraded from “free” to “partly free” in 2021, and the latest report highlights the continued erosion of democratic norms.
Global Freedom Decline & Political Shifts
Yana Gorokhovskaia, co-author of the report, noted that 2024 was particularly volatile due to the high number of elections worldwide.
“The global decline in freedom continues, but this year was especially dynamic due to numerous elections,” she said. She added that while some countries, such as Bangladesh and Syria, saw immediate improvements in civil liberties, political rights take longer to develop since institutions are easier to destroy than to rebuild.
Four Countries Downgraded to ‘Not Free’
While some nations saw progress, four countries—Kuwait, Niger, Tanzania, and Thailand—were downgraded from “partly free” to “not free.”
- Thailand experienced political instability after its top election-winning party was disbanded by court order, and the prime minister from the second-ranking party was removed following an ethics complaint.
- Kuwait’s emir disbanded parliament following elections.
- Tanzania saw an intensified crackdown on protesters under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
- Niger fell under full military control after the 2023 coup that ousted elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
Freedom Rankings: The Best & Worst
- Jordan was upgraded from “not free” to “partly free” due to reforms that enabled more competitive elections.
- Tunisia, El Salvador, and Haiti witnessed some of the steepest declines.
- Finland remains the world’s freest country, earning a perfect score of 100, while New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden followed closely with 99 points.
About Freedom House
Founded in 1941, Freedom House receives US government funding but operates independently. However, the organization recently faced budget cuts after former President Donald Trump froze democracy-promotion funds, leading to planned layoffs.
The latest report reinforces global concerns about democracy and civil liberties, with authoritarianism and election-related repression emerging as major threats worldwide.
