Freedom House Map Published

Freedom House has published on its web site its 2007 edition of the Map of Freedom in the World. The map is an interactive feature that enables visitors to the site to obtain detailed statistics and information on countries around the world.

According to Freedom House, there was "...little change in the global state of freedom in the world..." last year, and new global trends could mean further restrictions on freedom in the years to come. Citing "Freedom in the World 2007," a survey of political rights and civil liberties around the world, Freedom House says that the overall percentage of free countries has been constant for nearly the last ten years.

Jennifer Windsor, Executive Director of Freedom House, says "Although the past 30 years have seen significant gains for political freedom around the world, the number of Free countries has remained largely unchanged since the high point in 1998. Our assessment points to a freedom stagnation that has developed in the last decade and should lead to renewed policy attention to addressing the obstacles that are preventing further progress."

Freedom House says that regionally, several countries in the Asia-Pacific region have seen the level of freedom decline, while a more modest decline was noted in Africa. Additionally, Freedom House says, a majority of countries in areas of the former Soviet Union have witnessed the strengthening of authoritarian rule. Globally, Freedom House says, 90 countries can be rated as Free, 58 countries as Partly Free, and 45 countries as Not Free. Percentages were listed as follows: 47 percent Free, 30 percent Partly Free, and 23 percent Not Free. Freedom House also notes that roughly half of those people deemed Not Free live in China.

General global trends listed by Freedom House include a decline in freedom of expression and freedom of the press, a weakness in the rule of law, and pervasive corruption and a lack of government transparency.