Introduction
A liberal country is one that adheres to the principles of liberalism, which prioritize freedom and rights for individuals. This means that its citizens enjoy a wide array of civil liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. A liberal country typically has strong protections for minority groups against discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, or economic status. Liberal governments also tend to pursue progressive social policies that seek to improve the welfare of their citizens through initiatives like free healthcare and higher education access. Economic liberty is encouraged in liberal countries; citizens are allowed to set up businesses without significant interference from the government and are often rewarded with lower taxes than those found in more conservative nations. All in all, liberal countries offer their citizens an opportunity to live life with greater autonomy and personal freedoms than those afforded by more traditional systems.
| # | Country | Liberal Democracy Index | System of Government | Human Freedom Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweden | 0.88 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.83 |
| 2 | Denmark | 0.88 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.98 |
| 3 | Norway | 0.86 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.76 |
| 4 | Costa Rica | 0.85 | Presidential | 8.25 |
| 5 | Estonia | 0.84 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.91 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 0.84 | Constitutional Monarchies | 9.01 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 0.84 | Parliamentary Republic | 9.11 |
| 8 | Finland | 0.83 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.85 |
| 9 | Germany | 0.82 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.73 |
| 10 | Ireland | 0.82 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.9 |
| 11 | Belgium | 0.82 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.61 |
| 12 | Netherlands | 0.81 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.78 |
| 13 | Portugal | 0.81 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.69 |
| 14 | Australia | 0.81 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.84 |
| 15 | Luxembourg | 0.8 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.8 |
| 16 | France | 0.8 | Semi-presidential | 8.34 |
| 17 | South Korea | 0.79 | Presidential | 8.39 |
| 18 | Spain | 0.78 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.56 |
| 19 | United Kingdom | 0.78 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.75 |
| 20 | Italy | 0.77 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.49 |
| 21 | Chile | 0.77 | Presidential | 8.44 |
| 22 | Slovakia | 0.77 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.21 |
| 23 | Uruguay | 0.76 | Presidential | 8.36 |
| 24 | Canada | 0.76 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.85 |
| 25 | Iceland | 0.75 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.77 |
| 26 | Austria | 0.75 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.67 |
| 27 | Japan | 0.74 | Constitutional Monarchies | 8.73 |
| 28 | Lithuania | 0.74 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.68 |
| 29 | United States of America | 0.74 | Presidential | 8.73 |
| 30 | Latvia | 0.73 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.67 |
| 31 | Czech Republic | 0.71 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.61 |
| 32 | Taiwan | 0.7 | Semi-presidential | 8.68 |
| 33 | Jamaica | 0.69 | Constitutional Monarchies | 7.91 |
| 34 | Cyprus | 0.69 | Presidential | 8.42 |
| 35 | Barbados | 0.68 | Constitutional Monarchies | 7.92 |
| 36 | Greece | 0.67 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.86 |
| 37 | Argentina | 0.66 | Presidential | 7.38 |
| 38 | Vanuatu | 0.66 | Parliamentary Republic | |
| 39 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0.66 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.7 |
| 40 | Peru | 0.65 | Presidential | 7.93 |
| 41 | Israel | 0.65 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.66 |
| 42 | Suriname | 0.65 | Presidential | 7.64 |
| 43 | Romania | 0.64 | Semi-presidential | 8.33 |
| 44 | Malta | 0.64 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.45 |
| 45 | Croatia | 0.63 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.16 |
| 46 | Moldova | 0.62 | Semi-presidential | 7.68 |
| 47 | Slovenia | 0.6 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.37 |
| 48 | South Africa | 0.59 | Semi-presidential | 7.3 |
| 49 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 0.58 | Semi-presidential | |
| 50 | Seychelles | 0.57 | Presidential | 7.84 |
| 51 | Ghana | 0.57 | Presidential | 7.49 |
| 52 | Panama | 0.56 | Presidential | 8.12 |
| 53 | Armenia | 0.56 | Presidential | 8.2 |
| 54 | Senegal | 0.55 | Presidential | 7.07 |
| 55 | Bulgaria | 0.55 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.08 |
| 56 | Malawi | 0.53 | Presidential | 6.99 |
| 57 | Namibia | 0.51 | Presidential | 7.56 |
| 58 | Brazil | 0.51 | Presidential | 7.22 |
| 59 | Lesotho | 0.5 | Constitutional Monarchies | 7.01 |
| 60 | Mongolia | 0.49 | Semi-presidential | 8 |
| 61 | Georgia | 0.49 | Presidential | 8.2 |
| 62 | East Timor | 0.49 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.22 |
| 63 | Botswana | 0.49 | Presidential | 7.9 |
| 64 | Bhutan | 0.48 | Absolute Monarchies | 6.86 |
| 65 | Burkina Faso | 0.48 | Presidential | 6.85 |
| 66 | Solomon Islands | 0.47 | Constitutional Monarchies | |
| 67 | Dominican Republic | 0.47 | Presidential | 7.88 |
| 68 | Colombia | 0.47 | Presidential | 7.01 |
| 69 | Ecuador | 0.47 | Presidential | 7.43 |
| 70 | Mauritius | 0.46 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.07 |
| 71 | Nepal | 0.46 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 7.12 |
| 72 | Liberia | 0.46 | Presidential | 6.81 |
| 73 | Tunisia | 0.46 | Presidential | 6.46 |
| 74 | Maldives | 0.45 | Presidential | |
| 75 | Indonesia | 0.43 | Presidential | 7.1 |
| 76 | Paraguay | 0.43 | Presidential | 7.54 |
| 77 | Sierra Leone | 0.43 | Presidential | 6.7 |
| 78 | Poland | 0.41 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.96 |
| 79 | The Gambia | 0.41 | Presidential | 6.88 |
| 80 | Albania | 0.4 | Parliamentary Republic | 8.14 |
| 81 | Kenya | 0.4 | Presidential | 6.73 |
| 82 | Niger | 0.4 | Presidential | 6.41 |
| 83 | Republic of Macedonia | 0.4 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.75 |
| 84 | Montenegro | 0.39 | Semi-presidential | 7.88 |
| 85 | Mexico | 0.39 | Presidential | 6.92 |
| 86 | Sri Lanka | 0.38 | Semi-presidential | 6.58 |
| 87 | Bolivia | 0.37 | Presidential | 6.94 |
| 88 | Guyana | 0.37 | Semi-presidential | 7.49 |
| 89 | Hungary | 0.36 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.73 |
| 90 | Guinea-Bissau | 0.36 | Presidential | 6.77 |
| 91 | India | 0.36 | Parliamentary Republic | 6.39 |
| 92 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.35 | Semi-presidential | 7.54 |
| 93 | Nigeria | 0.34 | Presidential | 6.28 |
| 94 | Papua New Guinea | 0.34 | Constitutional Monarchies | 7.17 |
| 95 | Singapore | 0.33 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.98 |
| 96 | Guatemala | 0.32 | Presidential | 7.63 |
| 97 | Ukraine | 0.32 | Semi-presidential | 6.86 |
| 98 | Tanzania | 0.31 | Presidential | 6.48 |
| 99 | Zambia | 0.3 | Presidential | 6.82 |
| 100 | Malaysia | 0.29 | Constitutional Monarchies | 7.17 |
| 101 | Lebanon | 0.28 | Semi-presidential | 6.76 |
| 102 | Philippines | 0.28 | Presidential | 6.83 |
| 103 | Benin | 0.28 | Presidential | 7.32 |
| 104 | Kuwait | 0.27 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 6.34 |
| 105 | Fiji | 0.27 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.36 |
| 106 | Kyrgyzstan | 0.27 | Presidential | 7.18 |
| 107 | Jordan | 0.25 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 6.91 |
| 108 | Serbia | 0.24 | Parliamentary Republic | 7.54 |
| 109 | Ivory Coast | 0.24 | Presidential | 6.9 |
| 110 | Madagascar | 0.24 | Presidential | 7.02 |
| 111 | Morocco | 0.24 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 5.9 |
| 112 | Mozambique | 0.24 | Presidential | 6.8 |
| 113 | Honduras | 0.24 | Presidential | 7.09 |
| 114 | Pakistan | 0.23 | Semi-presidential | 5.63 |
| 115 | Iraq | 0.22 | Parliamentary Republic | 5.02 |
| 116 | El Salvador | 0.22 | Presidential | 7.39 |
| 117 | Uganda | 0.21 | Presidential | 6.32 |
| 118 | Haiti | 0.21 | Presidential | 7.21 |
| 119 | Gabon | 0.21 | Presidential | 6.8 |
| 120 | Hong Kong | 0.2 | 8.41 | |
| 121 | Togo | 0.2 | Presidential | 6.5 |
| 122 | Angola | 0.19 | Semi-presidential | 6.09 |
| 123 | Zimbabwe | 0.19 | Presidential | 5.6 |
| 124 | Mali | 0.18 | Presidential | 6.25 |
| 125 | Thailand | 0.17 | Military Junta | 6.89 |
| 126 | Mauritania | 0.17 | Military Junta | 5.73 |
| 127 | Central African Republic | 0.16 | Presidential | 5.62 |
| 128 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 0.16 | Presidential | 5.62 |
| 129 | Ethiopia | 0.15 | Parliamentary Republic | 5.95 |
| 130 | Libya | 0.15 | Military Junta | 5.05 |
| 131 | Algeria | 0.15 | Semi-presidential | 5.26 |
| 132 | Palestine | 0.14 | ||
| 133 | Oman | 0.14 | Absolute Monarchies | 5.92 |
| 134 | Kazakhstan | 0.13 | Presidential | 6.77 |
| 135 | Cameroon | 0.13 | Presidential | 5.63 |
| 136 | Comoros | 0.13 | Presidential | 6.07 |
| 137 | Vietnam | 0.13 | One-party | 5.9 |
| 138 | Djibouti | 0.12 | Presidential | 5.84 |
| 139 | Iran | 0.12 | Theocracies | 4.53 |
| 140 | Egypt | 0.12 | Semi-presidential | 4.49 |
| 141 | Rwanda | 0.12 | Presidential | 6.36 |
| 142 | Bangladesh | 0.12 | Parliamentary Republic | 5.75 |
| 143 | Turkey | 0.12 | Parliamentary Republic | 5.79 |
| 144 | Guinea | 0.11 | Presidential | 5.82 |
| 145 | Eswatini | 0.11 | 5.79 | |
| 146 | Republic of the Congo | 0.11 | Presidential | 5.55 |
| 147 | Russia | 0.1 | Semi-presidential | 6.23 |
| 148 | Laos | 0.1 | One-party | 5.85 |
| 149 | Somalia | 0.09 | 4.93 | |
| 150 | Uzbekistan | 0.09 | Presidential | |
| 151 | Qatar | 0.09 | Absolute Monarchies | 6.15 |
| 152 | Myanmar | 0.08 | Military Junta | 5.78 |
| 153 | Sudan | 0.08 | Presidential | 4.48 |
| 154 | United Arab Emirates | 0.08 | Absolute Monarchies | 6.06 |
| 155 | Cuba | 0.08 | One-party | |
| 156 | Burundi | 0.08 | Presidential | 5.02 |
| 157 | Venezuela | 0.07 | Presidential | 4.03 |
| 158 | Azerbaijan | 0.07 | Presidential | 6.16 |
| 159 | Chad | 0.07 | Presidential | 5.57 |
| 160 | Cambodia | 0.07 | Constitutional Monarchies | 6.47 |
| 161 | South Sudan | 0.06 | ||
| 162 | Nicaragua | 0.06 | Presidential | 6.24 |
| 163 | Equatorial Guinea | 0.05 | Presidential | |
| 164 | Bahrain | 0.05 | Semi-constitutional Monarchies | 5.73 |
| 165 | Tajikistan | 0.05 | Presidential | 5.52 |
| 166 | People's Republic of China | 0.04 | One-party | 5.57 |
| 167 | Saudi Arabia | 0.04 | Absolute Monarchies | 5.12 |
| 168 | Turkmenistan | 0.04 | Presidential | |
| 169 | Syria | 0.04 | One-party | 3.66 |
| 170 | Belarus | 0.04 | Presidential | 6.73 |
| 171 | Yemen | 0.03 | Semi-presidential | 4.08 |
| 172 | Afghanistan | 0.02 | ||
| 173 | North Korea | 0.02 | One-party | |
| 174 | Eritrea | 0.01 | One-party |
Liberalism
Liberalism is an ideology which promotes individual freedom, civil rights, and the importance of the rule of law. It emphasizes the protection of individual liberty through government guarantees of civil rights, freedoms, and responsibilities in societies. It also stresses that governments should limit its intervention in economic activities except for enforcing contracts, property rights and other market regulations that promote competition. Liberalism also stands for equal rights for individuals regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation; it supports the idea of personal responsibility and encourages a merit-based society where individuals can rise up based on hard work. The core values in Liberalism include respect for human dignity and individual autonomy, the free exchange of ideas and goods, equality under the law, justice tempered by mercy and compassion, social inclusion, environmental stewardship, international cooperation and a strong commitment to democracy.
Liberal Democracies
Liberal democracies are countries in which citizens have the right to actively participate in political processes, such as voting and expressing their opinions through speech and peaceful protest. These countries typically also grant a wide range of civil liberties, such as freedom of religion, speech, and press. However, in practice some countries may be more liberal than others – for example, those with a strong constitutional protection of individual rights may afford their citizens a higher degree of liberty than those without. Additionally, depending on the country’s culture or demographics, certain liberties may be more widely accepted than others. In general, liberal democracies share commonalities when it comes to protecting civil rights and liberties but can vary greatly in terms of how liberal they actually allow their citizens to be.
Most Liberal Countries
The most liberal countries are Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Costa Rica, Estonia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and Ireland. Sweden is the most liberal country in the world, with a liberal democracy index of 0.878. The second most liberal country is Denmark, at 0.877. The third most liberal country in the world is Norway, with a liberal democracy index of 0.857. Costa Rica is ranked fourth most liberal country in the world with a liberal democracy index of 0.85. Ranked fifth and sixth most liberal countries are Estonia and New Zealand, which both have a liberal democracy index of 0.837. Switzerland has a liberal democracy index of 0.836 and is ranked seventh most liberal country in the world. Finland comes in eighth place for most liberal countries, with a liberal democracy index of 0.829. Germany is ranked ninth most liberal country in the world, and has a liberal democracy index of 0.822. The tenth most liberal country in the world is Ireland, with a liberal democracy index of 0.82.
Most Liberal Countries in the World
1. Sweden – 0.878
2. Denmark – 0.877
3. Norway – 0.857
4. Costa Rica – 0.85
5. Estonia – 0.837
6. New Zealand – 0.837
7. Switzerland – 0.836
8. Finland – 0.829
9. Germany – 0.822
10. Ireland – 0.82
Most Liberal Country
Sweden is widely recognized as the most liberal country in the world, with a liberal democracy index of 0.878. This high ranking reflects Sweden’s strong commitment to human rights and individual freedoms, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, access to education and health care for all citizens, and the right to privacy. Moreover, Sweden has a long history of protecting progressive legislation concerning gender equality and LGBT rights. In addition to these legal protections, Sweden also has an open attitude towards refugees and immigrants that feel welcome in the country. As one of Europe’s most socially progressive countries, Sweden has a robust welfare system that provides support for its citizens regardless of their socio-economic background or cultural heritage. Moreover, Sweden’s strong sense of egalitarianism means that everyone is entitled to the same educational opportunities and job prospects regardless of race or gender. All this contributes to making Sweden the most liberal country in the world.
Liberal Democracy Index by Country
Afghanistan
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0.02
Ranked in the World
#172
Albania
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0.4
Ranked in the World
#80
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
8.14
Ranked in the World
#42
Algeria
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add_circle
0.15
Ranked in the World
#131
System of Government
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Semi-presidential
5.26
Ranked in the World
#153
Angola
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add_circle
0.19
Ranked in the World
#122
System of Government
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Semi-presidential
6.09
Ranked in the World
#128
Argentina
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add_circle
0.66
Ranked in the World
#37
System of Government
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Presidential
7.38
Ranked in the World
#73
Armenia
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add_circle
0.56
Ranked in the World
#53
System of Government
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Presidential
8.2
Ranked in the World
#39
Australia
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0.81
Ranked in the World
#14
System of Government
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Constitutional Monarchies
8.84
Ranked in the World
#8
Australia ranks as the fourteenth most liberal country in the world and has a liberal democracy index of 0.81. This rating puts Australia among other countries that have high levels of political rights, civil liberties, and functioning government institutions. Due to its strong liberal democratic standing, electoral processes are considered free and fair while citizens enjoy robust laws protecting individual rights and freedoms. Furthermore, Australia is known for having one of the most open markets in the world with an independent press, freedom of expression, and relatively low corruption rates. This environment encourages economic growth and innovation allowing Australians to benefit from an open society that embraces diversity and inclusion.
Austria
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0.75
Ranked in the World
#26
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
8.67
Ranked in the World
#21
Azerbaijan
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add_circle
0.07
Ranked in the World
#158
System of Government
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Presidential
6.16
Ranked in the World
#126
Bahrain
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add_circle
0.05
Ranked in the World
#164
System of Government
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Semi-constitutional Monarchies
5.73
Ranked in the World
#142
Bangladesh
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add_circle
0.12
Ranked in the World
#142
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
5.75
Ranked in the World
#141
Barbados
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add_circle
0.68
Ranked in the World
#35
System of Government
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Constitutional Monarchies
7.92
Ranked in the World
#50
Belarus
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add_circle
0.04
Ranked in the World
#170
System of Government
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Presidential
6.73
Ranked in the World
#108
Belgium
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0.82
Ranked in the World
#11
System of Government
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Constitutional Monarchies
8.61
Ranked in the World
#23
Benin
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0.28
Ranked in the World
#103
System of Government
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Presidential
7.32
Ranked in the World
#75
Bhutan
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0.48
Ranked in the World
#64
System of Government
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Absolute Monarchies
6.86
Ranked in the World
#97
Bolivia
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0.37
Ranked in the World
#87
System of Government
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Presidential
6.94
Ranked in the World
#91
Bosnia and Herzegovina
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add_circle
0.35
Ranked in the World
#92
System of Government
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Semi-presidential
7.54
Ranked in the World
#66
Botswana
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add_circle
0.49
Ranked in the World
#63
System of Government
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Presidential
7.9
Ranked in the World
#52
Brazil
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add_circle
0.51
Ranked in the World
#58
System of Government
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Presidential
7.22
Ranked in the World
#77
Bulgaria
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add_circle
0.55
Ranked in the World
#55
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
8.08
Ranked in the World
#44
Burkina Faso
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add_circle
0.48
Ranked in the World
#65
System of Government
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Presidential
6.85
Ranked in the World
#99
Burundi
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add_circle
0.08
Ranked in the World
#156
System of Government
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Presidential
5.02
Ranked in the World
#156
Cambodia
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0.07
Ranked in the World
#160
System of Government
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Constitutional Monarchies
6.47
Ranked in the World
#114
Cameroon
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0.13
Ranked in the World
#135
System of Government
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Presidential
5.63
Ranked in the World
#144
Canada
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0.76
Ranked in the World
#24
System of Government
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Constitutional Monarchies
8.85
Ranked in the World
#6
Canada is ranked as the twenty-fourth most liberal country in the world with a liberal democracy index of 0.76. Canada's relatively high score is due to its robust free press and longstanding commitment to inclusivity and multiculturalism. Canadian citizens enjoy a wide range of rights and freedom that are enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which serves as a cornerstone for many laws that protect citizens from discrimination or other abuses. Furthermore, Canada’s strong democratic values have been affirmed both domestically through the recognition of Indigenous rights and abroad through its active involvement in international organizations like the United Nations.
Central African Republic
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0.16
Ranked in the World
#127
System of Government
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Presidential
5.62
Ranked in the World
#146
Chad
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0.07
Ranked in the World
#159
System of Government
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Presidential
5.57
Ranked in the World
#149
Chile
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add_circle
0.77
Ranked in the World
#21
System of Government
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Presidential
8.44
Ranked in the World
#28
Colombia
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add_circle
0.47
Ranked in the World
#68
System of Government
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Presidential
7.01
Ranked in the World
#88
Comoros
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add_circle
0.13
Ranked in the World
#136
System of Government
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Presidential
6.07
Ranked in the World
#129
Costa Rica
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0.85
Ranked in the World
#4
System of Government
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Presidential
8.25
Ranked in the World
#36
Croatia
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0.63
Ranked in the World
#45
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
8.16
Ranked in the World
#41
Cuba
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add_circle
0.08
Ranked in the World
#155
System of Government
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One-party
Cyprus
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0.69
Ranked in the World
#34
System of Government
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Presidential
8.42
Ranked in the World
#29
Czech Republic
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0.71
Ranked in the World
#31
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
8.61
Ranked in the World
#24
Democratic Republic of the Congo
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add_circle
0.16
Ranked in the World
#128
System of Government
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Presidential
5.62
Ranked in the World
#147
Denmark
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0.88
Ranked in the World
#2
System of Government
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Constitutional Monarchies
8.98
Ranked in the World
#3
Djibouti
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add_circle
0.12
Ranked in the World
#138
System of Government
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Presidential
5.84
Ranked in the World
#136
Dominican Republic
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add_circle
0.47
Ranked in the World
#67
System of Government
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Presidential
7.88
Ranked in the World
#53
East Timor
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add_circle
0.49
Ranked in the World
#62
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
7.22
Ranked in the World
#78
Ecuador
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add_circle
0.47
Ranked in the World
#69
System of Government
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Presidential
7.43
Ranked in the World
#71
Egypt
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0.12
Ranked in the World
#140
System of Government
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Semi-presidential
El Salvador
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0.22
Ranked in the World
#116
System of Government
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Presidential
7.39
Ranked in the World
#72
Equatorial Guinea
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add_circle
0.05
Ranked in the World
#163
System of Government
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Presidential
Eritrea
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add_circle
0.01
Ranked in the World
#174
System of Government
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One-party
Estonia
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0.84
Ranked in the World
#5
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
8.91
Ranked in the World
#4
Eswatini
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add_circle
0.11
Ranked in the World
#145
5.79
Ranked in the World
#138
Ethiopia
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add_circle
0.15
Ranked in the World
#129
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
5.95
Ranked in the World
#131
Fiji
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add_circle
0.27
Ranked in the World
#105
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
7.36
Ranked in the World
#74
Finland
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add_circle
0.83
Ranked in the World
#8
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
8.85
Ranked in the World
#7
France
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add_circle
0.8
Ranked in the World
#16
System of Government
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Semi-presidential
8.34
Ranked in the World
#34
Gabon
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0.21
Ranked in the World
#119
System of Government
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Presidential
6.8
Ranked in the World
#103
Georgia
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add_circle
0.49
Ranked in the World
#61
System of Government
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Presidential
8.2
Ranked in the World
#40
Germany
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add_circle
0.82
Ranked in the World
#9
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
8.73
Ranked in the World
#15
Ghana
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add_circle
0.57
Ranked in the World
#51
System of Government
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Presidential
7.49
Ranked in the World
#69
Greece
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add_circle
0.67
Ranked in the World
#36
System of Government
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Parliamentary Republic
7.86
Ranked in the World
#55
Guatemala
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add_circle
0.32
Ranked in the World
#96
System of Government
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Presidential
7.63
Ranked in the World
#64
Guinea
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add_circle
0.11
Ranked in the World
#144
System of Government
help
Presidential
5.82
Ranked in the World
#137
Guinea-Bissau
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add_circle
0.36
Ranked in the World
#90
System of Government
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Presidential
6.77
Ranked in the World
#105
Guyana
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add_circle
0.37
Ranked in the World
#88
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
7.49
Ranked in the World
#70
Haiti
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add_circle
0.21
Ranked in the World
#118
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.21
Ranked in the World
#79
Honduras
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add_circle
0.24
Ranked in the World
#113
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.09
Ranked in the World
#85
Hong Kong
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add_circle
0.2
Ranked in the World
#120
8.41
Ranked in the World
#30
Hungary
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add_circle
0.36
Ranked in the World
#89
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
7.73
Ranked in the World
#58
Iceland
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add_circle
0.75
Ranked in the World
#25
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.77
Ranked in the World
#12
India
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add_circle
0.36
Ranked in the World
#91
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
6.39
Ranked in the World
#118
Indonesia
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add_circle
0.43
Ranked in the World
#75
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.1
Ranked in the World
#84
Iran
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add_circle
0.12
Ranked in the World
#139
System of Government
help
Theocracies
4.53
Ranked in the World
#159
Iraq
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add_circle
0.22
Ranked in the World
#115
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
5.02
Ranked in the World
#157
Ireland
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add_circle
0.82
Ranked in the World
#10
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.9
Ranked in the World
#5
Israel
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add_circle
0.65
Ranked in the World
#41
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
7.66
Ranked in the World
#61
Italy
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add_circle
0.77
Ranked in the World
#20
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.49
Ranked in the World
#26
Ivory Coast
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add_circle
0.24
Ranked in the World
#109
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.9
Ranked in the World
#94
Jamaica
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add_circle
0.69
Ranked in the World
#33
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
7.91
Ranked in the World
#51
Japan
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add_circle
0.74
Ranked in the World
#27
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
8.73
Ranked in the World
#16
Jordan
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add_circle
0.25
Ranked in the World
#107
System of Government
help
Semi-constitutional Monarchies
6.91
Ranked in the World
#93
Kazakhstan
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add_circle
0.13
Ranked in the World
#134
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.77
Ranked in the World
#106
Kenya
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add_circle
0.4
Ranked in the World
#81
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.73
Ranked in the World
#109
Kuwait
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add_circle
0.27
Ranked in the World
#104
System of Government
help
Semi-constitutional Monarchies
6.34
Ranked in the World
#120
Kyrgyzstan
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add_circle
0.27
Ranked in the World
#106
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.18
Ranked in the World
#80
Laos
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add_circle
0.1
Ranked in the World
#148
System of Government
help
One-party
5.85
Ranked in the World
#135
Latvia
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add_circle
0.73
Ranked in the World
#30
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.67
Ranked in the World
#22
Lebanon
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add_circle
0.28
Ranked in the World
#101
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
6.76
Ranked in the World
#107
Lesotho
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add_circle
0.5
Ranked in the World
#59
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
7.01
Ranked in the World
#89
Liberia
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add_circle
0.46
Ranked in the World
#72
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.81
Ranked in the World
#102
Libya
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add_circle
System of Government
help
Military Junta
5.05
Ranked in the World
#155
Lithuania
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add_circle
0.74
Ranked in the World
#28
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.68
Ranked in the World
#19
Luxembourg
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add_circle
0.8
Ranked in the World
#15
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
8.8
Ranked in the World
#10
Madagascar
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add_circle
0.24
Ranked in the World
#110
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.02
Ranked in the World
#87
Malawi
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add_circle
0.53
Ranked in the World
#56
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.99
Ranked in the World
#90
Malaysia
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add_circle
0.29
Ranked in the World
#100
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
7.17
Ranked in the World
#81
Maldives
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add_circle
0.45
Ranked in the World
#74
System of Government
help
Presidential
Mali
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add_circle
0.18
Ranked in the World
#124
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.25
Ranked in the World
#123
Malta
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add_circle
0.64
Ranked in the World
#44
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.45
Ranked in the World
#27
Mauritania
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add_circle
0.17
Ranked in the World
#126
System of Government
help
Military Junta
5.73
Ranked in the World
#143
Mauritius
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add_circle
0.46
Ranked in the World
#70
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.07
Ranked in the World
#45
Mexico
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add_circle
0.39
Ranked in the World
#85
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.92
Ranked in the World
#92
Moldova
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add_circle
0.62
Ranked in the World
#46
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
7.68
Ranked in the World
#60
Mongolia
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add_circle
0.49
Ranked in the World
#60
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
8
Ranked in the World
#46
Montenegro
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add_circle
0.39
Ranked in the World
#84
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
7.88
Ranked in the World
#54
Morocco
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add_circle
0.24
Ranked in the World
#111
System of Government
help
Semi-constitutional Monarchies
5.9
Ranked in the World
#133
Mozambique
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add_circle
0.24
Ranked in the World
#112
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.8
Ranked in the World
#104
Myanmar
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add_circle
0.08
Ranked in the World
#152
System of Government
help
Military Junta
5.78
Ranked in the World
#140
Namibia
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add_circle
0.51
Ranked in the World
#57
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.56
Ranked in the World
#65
Nepal
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add_circle
0.46
Ranked in the World
#71
System of Government
help
Semi-constitutional Monarchies
7.12
Ranked in the World
#83
Netherlands
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add_circle
0.81
Ranked in the World
#12
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
8.78
Ranked in the World
#11
New Zealand
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add_circle
0.84
Ranked in the World
#6
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
9.01
Ranked in the World
#2
Nicaragua
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add_circle
0.06
Ranked in the World
#162
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.24
Ranked in the World
#124
Niger
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add_circle
0.4
Ranked in the World
#82
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.41
Ranked in the World
#117
Nigeria
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add_circle
0.34
Ranked in the World
#93
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.28
Ranked in the World
#122
North Korea
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add_circle
0.02
Ranked in the World
#173
System of Government
help
One-party
Norway
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add_circle
0.86
Ranked in the World
#3
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
8.76
Ranked in the World
#13
Oman
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add_circle
0.14
Ranked in the World
#133
System of Government
help
Absolute Monarchies
5.92
Ranked in the World
#132
Pakistan
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add_circle
0.23
Ranked in the World
#114
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
5.63
Ranked in the World
#145
Palestine
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add_circle
0.14
Ranked in the World
#132
Panama
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add_circle
0.56
Ranked in the World
#52
System of Government
help
Presidential
8.12
Ranked in the World
#43
Papua New Guinea
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add_circle
0.34
Ranked in the World
#94
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
7.17
Ranked in the World
#82
Paraguay
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add_circle
0.43
Ranked in the World
#76
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.54
Ranked in the World
#67
People's Republic of China
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add_circle
0.04
Ranked in the World
#166
System of Government
help
One-party
5.57
Ranked in the World
#150
Peru
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add_circle
0.65
Ranked in the World
#40
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.93
Ranked in the World
#49
Philippines
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add_circle
0.28
Ranked in the World
#102
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.83
Ranked in the World
#100
Poland
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add_circle
0.41
Ranked in the World
#78
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
7.96
Ranked in the World
#48
Portugal
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add_circle
0.81
Ranked in the World
#13
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.69
Ranked in the World
#18
Qatar
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add_circle
0.09
Ranked in the World
#151
System of Government
help
Absolute Monarchies
6.15
Ranked in the World
#127
Republic of Macedonia
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add_circle
0.4
Ranked in the World
#83
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
7.75
Ranked in the World
#57
Republic of the Congo
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add_circle
0.11
Ranked in the World
#146
System of Government
help
Presidential
5.55
Ranked in the World
#151
Romania
See more
add_circle
0.64
Ranked in the World
#43
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
8.33
Ranked in the World
#35
Russia
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add_circle
0.1
Ranked in the World
#147
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
6.23
Ranked in the World
#125
Rwanda
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add_circle
0.12
Ranked in the World
#141
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.36
Ranked in the World
#119
São Tomé and Príncipe
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add_circle
0.58
Ranked in the World
#49
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
Saudi Arabia
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add_circle
0.04
Ranked in the World
#167
System of Government
help
Absolute Monarchies
5.12
Ranked in the World
#154
Senegal
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add_circle
0.55
Ranked in the World
#54
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.07
Ranked in the World
#86
Serbia
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add_circle
0.24
Ranked in the World
#108
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
7.54
Ranked in the World
#68
Seychelles
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add_circle
0.57
Ranked in the World
#50
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.84
Ranked in the World
#56
Sierra Leone
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add_circle
0.43
Ranked in the World
#77
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.7
Ranked in the World
#110
Singapore
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add_circle
0.33
Ranked in the World
#95
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
7.98
Ranked in the World
#47
Slovakia
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add_circle
0.77
Ranked in the World
#22
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.21
Ranked in the World
#38
Slovenia
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add_circle
0.6
Ranked in the World
#47
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
8.37
Ranked in the World
#32
Solomon Islands
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add_circle
0.47
Ranked in the World
#66
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
Somalia
See more
add_circle
0.09
Ranked in the World
#149
4.93
Ranked in the World
#158
South Africa
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add_circle
0.59
Ranked in the World
#48
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
7.3
Ranked in the World
#76
South Korea
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add_circle
0.79
Ranked in the World
#17
System of Government
help
Presidential
8.39
Ranked in the World
#31
South Sudan
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add_circle
0.06
Ranked in the World
#161
Spain
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add_circle
0.78
Ranked in the World
#18
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
8.56
Ranked in the World
#25
Sri Lanka
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add_circle
0.38
Ranked in the World
#86
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
6.58
Ranked in the World
#111
Sudan
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add_circle
0.08
Ranked in the World
#153
System of Government
help
Presidential
4.48
Ranked in the World
#161
Suriname
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add_circle
0.65
Ranked in the World
#42
System of Government
help
Presidential
7.64
Ranked in the World
#63
Sweden
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add_circle
0.88
Ranked in the World
#1
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
8.83
Ranked in the World
#9
Sweden is the most liberal country in the world due to its high score of 0.88 on the liberal democracy index. This is largely attributed to its progressive policies, such as a generous welfare system, rigorous environmental regulations, and comprehensive civil rights laws that ensure citizens are safe and able to exercise their political freedoms. Sweden enjoys a comparatively lower rate of inequality among its population than other countries, including a minimal gender pay gap that makes the standard of living quite high. Additionally, Sweden has seen an overall increase in voter turnout over the past two decades, indicating that citizens have faith in their government’s ability to protect their rights and provide for their interests.
Switzerland
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add_circle
0.84
Ranked in the World
#7
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
9.11
Ranked in the World
#1
Syria
See more
add_circle
0.04
Ranked in the World
#169
System of Government
help
One-party
3.66
Ranked in the World
#164
Taiwan
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add_circle
0.7
Ranked in the World
#32
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
8.68
Ranked in the World
#20
Tajikistan
See more
add_circle
0.05
Ranked in the World
#165
System of Government
help
Presidential
5.52
Ranked in the World
#152
Tanzania
See more
add_circle
0.31
Ranked in the World
#98
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.48
Ranked in the World
#113
Thailand
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add_circle
0.17
Ranked in the World
#125
System of Government
help
Military Junta
6.89
Ranked in the World
#95
The Gambia
See more
add_circle
0.41
Ranked in the World
#79
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.88
Ranked in the World
#96
Togo
See more
add_circle
0.2
Ranked in the World
#121
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.5
Ranked in the World
#112
Trinidad and Tobago
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add_circle
0.66
Ranked in the World
#39
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
7.7
Ranked in the World
#59
Tunisia
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add_circle
0.46
Ranked in the World
#73
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.46
Ranked in the World
#116
Turkey
See more
add_circle
0.12
Ranked in the World
#143
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
5.79
Ranked in the World
#139
Turkmenistan
See more
add_circle
0.04
Ranked in the World
#168
System of Government
help
Presidential
Uganda
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add_circle
0.21
Ranked in the World
#117
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.32
Ranked in the World
#121
Ukraine
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add_circle
0.32
Ranked in the World
#97
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
6.86
Ranked in the World
#98
United Arab Emirates
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add_circle
0.08
Ranked in the World
#154
System of Government
help
Absolute Monarchies
6.06
Ranked in the World
#130
United Kingdom
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add_circle
0.78
Ranked in the World
#19
System of Government
help
Constitutional Monarchies
8.75
Ranked in the World
#14
United States of America
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add_circle
0.74
Ranked in the World
#29
System of Government
help
Presidential
8.73
Ranked in the World
#17
The United States is the twenty-ninth most liberal country in the world with a liberal democracy index of 0.74. This score indicates that the U.S. has a relatively high level of civil liberties and political rights for citizens. Despite this ranking, there are still challenges to an open system of government; many have argued that money in politics has undermined the democratic process and further eroded personal liberties. Research also shows that certain racial and socioeconomic groups are more likely to experience discrimination and unequal access to resources due to persistent systemic divisions.
Uruguay
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add_circle
0.76
Ranked in the World
#23
System of Government
help
Presidential
8.36
Ranked in the World
#33
Uzbekistan
See more
add_circle
0.09
Ranked in the World
#150
System of Government
help
Presidential
Vanuatu
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add_circle
0.66
Ranked in the World
#38
System of Government
help
Parliamentary Republic
Venezuela
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add_circle
0.07
Ranked in the World
#157
System of Government
help
Presidential
4.03
Ranked in the World
#163
Vietnam
See more
add_circle
0.13
Ranked in the World
#137
System of Government
help
One-party
5.9
Ranked in the World
#134
Yemen
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add_circle
0.03
Ranked in the World
#171
System of Government
help
Semi-presidential
4.08
Ranked in the World
#162
Zambia
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add_circle
0.3
Ranked in the World
#99
System of Government
help
Presidential
6.82
Ranked in the World
#101
Zimbabwe
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add_circle
0.19
Ranked in the World
#123
System of Government
help
Presidential
5.6
Ranked in the World
#148
FAQs
What are the most liberal countries in the world ?
The most liberal countries in the world are :
1. Sweden – 0.878
2. Denmark – 0.877
3. Norway – 0.857
4. Costa Rica – 0.85
5. Estonia – 0.837
6. New Zealand – 0.837
7. Switzerland – 0.836
8. Finland – 0.829
9. Germany – 0.822
10. Ireland – 0.82
What is the most liberal country in the world ?
The most liberal country in the world is Sweden, with a liberal democracy index of 0.878.
What are the 15 most liberal countries ?
The 15 most liberal countries in the world are Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Costa Rica, Estonia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Australia, and Luxembourg.
