Researchers at the Cato Institute have released the 2025 Human Freedom Index. Overall in the world, explain the researchers, freedom has been diminished since the last index was published. The authors write:
Human freedom deteriorated severely in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and remained low four years after the outbreak of the disease. Most areas of freedom fell, including significant continued declines in freedom of expression and freedom of association and assembly, and significant declines in freedom of movement and in sound money. After having fallen significantly in 2020 and further in 2021, global human freedom increased somewhat in 2022 but remained unchanged in 2023 and was still well below its pre-pandemic level. On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents more freedom, the average human freedom rating for 165 jurisdictions fell from 6.97 in 2019 to 6.75 in 2020 and 6.72 in 2021, then increased to 6.81 in 2022 and remained at that level in 2023.
The United States’ human freedom ranking has fallen from eighth to fifteenth since 2000. Hurting the U.S. the most are its scores for size of government, legal system, property rights, and rule of law. These three scores dragged down what is otherwise a very strong showing. After decades of growing government, this probably isn’t much of a surprise to anyone.
Action Line: Don’t forget that even within the United States, there are many different levels of freedom. Each state is a laboratory of democracy, and some are finding more success than others. You can get a good look at the leaders by referencing Your Survival Guy’s 2025 Super States. And click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive email, and you’ll be among the first to see when my 2026 rankings are released.
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