Americas

Countries & Territories: 38
940 million people
69% free
Press:
48% free

News & Updates

Press Release

Freedom in the World 2012: The Arab Uprisings and Their Global Repercussions

Jan 19 2012 - 9:10am

The political uprisings that have swept the Arab world over the past year represent the most significant challenge to authoritarian rule since the collapse of Soviet communism, according to Freedom in the World 2012, the latest edition of Freedom House’s annual global survey of political rights and civil liberties. 

Issues: 
Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Elections, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Internet Freedom, Media Freedom, Religious Freedom, Rule of Law, Women's Rights
Regions: 
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Global, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe
Freedom Alert

Mexican Human Rights Activist Murdered

Dec 1 2011 - 7:00pm

The situation for human rights activists in Mexico remains grave as evidenced by the murder of Nepomuceno Moreno, who was shot to death while crossing the street in Hemosillo, Mexico.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Human Rights, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Americas
News update

Countries at the Crossroads 2011

Nov 17 2011 - 12:44pm

On November 4, Freedom House released the findings from Countries at the Crossroads 2011, at a panel discussion hosted by The Atlantic Council.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Democratic Governance, Elections, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Media Freedom, Religious Freedom, Rule of Law, Women's Rights
Regions: 
Americas, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe/Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe
Freedom Alert

Ecuadorean Journalist Barred from Traveling to Human Rights Assembly

Oct 24 2011 - 7:00pm

Radio journalist Wilson Cabrera was notified of a judicial order against him just minutes before boarding a plane to Washington D.C. for the 143rd Assembly of the Inter American Court of Human Rights.

Issues: 
Civil Society, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Media Freedom, Rule of Law
Regions: 
Americas

Experts

Giacaman, Viviana

Viviana Giacaman is the director for Latin America programs at Freedom House.

Antigua and Barbuda
88 thousand people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Argentina
40 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Bahamas
357 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Barbados
274 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Belize
318 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Bolivia
10 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Brazil
197 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
29 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
Canada
34 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Chile
17 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Colombia
47 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Costa Rica
4.7 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Cuba
11 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
87 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
Dominica
73 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Dominican Republic
10 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Ecuador
15 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
El Salvador
6.2 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Grenada
105 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Guatemala
15 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Guyana
757 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Haiti
10 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Honduras
7.8 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Jamaica
2.7 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Mexico
115 million people
Internet:
Partially Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
32 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
Nicaragua
5.9 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Panama
3.6 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Paraguay
6.6 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Peru
29 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
St. Kitts and Nevis
50 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
St. Lucia
172 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Suriname
529 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Trinidad and Tobago
1.3 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
United States
312 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
13 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
Uruguay
3.4 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
Venezuela
29 million people
Internet:
Partially Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
5.0 / 7 (least free)
Combined Freedom Score
46 / 100 (most free)
Internet Freedom
Falkland Islands
Scores Overview
French Guiana
Scores Overview

Countries

Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Falkland Islands
French Guiana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Puerto Rico
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela

Programs

Derecho a Voz (The Right to a Voice) - International Advocacy

Freedom House promotes civil society engagement with the Organization of American States and the United Nations by preparing and bringing activists from different countries to international forums

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Intergovernmental Bodies, United Nations
Regions: 
Americas

Venezuela

Over the past 12 years, Venezuela has seen a steady decline in democratic governance resulting in a more restrictive environment for activists and the press.

Issues: 
Democratic Governance, Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas

Nicaragua

Nicaragua has experienced decay in democratic governance as the official party has taken control over state institutions resulting in less transparency and accountability, including the recent elec

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas

Mexico

Mexico is among the most dangerous countries in the world to practice journalism.

Issues: 
Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas

Ecuador

In less than five years since taking office, President Rafael Correa has turned Ecuador into one of the more restrictive countries for freedom of expression in Latin America and taken steps to assault freedom of association.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas

Cuba

Cuba is the only country in the Americas that consistently makes Freedom House’s list of the Worst of the Worst: the World’s Most Repressive Societies for widespread abuses of political ri

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights
Regions: 
Americas

Bolivia

Civil society is witnessing increased restrictions for freedom of Association and Assembly.

Issues: 
Freedom of Association, Freedom of Expression
Regions: 
Americas

Americas

The Americas are second only to Western Europe in levels of freedom and the respect for human rights.  Nonetheless, a rise in violent crime and in populist governments with authoritarian tendencies

Regions: 
Americas