Civil liberties rating in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Civil liberties rating was 7 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Civil liberties rating in Afghanistan, 1972–2025
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for civil liberties rating in Afghanistan is 7, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is up 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, civil liberties rating in Afghanistan peaked at 7 in 1978 and was at its lowest, 5, in 1972.
That places Afghanistan 1st out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 53 years of available data.
Civil liberties rating in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 5 | — |
| 1973 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 1974 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 1979 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 1989 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 1990 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 1993 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 1994 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2006 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 2009 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 2023 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 7 | +0.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 7 is above the median for low income countries, which is 6, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 7 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.12 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| 1980s | 6.89 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
| 1990s | 6.9 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.9 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.67 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 1 Azerbaijan 7 compare
- 1 Belarus 7 compare
- 1 Central African Republic 7 compare
- 1 Equatorial Guinea 7 compare
- 1 Eritrea 7 compare
- 1 Iran 7 compare
- 1 Myanmar 7 compare
- 1 North Korea 7 compare
- 1 Somalia 7 compare
- 1 South Sudan 7 compare
- 1 Sudan 7 compare
- 1 Tajikistan 7 compare
- 1 Turkmenistan 7 compare
- 1 Western Sahara 7 compare
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is civil liberties rating in Afghanistan?
- Civil liberties rating in Afghanistan was 7 in 2025, according to Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest civil liberties rating recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 1978.
- What is the lowest civil liberties rating recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 in 1972.
- How does Afghanistan rank for civil liberties rating?
- Afghanistan ranks 1st out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is civil liberties rating rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Civil liberties rating. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Identifies the extent of freedom of expression and association, the rule of law, and personal autonomy. Lower ratings indicate more liberties.