Civil liberties rating in India
India: Civil liberties rating was 4 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
4
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
69th
of 199 countries
All-time high
5
in 1975
All-time low
2
in 1977
Years of data
53
1972–2025
Civil liberties rating in India, 1972–2025
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, civil liberties rating in India stood at 4.
The figure is up 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, civil liberties rating in India peaked at 5 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 2, in 1977.
India ranks 69th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.
Civil liberties rating in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 3 | — |
| 1973 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 5 | +66.7% |
| 1976 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 2 | -60.0% |
| 1978 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 1982 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 1992 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 1999 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 4 | +33.3% |
| 2021 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 4 | +0.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 4 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5, 80% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 4 is above the median for South Asia, which is 4, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.12 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 1980s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 1990s | 3.7 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 69 Armenia 4 compare
- 69 Bangladesh 4 compare
- 69 Cote d'Ivoire 4 compare
- 69 El Salvador 4 compare
- 69 Gambia 4 compare
- 69 Georgia 4 compare
- 69 Guatemala 4 compare
- 69 Guinea-Bissau 4 compare
- 69 Honduras 4 compare
- 69 Hong Kong 4 compare
- 69 Indonesia 4 compare
- 69 Kenya 4 compare
- 69 Lebanon 4 compare
- 69 Liberia 4 compare
- 69 Madagascar 4 compare
- 69 Malaysia 4 compare
- 69 Mexico 4 compare
- 69 Mozambique 4 compare
- 69 Nepal 4 compare
- 69 Philippines 4 compare
- 69 Singapore 4 compare
- 69 Sri Lanka 4 compare
- 69 Togo 4 compare
- 69 Tunisia 4 compare
- 69 USSR 4 compare
- 69 Ukraine 4 compare
- 69 Zambia 4 compare
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is civil liberties rating in India?
- Civil liberties rating in India was 4 in 2025, according to Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest civil liberties rating recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 5 in 1975.
- What is the lowest civil liberties rating recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 in 1977.
- How does India rank for civil liberties rating?
- India ranks 69th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is civil liberties rating rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.