Civil liberties rating in United States
United States: Civil liberties rating was 2 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
2
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
121st
of 199 countries
All-time high
2
in 2020
All-time low
1
in 1972
Years of data
53
1972–2025
Civil liberties rating in United States, 1972–2025
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for civil liberties rating in United States is 2, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is up 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, civil liberties rating in United States peaked at 2 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1, in 1972.
That places United States 121st out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1 | — |
| 1973 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 2021 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2 | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1, 2.0× the median. (66 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 1980s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 1990s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 121 Antigua and Barbuda 2 compare
- 121 Argentina 2 compare
- 121 Bahamas 2 compare
- 121 Botswana 2 compare
- 121 Bulgaria 2 compare
- 121 Croatia 2 compare
- 121 Cyprus 2 compare
- 121 Fiji 2 compare
- 121 France 2 compare
- 121 Ghana 2 compare
- 121 Greece 2 compare
- 121 Grenada 2 compare
- 121 Guyana 2 compare
- 121 Italy 2 compare
- 121 Jamaica 2 compare
- 121 Latvia 2 compare
- 121 Lithuania 2 compare
- 121 Mauritius 2 compare
- 121 Mongolia 2 compare
- 121 Namibia 2 compare
- 121 Panama 2 compare
- 121 Poland 2 compare
- 121 Romania 2 compare
- 121 Samoa 2 compare
- 121 Sao Tome and Principe 2 compare
- 121 Seychelles 2 compare
- 121 Solomon Islands 2 compare
- 121 South Africa 2 compare
- 121 South Korea 2 compare
- 121 Suriname 2 compare
- 121 Tonga 2 compare
- 121 Trinidad and Tobago 2 compare
- 121 Vanuatu 2 compare
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is civil liberties rating in United States?
- Civil liberties rating in United States was 2 in 2025, according to Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest civil liberties rating recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 2 in 2020.
- What is the lowest civil liberties rating recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 1972.
- How does United States rank for civil liberties rating?
- United States ranks 121st out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is civil liberties rating rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.
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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.