Bhutan was rated as the only “Free” country in South Asia by Freedom House, the US watchdog
Earlier this month, Freedom House, the Washington-based pro-democracy research group published its latest report on democracy and human rights, Of the more than 200 countries and territories assessed, the report elevated only two nations to “Free” status: Senegal and Bhutan. This recognition makes Bhutan the only South Asian country classified as “Free.”
According to the report, Bhutan’s status improved from “Partly Free” to “Free” due to free and fair legislative elections, the formation of a new government, and ongoing democratic reforms. “Additionally, improvements in physical security and civil liberties contributed to this change,” the report states. This distinction affirms that Bhutan is moving in the right direction toward a vibrant democracy.
In this 2025 report, Bhutan scored 68% overall, with 32 out of 40 for political rights and 36 out of 60 for civil liberties. In comparison, Bhutan was rated “Partly Free” in 2024, scoring 63%—30/40 in political rights and 33/60 in civil liberties. From 2021 to 2023, the country maintained a consistent score of 61%.
When asked about this score and Bhutan’s, Sonam Dorji, an entrepreneur based in Thimphu, said the ratings underscore the giant steps Bhutan had made in strengthening democracy. “We are one of the youngest democracies, but we are citing examples, and becoming a model for other countries.”
Similarly, a senior civil servant said the “news is incredible.” “This is testament that we are headed in the right direction; the road towards a vibrant democracy. The world knows how we became a democracy and now they are witnessing how we are progressing, led by His Majesty the King.”
Meanwhile, Freedom House is known for its advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights. Its flagship annual report, “Freedom in the World”, provides a global assessment of political rights and civil liberties, assigning numerical ratings alongside a descriptive analysis for each country and select territories.
The 2025 edition evaluated developments in 195 countries and 13 territories, covering the period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. The report’s methodology is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948) and operates on the principle that these fundamental freedoms apply universally, regardless of a country’s location, ethnic or religious composition, or level of economic development.
Freedom House assesses real-world rights and freedoms as experienced by individuals rather than focusing solely on government policies or performance. It recognizes that political rights and civil liberties can be influenced by both state and non-state actors, including insurgents and armed groups. While legal guarantees of rights are considered, the report places greater emphasis on implementation and the actual lived experiences of people.
Territories are evaluated separately if they meet specific criteria, such as:
- Being governed independently from the parent country (de jure or de facto)
- Having significantly different political and civil liberties conditions compared to the main country
- Being subject to ongoing demands for autonomy, independence, or incorporation into another state
- Maintaining stable boundaries that allow for meaningful year-over-year comparisons
Freedom House typically refrains from taking positions on territorial or separatist disputes, focusing solely on the state of political rights and civil liberties within a given region.
“Freedom in the World 2025” assigns each country or territory a score between 0 and 100, based on 25 indicators across two categories: Political Rights (0–40 points) and Civil Liberties (0–60 points).
The final designation—“Free,” “Partly Free,” or “Not Free”—is determined by weighting both categories equally. This year’s findings highlight Bhutan’s progress in strengthening its democracy, marking a significant milestone in the country’s political evolution.
While some ratings show improvements, others are discouraging. Jordan has been upgraded from “Not Free” to “Partly Free.” However, Kuwait, Niger, and Tanzania have been downgraded from “Partly Free” to “Not Free.” Closer to home, Thailand has also been downgraded from “Partly Free” to “Not Free.”
Ugyen Tenzin from Thimphu
