Americas

The Americas are second only to Western Europe in levels of freedom and respect for human rights.  Nonetheless, a rise in violent crime and in populist governments with authoritarian tendencies has led to backsliding in several countries. Among other serious human rights issues, parts of the region suffer from  threats to freedom of the press, including violence against journalists, and infringements on freedoms of association and assembly. Throughout the Americas, Freedom House enables human right defenders and democracy activists to play a prominent role in counteracting these restrictions on fundamental rights, both domestically and through intergovernmental bodies.To read a summary of our work in the Americas, click here.


Asterisks in the country list below indicate a territory rather than a country.

To access the Mexico website (in Spanish), please visit: www.freedomhouse.org/mexico
Sitio de Freedom House México en español: //freedomhouse.org/mexico

 

Countries & Territories: 36
982 million people
69% free
Press:
40% free

Percent computed by population. Population source data.

News & Updates

Global internet freedom has declined for a fourth consecutive year, according to Freedom on the Net 2014, Freedom House’s annual assessment of internet user rights in 65 countries. The report finds more people being arrested for their internet activity than ever before, online media outlets becoming increasingly pressured to censor themselves, and private companies facing new demands to comply with government requests for data or deletions.

Freedom House urges President Trump to reject the use of torture and make clear his commitment to uphold U.S. law on interrogations.

Freedom House has compiled the following questions for Rex Tillerson, whom President-elect Donald Trump has nominated to serve as secretary of state. Tillerson’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11.

The Correa administration’s attack against Acción Ecológica is part of a systematic effort to silence civil society organizations supporting the rights of marginalized groups. 

Pages

Experts

Director, Latin America programs

Dr. Carlos E. Ponce is the director for Latin America programs at Freedom House.

Regions: 
87 thousand people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
41 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
27
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
362 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
277 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
326 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
11 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
194 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
30
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
35 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
15
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
17 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
47 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
30
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
4.5 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
11 million people
Internet:
Not Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Not Free
Scores Overview
6.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
84
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
71 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
10 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
15 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
37
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
6.3 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
115 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
15 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
796 thousand people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
10 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
5.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
8.4 million people
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
4.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
2.7 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
116 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
39
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
6 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
3.6 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
6.7 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
3.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
30 million people
Press:
Partly Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
54 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
169 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
542 thousand people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.5 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
1.3 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
2.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
314 million people
Internet:
Free
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
19
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
3.4 million people
Press:
Free
Status
Free
Scores Overview
1.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
30 million people
Internet:
Partly Free
Press:
Not Free
Status
Partly Free
Scores Overview
5.0 / 7 (least free)
Freedom Rating
56
(0 = Best, 100 = Worst) / 100 (least free)
Internet Freedom
Scores Overview
Scores Overview

Programs

Freedom House helps citizens defend their rights against government abuses in several countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Issues: 
Regions: 

The Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund provides emergency financial assistance to civil society organizations (CSOs) under threat or attack and advocacy support responding to broader threats to civil society. 

Freedom House administers several funds which offer emergency assistance to organizations and individuals around the world who are under threat because of their human rights work.