2023 Year in Review

In 2023, Freedom House assisted more than 15,000 human rights activists, organizations, journalists, children and youth, and others at-risk more than 90 countries. Here's how we worked to expand and defend freedom across the world over the past year.

Since our founding in 1941, Freedom House has worked tirelessly to inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize global action, and support democracy's defenders across the globe. This year was no different.

Freedom House amplified the voices of brave Iranian women demanding their basic rights and freedoms, organized trainings and convenings of human rights defenders in Latin America and central Africa, tracked public dissent in China, and provided emergency funding to activists in Afghanistan. The fight for freedom and democracy in every region of the world continues; throughout 2023, Freedom House remained a key ally in that fight.

We reflect on the year that was—and begin looking forward to the year to come.

Reflecting on 2023: Our Journey Towards a Freer World

Against a backdrop of escalating authoritarian aggression—as well as backsliding in several major democracies—Freedom House remained undaunted in our efforts to create a world where all people can live freely.

Read more from Freedom House president Michael Abramowitz as he reflects on the challenges faced by democracy's defenders across the world, the hope that drives us into 2024, and how you can join in the fight to defend and expand freedom and democracy worldwide.

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2023: By-the-Numbers: Accordion content 2.

Hundreds of Colombian social leaders and rights defenders from different communities including afro descendants, indigenous, and campesinos take part in a May Day march to denounce violence against human rights defenders in Bogotá on May 1, 2019. (Image Credit: RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images)

Join the fight for freedom today

The courageous people on the front lines of the global fight for freedom need your help. Your support means more safe houses, more security training, and more emergency aid for people living and working in some of the world’s most repressive regions. Make a gift today and join Freedom House in our vision of creating a world where all are free.

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Freedom House’s Global Impact in 2023

Freedom House 2023 End of Year Review — Illustration by Gil Wannalertsiri, Freedom House. (*Photos: Munu-Muti/Wikimedia Commons, Associated Press/Alamy/Jose Luis Magana, Guang Niu/Getty Images, J. Neves/USAID, Ezra Acayan/Alamy Live News, Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images.*)

For more than 80 years, Freedom House has worked to inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize policymakers and leaders to meet those threats, and support democracy's advocates and human rights defenders in some of the world's most repressive environments. In 2023, the impact of this mission was felt from Kabul to Kampala, from Mariupol to Managua, and from Tehran to Taipei.

Freedom House's Matt Hooper highlights examples of our impact around the world over the past year.

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A Deep Sense of Direction: Prachi Lalwani’s Journey to Freedom House

After serving as an intern at Freedom House in 2022, Prachi Lalwani was hired as development associate in February 2023. As an Indian-Venezuelan woman who has experienced deprivation and witnessed injustice, Lalwani decided her career would be devoted to making the world a freer place.

We spoke with Lalwani recently to learn more about her journey to Freedom House.

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Our Annual Research Reports

The 50th Edition of Freedom in the World

Around the world, the enemies of liberal democracy are accelerating their attacks, contributing to the 17th consecutive year of decline in global freedom. Explore the latest edition of Freedom in the World to learn more about the latest global trends.

Freedom on the Net

Explore the latest edition of Freedom on the Net to learn how artificial intelligence is increasing the scale, speed, and efficiency of digital repression.

Volunteers clean up the rubbles from a destroyed residential building in Borodyanka. Following the recapture of Borodyanka by the Ukrainian forces, the city was heavily devastated and turned into ruins under intense fighting and shelling.

Nations in Transit

In 2023, Democracy Scores declined in 11 out of the 29 countries in the report, and 7 countries earned improvements. Yet civic activists and democratic leaders continued to strive for better governance across the diverse region. Explore the 2023 edition of Nations in Transit.