Rabat – Morocco has ranked 129th out of 165 countries in the Human Freedom Index 2025, improving by one spot compared to last year, according to a report by the Cato Institute and the Fraser Institute.
The index measures how free people are in different countries around the world, based on personal, civil, and economic freedoms.
Morocco received an overall human freedom score of 5.44 out of 10. The report shows that the country performs better in economic freedom than in personal freedom. While Morocco scored 6.38 in economic freedom, its personal freedom score stood at 4.76, which lowered its overall position in the global ranking.
The Human Freedom Index is one of the most comprehensive global measurements of freedom. It uses 87 indicators grouped into 12 areas, including freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, rule of law, personal relationships, freedom of movement, and economic factors such as trade, regulation, and sound money.
Each country is scored on a scale from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating fewer restrictions on people’s daily lives, as long as they do not violate the rights of others.
The highest levels of freedom worldwide were recorded in Switzerland, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, and Luxembourg, which occupied the top five positions in the 2025 ranking.
Read also: Morocco Tops North Africa in Economic Freedom, Ranks 101st Globally
These countries scored strongly in both personal freedoms, such as free speech and independent courts, and economic freedoms, including open markets and stable financial systems. On the other end of the index, countries such as Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and Myanmar ranked at the bottom, reflecting severe restrictions on basic freedoms.
The report also shows regional differences, with North America and Western Europe continuing to be the freest regions in the world, while the Middle East and North Africa region remains among the lowest-ranked globally. Morocco’s position reflects this wider regional trend.
According to the index, freedom in Morocco presents a mixed picture. While the country shows relatively better performance in economic areas, challenges remain when it comes to personal freedoms.
Lower scores are linked to restrictions on freedom of expression, limits on peaceful assembly, pressure on civil society, and concerns related to the rule of law. Despite a slight improvement in Morocco’s overall score compared to the previous year, the report indicates that progress in personal freedoms remains limited.
The Human Freedom Index also finds a strong link between freedom and quality of life. Countries with higher levels of freedom tend to have higher incomes, better health outcomes, stronger democratic institutions, and greater social trust. The report notes that global freedom has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with a large share of the world’s population still living in countries with low freedom.
