Voice and Accountability by Country
The Voice and Accountability by Country ranking compares nations by year-over-year changes in political freedoms, ranking higher those with significant progress in expression, participation, and governance accountability.
Fiji ranks #1 in 2023, showing a positive change from -0.14 to 0.19. Australia takes #2 with a positive change from 1.32 to 1.51, and Spain is #3, showing a positive change from 1.02 to 1.20.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone, Malta, and Niger are at the bottom of the ranking. Sierra Leone shows a negative change from -0.15 to -0.30, Malta sees a negative change from 1.08 to 0.91, and Niger has a negative change from -0.38 to -0.70.
| Rank | Country | Most Recent Year | Previous Year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiji | 0.19 (2023) | -0.14 (2022) | +0.33 pts |
| 2 | Australia | 1.51 (2023) | 1.32 (2022) | +0.18 pts |
| 3 | Spain | 1.20 (2023) | 1.02 (2022) | +0.18 pts |
| 4 | Thailand | -0.45 (2023) | -0.62 (2022) | +0.17 pts |
| 5 | Brazil | 0.38 (2023) | 0.23 (2022) | +0.16 pts |
| 6 | Oman | -1.00 (2023) | -1.15 (2022) | +0.14 pts |
| 7 | Moldova | 0.24 (2023) | 0.10 (2022) | +0.14 pts |
| 8 | Cyprus | 0.98 (2023) | 0.85 (2022) | +0.13 pts |
| 9 | Tanzania | -0.53 (2023) | -0.65 (2022) | +0.12 pts |
| 10 | Benin | -0.22 (2023) | -0.34 (2022) | +0.12 pts |
| 11 | Uganda | -0.70 (2023) | -0.80 (2022) | +0.10 pts |
| 12 | Slovenia | 1.08 (2023) | 0.98 (2022) | +0.10 pts |
| 13 | Bulgaria | 0.39 (2023) | 0.29 (2022) | +0.10 pts |
| 14 | Brunei | -0.72 (2023) | -0.82 (2022) | +0.10 pts |
| 15 | China | -1.51 (2023) | -1.60 (2022) | +0.10 pts |
| 16 | Luxembourg | 1.63 (2023) | 1.54 (2022) | +0.09 pts |
| 17 | Kuwait | -0.59 (2023) | -0.69 (2022) | +0.09 pts |
| 18 | Cuba | -1.25 (2023) | -1.34 (2022) | +0.09 pts |
| 19 | Japan | 1.11 (2023) | 1.02 (2022) | +0.09 pts |
| 20 | Cameroon | -1.07 (2023) | -1.15 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
| 21 | Qatar | -0.97 (2023) | -1.05 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
| 22 | Mauritania | -0.66 (2023) | -0.73 (2022) | +0.08 pts |
| 23 | Denmark | 1.67 (2023) | 1.59 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
| 24 | Angola | -0.74 (2023) | -0.81 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
| 25 | Egypt | -1.38 (2023) | -1.45 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
| 26 | Yemen | -1.55 (2023) | -1.62 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
| 27 | Montenegro | 0.34 (2023) | 0.28 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
| 28 | Maldives | -0.14 (2023) | -0.21 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
| 29 | Saudi Arabia | -1.42 (2023) | -1.48 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
| 30 | Türkiye | -0.86 (2023) | -0.93 (2022) | +0.07 pts |
| 31 | Kazakhstan | -1.00 (2023) | -1.07 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
| 32 | Turkmenistan | -1.88 (2023) | -1.95 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
| 33 | Morocco | -0.49 (2023) | -0.55 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
| 34 | Eswatini | -1.17 (2023) | -1.22 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
| 35 | Liberia | 0.05 (2023) | 0.00 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
| 36 | Latvia | 0.99 (2023) | 0.94 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
| 37 | Greece | 1.01 (2023) | 0.96 (2022) | +0.06 pts |
| 38 | Botswana | 0.50 (2023) | 0.45 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
| 39 | Nigeria | -0.55 (2023) | -0.60 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
| 40 | Sweden | 1.58 (2023) | 1.53 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
| 41 | Grenada | 0.75 (2023) | 0.71 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
| 42 | India | 0.09 (2023) | 0.05 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
| 43 | Germany | 1.46 (2023) | 1.41 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
| 44 | Congo | -1.15 (2023) | -1.20 (2022) | +0.05 pts |
| 45 | France | 1.16 (2023) | 1.11 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 46 | North Korea | -1.98 (2023) | -2.02 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 47 | Switzerland | 1.67 (2023) | 1.62 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 48 | Vietnam | -1.24 (2023) | -1.29 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 49 | Serbia | -0.06 (2023) | -0.10 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 50 | Italy | 1.12 (2023) | 1.07 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 51 | Bhutan | 0.20 (2023) | 0.16 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 52 | Comoros | -0.81 (2023) | -0.85 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 53 | Chile | 1.02 (2023) | 0.98 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 54 | Vanuatu | 0.63 (2023) | 0.59 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 55 | Syria | -1.85 (2023) | -1.90 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 56 | Bahrain | -1.38 (2023) | -1.42 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 57 | Canada | 1.48 (2023) | 1.44 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 58 | Tajikistan | -1.64 (2023) | -1.67 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 59 | Paraguay | 0.04 (2023) | 0.00 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 60 | Philippines | -0.02 (2023) | -0.06 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 61 | Honduras | -0.45 (2023) | -0.49 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 62 | Chad | -1.44 (2023) | -1.47 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 63 | Czech Republic | 1.08 (2023) | 1.04 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 64 | New Zealand | 1.69 (2023) | 1.65 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 65 | Colombia | 0.21 (2023) | 0.17 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 66 | Tunisia | -0.21 (2023) | -0.25 (2022) | +0.04 pts |
| 67 | Rwanda | -0.90 (2023) | -0.94 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 68 | Algeria | -0.98 (2023) | -1.01 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 69 | United Arab Emirates | -1.10 (2023) | -1.13 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 70 | Zambia | -0.05 (2023) | -0.08 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 71 | Azerbaijan | -1.41 (2023) | -1.44 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 72 | Belgium | 1.33 (2023) | 1.30 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 73 | Ireland | 1.48 (2023) | 1.45 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 74 | Barbados | 1.16 (2023) | 1.13 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 75 | Burundi | -1.37 (2023) | -1.40 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 76 | Albania | 0.17 (2023) | 0.14 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 77 | Jordan | -0.78 (2023) | -0.80 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 78 | Kenya | -0.12 (2023) | -0.15 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 79 | Equatorial Guinea | -1.68 (2023) | -1.70 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 80 | Liechtenstein | 1.40 (2023) | 1.38 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 81 | Finland | 1.63 (2023) | 1.61 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 82 | Laos | -1.63 (2023) | -1.66 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 83 | Papua New Guinea | 0.01 (2023) | -0.02 (2022) | +0.03 pts |
| 84 | Poland | 0.63 (2023) | 0.60 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 85 | Slovakia | 0.91 (2023) | 0.89 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 86 | South Africa | 0.75 (2023) | 0.72 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 87 | Nepal | -0.02 (2023) | -0.05 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 88 | Tonga | 0.87 (2023) | 0.85 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 89 | Eritrea | -1.86 (2023) | -1.88 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 90 | Uzbekistan | -1.31 (2023) | -1.33 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 91 | Marshall Islands | 1.13 (2023) | 1.11 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 92 | Nauru | 0.64 (2023) | 0.62 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 93 | Georgia | 0.04 (2023) | 0.02 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 94 | Iceland | 1.45 (2023) | 1.43 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 95 | Cambodia | -1.29 (2023) | -1.31 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 96 | Côte d'Ivoire | -0.38 (2023) | -0.39 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 97 | Estonia | 1.22 (2023) | 1.20 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 98 | Samoa | 1.02 (2023) | 1.00 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 99 | United States | 0.88 (2023) | 0.86 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 100 | Zimbabwe | -1.09 (2023) | -1.11 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 101 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0.74 (2023) | 0.73 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 102 | Namibia | 0.58 (2023) | 0.57 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 103 | Djibouti | -1.27 (2023) | -1.29 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 104 | Tuvalu | 1.22 (2023) | 1.21 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 105 | Palau | 1.09 (2023) | 1.07 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 106 | San Marino | 1.25 (2023) | 1.23 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 107 | Saint Lucia | 0.86 (2023) | 0.85 (2022) | +0.02 pts |
| 108 | Venezuela | -1.53 (2023) | -1.55 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 109 | Malawi | 0.08 (2023) | 0.06 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 110 | Haiti | -1.18 (2023) | -1.19 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 111 | South Sudan | -1.68 (2023) | -1.70 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 112 | Dominican Republic | 0.33 (2023) | 0.31 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 113 | Cabo Verde | 0.96 (2023) | 0.95 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 114 | Ghana | 0.41 (2023) | 0.40 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 115 | Netherlands | 1.56 (2023) | 1.55 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 116 | Iran | -1.45 (2023) | -1.46 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 117 | Kyrgyzstan | -0.72 (2023) | -0.73 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 118 | Panama | 0.55 (2023) | 0.54 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 119 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0.77 (2023) | 0.77 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 120 | Peru | 0.06 (2023) | 0.05 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 121 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | -0.32 (2023) | -0.33 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 122 | Somalia | -1.66 (2023) | -1.67 (2022) | +0.01 pts |
| 123 | Mexico | -0.12 (2023) | -0.12 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
| 124 | Belize | 0.54 (2023) | 0.54 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
| 125 | United Kingdom | 1.26 (2023) | 1.26 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
| 126 | Solomon Islands | 0.34 (2023) | 0.34 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
| 127 | Lithuania | 1.07 (2023) | 1.07 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
| 128 | Mauritius | 0.62 (2023) | 0.61 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
| 129 | North Macedonia | 0.16 (2023) | 0.16 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
| 130 | Gambia | -0.04 (2023) | -0.04 (2022) | +0.00 pts |
| 131 | Kiribati | 1.09 (2023) | 1.09 (2022) | 0.00 pts |
| 132 | Uruguay | 1.28 (2023) | 1.29 (2022) | 0.00 pts |
| 133 | Bangladesh | -0.75 (2023) | -0.75 (2022) | 0.00 pts |
| 134 | Austria | 1.41 (2023) | 1.41 (2022) | 0.00 pts |
| 135 | Costa Rica | 1.07 (2023) | 1.07 (2022) | 0.00 pts |
| 136 | Norway | 1.78 (2023) | 1.78 (2022) | 0.00 pts |
| 137 | Indonesia | 0.14 (2023) | 0.14 (2022) | 0.00 pts |
| 138 | Singapore | -0.07 (2023) | -0.06 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 139 | Mozambique | -0.59 (2023) | -0.59 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 140 | Iraq | -0.96 (2023) | -0.95 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 141 | Libya | -1.39 (2023) | -1.38 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 142 | Dominica | 0.79 (2023) | 0.80 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 143 | Guatemala | -0.53 (2023) | -0.52 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 144 | Argentina | 0.53 (2023) | 0.55 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 145 | Bahamas | 0.86 (2023) | 0.87 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 146 | Ethiopia | -1.06 (2023) | -1.05 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 147 | Armenia | 0.08 (2023) | 0.09 (2022) | -0.01 pts |
| 148 | Mongolia | 0.25 (2023) | 0.27 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 149 | Sri Lanka | -0.23 (2023) | -0.22 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 150 | Suriname | 0.35 (2023) | 0.37 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 151 | South Korea | 0.86 (2023) | 0.88 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 152 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0.83 (2023) | 0.85 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 153 | Lesotho | 0.03 (2023) | 0.05 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 154 | Guinea-Bissau | -0.44 (2023) | -0.42 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 155 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | -1.21 (2023) | -1.19 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 156 | Lebanon | -0.65 (2023) | -0.63 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 157 | Russia | -1.29 (2023) | -1.26 (2022) | -0.02 pts |
| 158 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0.25 (2023) | 0.28 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
| 159 | Madagascar | -0.32 (2023) | -0.29 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
| 160 | Jamaica | 0.56 (2023) | 0.59 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
| 161 | Togo | -0.78 (2023) | -0.76 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
| 162 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0.62 (2023) | 0.65 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
| 163 | Myanmar | -1.84 (2023) | -1.81 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
| 164 | Israel | 0.64 (2023) | 0.68 (2022) | -0.03 pts |
| 165 | Nicaragua | -1.39 (2023) | -1.35 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
| 166 | Gabon | -0.92 (2023) | -0.88 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
| 167 | Belarus | -1.67 (2023) | -1.63 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
| 168 | Seychelles | 0.56 (2023) | 0.60 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
| 169 | Micronesia | 1.09 (2023) | 1.13 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
| 170 | Senegal | 0.13 (2023) | 0.18 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
| 171 | Guyana | 0.15 (2023) | 0.19 (2022) | -0.04 pts |
| 172 | Croatia | 0.57 (2023) | 0.62 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
| 173 | Portugal | 1.21 (2023) | 1.26 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
| 174 | Central African Republic | -1.26 (2023) | -1.21 (2022) | -0.05 pts |
| 175 | Timor-Leste | 0.43 (2023) | 0.49 (2022) | -0.06 pts |
| 176 | Monaco | 0.65 (2023) | 0.72 (2022) | -0.06 pts |
| 177 | Guinea | -1.15 (2023) | -1.08 (2022) | -0.06 pts |
| 178 | Romania | 0.50 (2023) | 0.57 (2022) | -0.06 pts |
| 179 | Hungary | 0.36 (2023) | 0.43 (2022) | -0.07 pts |
| 180 | Bolivia | -0.27 (2023) | -0.20 (2022) | -0.07 pts |
| 181 | Ukraine | -0.10 (2023) | -0.02 (2022) | -0.08 pts |
| 182 | Ecuador | -0.06 (2023) | 0.03 (2022) | -0.09 pts |
| 183 | Mali | -1.01 (2023) | -0.92 (2022) | -0.09 pts |
| 184 | Pakistan | -0.96 (2023) | -0.86 (2022) | -0.10 pts |
| 185 | Afghanistan | -1.85 (2023) | -1.75 (2022) | -0.10 pts |
| 186 | El Salvador | -0.47 (2023) | -0.37 (2022) | -0.10 pts |
| 187 | Andorra | 1.00 (2023) | 1.11 (2022) | -0.11 pts |
| 188 | Sudan | -1.61 (2023) | -1.49 (2022) | -0.11 pts |
| 189 | Burkina Faso | -0.81 (2023) | -0.68 (2022) | -0.13 pts |
| 190 | Sierra Leone | -0.30 (2023) | -0.15 (2022) | -0.15 pts |
| 191 | Malta | 0.91 (2023) | 1.08 (2022) | -0.17 pts |
| 192 | Niger | -0.70 (2023) | -0.38 (2022) | -0.32 pts |
Source: World Bank. Only countries with consecutive data in the past 10 years are shown.