2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes launch

  • Wed, July 15, 2026 • 1:30 pm ET
  • Atlantic Council Headquarters
  • 1400 L Street NW • Floor 11
  • Washington, DC 20005

Experts examine the latest trends in global freedom and prosperity and highlight how revitalizing the rule of law is critical for enhancing quality of life in countries across the world.

On Wednesday, July 15, at 1:30 p.m. ET, the Freedom and Prosperity Center will launch its 2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes.

After a year defined by shifting economic alliances, a surge of youth-led political protests, and international insecurity, the newest edition of the Indexes provides a comprehensive look at trends in economic freedom, political freedom, the rule of law, and key indicators of prosperity across 171 countries.

The new data shows that political freedom and the rule of law continued to decline while economic freedom remained stable in 2025, and global progress on prosperity continued to slow after the initial post-COVID rebound.

Bringing together policy experts and leaders from international organizations, this year’s launch event will focus on the economic and social consequences of global declines in the rule of law, and will include a deep dive into the key findings from this year’s Indexes data.

New policy: In-person attendees will be required to show photo ID upon arrival, and no on-site registration will be permitted. Guests will not be admitted later than twenty minutes after the event’s start time.

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Welcome remarks

Michael Fisch
Founder and CEO, American Securities;
Chairman, Freedom and Prosperity Center Advisory Council,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

speakers

Ignacio Campomanes
Resident Fellow,
Navarra University Center for International Development;
Senior Advisor,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

Colin Buckley
Nonresident Senior Fellow
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth
UNHCR Representative in Ukraine,
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Carrie Monahan
Managing Director (Acting),
Africa, Department of Compact Operations,
Millennium Challenge Corporation

Jim Richardson
National Outreach Director,
US Global Leadership Coalition

moderated by

James Mazzarella
Senior Director,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

Nina Dannaoui-Johnson
Senior Fellow,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

agenda

1:30–1:40 p.m. | Welcome remarks

Speakers

Michael Fisch
Founder and CEO, American Securities;
Chairman, Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

James Mazzarella
Senior Director,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

1:40–2:10 p.m. | Key findings from the 2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes: Global rule of law in decline

Featuring

Ignacio Campomanes
Resident Fellow,
Navarra University Center for International Development;
Senior Advisor,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

Moderated by

Nina Dannaoui-Johnson
Senior Fellow,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

2:15–3:00 p.m. | From theory to practice: making aid and investment work

Speakers

Colin Buckley
Nonresident Senior Fellow,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,Atlantic Council;
Managing Director and General Counsel,
British International Investment

Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth
UNHCR Representative in Ukraine,
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Carrie Monahan
Managing Director (Acting),
Africa, Department of Compact Operations, Millennium Challenge Corporation

Jim Richardson
National Outreach Director,
US Global Leadership Coalition

 

Moderated by 

James Mazzarella
Senior Director,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

3:00–3:05 p.m. | Closing remarks

Featuring

James Mazzarella
Senior Director,
Freedom and Prosperity Center,
Atlantic Council

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Related content

Report

Jul 15, 2026

2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes: The legal foundations that enable prosperity are rapidly eroding

By Ignacio Campomanes, Nina Dannaoui-Johnson, Annie (Yu-Lin) Lee, James Mazzarella

Adherence to the rule of law has declined sharply since 2020. Drawing on thirty years of data across 171 countries, the 2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes show why that matters: without strong legal foundations, economic reforms stall, democracies erode, and prosperity stays out of reach for millions.

Freedom and Prosperity Rule of Law

Interactive website

The indexes rank 171 countries around the world according to their levels of freedom and prosperity. Use our award-winning site to explore over thirty years of data, compare countries and regions, and examine the sub-indexes and indicators that comprise our indexes.

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The Freedom and Prosperity Center aims to increase the prosperity of the poor and marginalized in developing countries and to explore the nature of the relationship between freedom and prosperity in both developing and developed nations.

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