2026 Atlas: Freedom and prosperity around the world

The volatilities of 2025 may be new, but the fixes are not: Reforms that strengthen the rule of law, inclusive economic strategies, and accountable governance are time-tested ways to rebuild faith in democratic values, boost growth, and unlock human potential. That’s the key takeaway from a deep dive into the state of political freedom and prosperity in ten different countries—including some that saw major changes this year, such as Colombia, Serbia, and Syria—alongside Ghana, Singapore, and others.

Global turbulence and shifting priorities across international development, foreign affairs, and trade marked the past year. But the economists and scholars who analyzed the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes data saw clear patterns over the past decade, including that:

• the rule of law has grown less effective;
• threats to political freedoms have intensified;
• protections for assuring access to opportunities for minority populations have weakened.

These patterns surfaced in the ten case studies profiled in the 2026 Atlas of Freedom and Prosperity, the Atlantic Council’s annual collection of analyses on the rule of law, economic wellbeing, and political openness in selected countries.

Another trend is starting to take shape as the developing world increasingly disentangles from traditional economic and political alliances and new centers of influence reshape the balance between freedom, governance, and prosperity. The Atlas highlights diverging paths, with some governments strengthening institutions to sustain growth and others tightening control in response to crises in ways that undermine trust and opportunity. But the data are clear: Fair institutions and individual liberties remain the strongest foundations for a country’s population to achieve well-being and lasting prosperity.

The 2026 Atlas is both a guide and a call to action—for innovative, principled policies that balance freedom with stability and enable societies to thrive in an increasingly multipolar world.

Explore the methodology behind the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes.