Explore the data

The Freedom and Prosperity Indexes rank 164 countries around the world according to their levels of freedom and prosperity. Use our award-winning site to explore twenty-nine years of data, compare countries and regions, and examine the sub-indexes and indicators that comprise our indexes.

Annual Report

The Path to Prosperity The 2024 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes

In this “year of election,” freedom continues to decline globally. Political rights, judicial independence, and checks and balances are eroding. Prosperity growth has slowed, particularly in developing countries. The data underscores a strong link between freedom and prosperity, highlighting the need for data-driven policy reforms.

2024 Atlas: Freedom and Prosperity Around the World

Twenty leading economists and government officials from eighteen countries contributed to this comprehensive volume, which serves as a roadmap for navigating the complexities of contemporary governance. 

Research and publications

Issue Brief

Aug 30, 2024

South Asia’s political parties need internal reforms to revitalize regional democracy

By Steve Cima, Geoffrey MacDonald, James Storen

This paper is the third in the Freedom and Prosperity Center’s “State of the Parties” series analyzing the strength of multi-party systems in different regions of the world.

Democratic Transitions Elections

Issue Brief

Aug 30, 2024

Unloved but indispensable: Political parties in Europe

By Paul McCarthy, Thibault Muzergues, Patrick Quirk

The experience of the past decade has shown that despite their unpopularity, political parties remain indispensable for the functioning of democracies in Europe—when they are present, plural, and organized, democracy is doing well. To prove this assertion, this paper will look at four telling examples in recent European history.

Democratic Transitions Elections

New Atlanticist

Jul 24, 2024

The Biden administration has changed how the US engages with developing countries

By Joseph Lemoine

Under Biden, the White House has restored US backing for international organizations and helped launch new initiatives, such as the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

Africa Americas
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a ceremony at which Xi received an honorary degree from St. Petersburg State University, in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 6, 2019.

Report

Jul 3, 2024

Advancing freedom, defeating authoritarianism: A democracy agenda for 2025-2029

By Patrick Quirk

This report provides actionable and measurable policy recommendations for the upcoming administration’s foreign policy to advance democracy and strengthen the US position in international development.

Economy & Business Freedom and Prosperity

New Atlanticist

Jun 25, 2024

Your presidential debate prep on the US economy, in charts

By Atlantic Council experts

Ahead of this campaign season’s first presidential debate, these charts, graphs, and data illustrate the real state of the US economy.

Economy & Business Elections

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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.