🇧🇹Bhutan Freedom Score: 63/100
Bhutan is rated "Partly Free" by Freedom House with a score of 63 out of 100, based on the 2024 assessment of political rights and civil liberties.
Freedom House evaluates political rights and civil liberties in 195 countries and 15 territories, scoring each on a 0-100 scale.
Bhutan has a population of approximately 771,608 people, with a significant portion involved in agriculture, forestry, or conservation. The country emphasizes Gross National Happiness as a measure of development, reflecting its unique cultural and social values. The population is predominantly Buddhist, which influences many aspects of daily life and culture.
Freedom Score Breakdown
Bhutan scores 63 out of 100 on the Freedom House index, which is above average globally, indicating meaningful democratic institutions with some areas for improvement. The country has a political rights rating of 2 out of 7 (strong political rights) and a civil liberties rating of 4 out of 7 (moderate civil liberties). On the Freedom House scale, 1 represents the most free and 7 the least free.
Freedom Assessment: Bhutan
Rated Partly Free with a score of 63/100. Political rights rated 2/7 and civil liberties 4/7 (lower is better).
Freedom House classifies Bhutan as "Partly Free" with an aggregate score of 63 out of 100, based on its 2024 assessment. This score reflects evaluations across 25 indicators covering electoral processes, political pluralism, government functioning, freedom of expression, associational and organizational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy.
On the political rights dimension, Bhutan received a rating of 2 on a 1-to-7 scale, indicating strong political rights. This covers electoral processes, political pluralism and participation, and the functioning of government. Countries rated 1-2 on this scale generally hold competitive, free elections with meaningful opposition and independent legislatures.
On civil liberties, Bhutan received a 4 out of 7, indicating moderate civil liberties. This dimension measures freedom of expression and belief, associational and organizational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy and individual rights. Countries rated 1-2 tend to have independent judiciaries, free press, and strong protections for individual rights.
What This Means for Travelers
Travelers to Bhutan may encounter some restrictions on press freedom, political expression, or assembly. While basic rights are generally respected, enforcement can be inconsistent. Exercise awareness around political demonstrations and sensitive topics.
For additional context, Bhutan currently holds a Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) travel advisory from the U.S. Department of State. Freedom ratings and travel advisories measure different things: the Freedom House score evaluates institutional protections for rights and liberties, while the State Department advisory addresses immediate physical safety concerns. A country can be rated "Free" but still carry a Level 2 or higher advisory due to crime, terrorism, or other localized risks.
Data on this page comes from Freedom House, an independent watchdog organization founded in 1941 that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights. Their annual "Freedom in the World" report has been published since 1973 and is widely used by policymakers, journalists, and academics.
AS Region: Freedom Comparison
How Bhutan compares to other countries in AS based on Freedom House scores. Higher scores indicate greater political freedom.
| Country | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 96/100 | Free |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 92/100 | Free |
| 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 84/100 | Free |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 83/100 | Free |
| 🇧🇹 Bhutan(this country) | 63/100 | Partly Free |
Showing top countries in AS with Freedom House data. View full global democracy rankings
Common Questions About Bhutan's Freedom Rating
What does a Freedom House score of 63 mean for Bhutan?▶
A score of 63 out of 100 places Bhutan in the "Partly Free" category. Freedom House evaluates 25 indicators across political rights and civil liberties. Scores of 70-100 typically correspond to "Free," 40-69 to "Partly Free," and 0-39 to "Not Free." Bhutan's score of 63 is above average globally, indicating meaningful democratic institutions with some areas for improvement.
Is Bhutan safe to travel to based on its freedom rating?▶
Freedom ratings and travel safety are related but measure different things. The freedom score assesses institutional protections for rights and liberties, not physical safety directly. Some countries rated "Free" may still have areas with elevated crime or natural disaster risk, while some "Not Free" countries can be physically safe for tourists. Bhutan currently has a Level 1 travel advisory. Check the Bhutan travel advisory page for safety-specific guidance.
What do the political rights and civil liberties ratings mean?▶
Freedom House rates political rights and civil liberties on a 1-to-7 scale, where 1 represents the most free and 7 the least free. Political rights cover electoral processes, political pluralism, and government functioning. Civil liberties cover freedom of expression, associational rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy. Bhutan rates 2/7 on political rights and 4/7 on civil liberties.
How often is the Freedom House data updated?▶
Freedom House publishes its "Freedom in the World" report annually, typically in February or March. The 2024 assessment shown here reflects conditions observed during the prior calendar year. Our data is updated within days of each new report. Between annual reports, real-world conditions may shift, so always cross-reference with current news and your government's travel advisory.
How does Bhutan compare to other countries in AS?▶
Bhutan ranks #96 globally in our democracy ranking with a composite score of 57.8. Within AS, you can see how it compares in the regional table above. The composite democracy score weights Freedom House data at 70% and World Bank Voice and Accountability indicators at 30%. View the full global democracy rankings.
More Bhutan Data
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