🇸🇬Singapore Freedom Score: 48/100
Singapore is rated "Partly Free" by Freedom House with a score of 48 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.
As of mid-2025, Singapore has a population of approximately 6.11 million, with 59.9% being citizens. The population is diverse, with the majority being of Chinese descent (74.3%), followed by Malays (13.5%) and Indians (9.0%). English is the main language used in business and government, while Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil are also official languages.
Freedom Score Breakdown
Singapore scores 48 out of 100 on the Freedom House index, which is in the mid-range globally, suggesting a mixed record on political rights and civil liberties. The country has a political rights rating of 4 out of 7 (moderate 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: Singapore
Rated Partly Free with a score of 48/100. Political rights rated 4/7 and civil liberties 4/7 (lower is better).
Freedom House classifies Singapore as "Partly Free" with an aggregate score of 48 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, Singapore received a rating of 4 on a 1-to-7 scale, indicating moderate 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, Singapore 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 Singapore 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, Singapore 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 Singapore 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 |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore(this country) | 48/100 | Partly Free |
Showing top countries in AS with Freedom House data. View full global democracy rankings
Common Questions About Singapore's Freedom Rating
What does a Freedom House score of 48 mean for Singapore?▶
A score of 48 out of 100 places Singapore 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." Singapore's score of 48 is in the mid-range globally, suggesting a mixed record on political rights and civil liberties.
Is Singapore 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. Singapore currently has a Level 1 travel advisory. Check the Singapore 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. Singapore rates 4/7 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 Singapore compare to other countries in AS?▶
Singapore ranks #122 globally in our democracy ranking with a composite score of 45.2. 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.
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