These ratings determine a country’s overall status as free, partially free, or not free. Israel scored 77 points – 34 out of 40 in political rights and 43 out of 60 in civil liberties. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip – which is also classified as not free – fared worse than the West Bank on political rights, scoring three, and civil rights, eight points. The number of free countries in 2022 was 84, representing 43 percent of the world’s countries. The number of countries not considered free was 57, and 54 countries were classified as partially free.

Source: Daily Nation March 11, 2023 19:42 UTC