Freedoms fall once moreThailand's score on Freedom House's latest "Freedom in the World" report dropped by two points, from 36 to 34. While a two-point slip may seem insignificant, the grade effectively placed the country in the "not free" category -- down from "partly free" in 2024. The index also places Thailand well behind its peers in Southeast Asia -- behind the Philippines (58), Indonesia (56) and Malaysia (53). The country even scored lower than Singapore (48), which is well known for its obsession with order and control over public opinion. Although Cambodia (23) held elections recently, the index regarded the country as a one-party state because it has no viable opposition.

Source: Bangkok Post March 19, 2026 23:00 UTC