Montenegro has been listed in the latest report from the International Organization Freedom House as a partially free state, maintaining a total score of 69, similar to the previous year.

The “Freedom in the World” report is an annual assessment of political rights and civil liberties, which includes evaluations and descriptions for each country and a select group of territories. The 2025 edition addresses events occurring in 195 countries and 13 territories during 2024.

Countries are categorized based on their political rights and civil liberties into three groups: free, partially free, and “not free.”

Montenegro’s political rights have been rated at 27 points out of a possible 40, while its civil liberties received a score of 42 out of 60.

The report mentions, “A new parliamentary majority and government were formed after competitive elections in 2023, paving the way to address recent political instability. However, challenges persist with corruption within politics and the judiciary.”

Additionally, Montenegro is recognized for having a vibrant media and civil society sector, where civil and political freedoms are generally upheld.

Freedom House has announced plans to release a comprehensive report that delves deeper into Montenegro soon.

Among the countries in the Western Balkans, Montenegro ranks the highest, with all others classified as partially free.

In this new report, Albania scored 68, North Macedonia 67, Serbia 66, Kosovo 60, and Bosnia and Herzegovina 52.

Among the former Yugoslav republics, Slovenia is the highest-ranked with 96 points, followed by Croatia with 82 points, both falling under the free country category.

Finland has been deemed the “most free” country globally with a perfect score of 100, followed closely by New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden, each with a rating of 99. Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and San Marino follow with scores of 97. The United States holds a rating of 84, while France and Italy score 89.

Freedom House reports that global freedoms have declined for the 19th consecutive year in 2024, with political rights and civil liberties deteriorating in 60 countries, while only 34 managed to make improvements. Notable declines were observed in El Salvador, Haiti, Kuwait, and Tunisia, while Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Syria experienced the most significant progress.

The year featured an unprecedented number of elections, many of which were marred by violence and authoritarian attempts to suppress voter choice.

“In over 40 percent of the countries and territories that held national elections in 2024, candidates faced threats of assassination or attacks, polling stations were targeted, and disproportionate force was used to suppress demonstrations. Elections in authoritarian regimes were manipulated to hinder the involvement of genuine opposition candidates. Ongoing conflicts exacerbated instability and distracted from democratic advancements worldwide,” stated the report.

Active civil wars, interstate conflicts, and violence from armed groups, mercenaries, and criminal organizations “undermined security and obstructed the realization of fundamental rights, rendering the world not only less safe but also less free in 2024.”

“Despite the overall global regression in freedom, positive developments indicate potential democratic milestones. Instances of competitive elections or the fall of long-standing authoritarian regimes have emerged, providing hope. New leaders will face the challenging task of building and fortifying democratic institutions while safeguarding individual rights,” Freedom House notes.

The organization emphasizes that democratic solidarity will be vital in the coming year.

“Global freedom is confronted with significant challenges in 2025, including conflicts over security, escalating repression by both established and emerging autocrats, and democratically elected leaders circumventing institutional controls to consolidate their power,” it states.

Freedom House advocates for the vital interests of all who believe in democratic institutions and highlights the importance of combating foreign attacks on law, promoting lasting peace, and supporting human rights defenders wherever they are located.

“Only persistent and coordinated efforts can reverse nearly two decades of declining global freedom and ensure that more nations enjoy security, prosperity, and the advantages of democratic governance,” concludes the report.