Abkhazia is not rated by the RSF index; Freedom House classifies it as Partly Free with a total score of 39/100.
2023 Press Freedom Scorecard
Overall score and global position
Abkhazia is not currently scored by the RSF World Press Freedom Index or by the V-Dem Freedom of Expression project; the profile relies on Freedom House and World Bank indicators below. Of the 25 Freedom House indicators, Abkhazia earns 0 at the maximum 4/4 and 0 at 0/4; its strongest category is Political Pluralism (8/16) and its weakest is Rule of Law (4/16).
Composite index comparison
Elections, political pluralism, government functioning.
Freedom of expression, association, rule of law, personal autonomy.
Democratic Rights & Civil Liberties
Freedom status explained
Freedom House classifies Abkhazia as Partly Free with a 2024 aggregate score of 39/100 — political rights and civil liberties are respected in part but undercut by specific institutional or legal weaknesses.
Within Freedom House's Eurasia region (18 countries), Abkhazia ranks #5 on the latest aggregate score — the 76th percentile. The region leaders are Moldova, Georgia, Armenia.
Political Rights vs Civil Liberties
Rating 5 of 7 (1 = best)
Rating 5 of 7 (1 = best)
Political rights are rated noticeably higher than civil liberties — the formal political framework is more open than the day-to-day environment for expression, association, and personal autonomy.
Twelve-year Freedom House trend
Between 2013 and 2024, Freedom House moved Abkhazia from Partly Free (Partly Free, 40/100) to Partly Free (Partly Free, 39/100).
Indicator trajectory (A–G over 12 years)
Of the 25 Freedom House indicators tracked for Abkhazia, 6 moved at least one point across the available Freedom House history. The eight with the largest absolute change appear below.
| Code | Indicator | Earliest | Latest | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Free and fair head-of-government elections | 3/4 (2013) | 2/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| A3 | Electoral framework | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| B2 | Opposition can gain power | 2/4 (2013) | 3/4 (2024) | ▲ +1 |
| E1 | Freedom of assembly | 2/4 (2013) | 3/4 (2024) | ▲ +1 |
| E2 | NGO freedom | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| C1 | Elected officials govern | 1/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | • 0 |
Latest A–G indicator scorecard
Electoral Process
PR
-
A1Free and fair head-of-government elections
2/4
-
A2Free and fair legislative elections
2/4
-
A3Electoral laws and framework
1/4
Political Pluralism & Participation
PR
-
B1Right to organise in political parties
2/4
-
B2Opposition can realistically gain power
3/4
-
B3Free political choice without domination
2/4
-
B4Political rights of minorities
1/4
Functioning of Government
PR
-
C1Elected officials determine government policy
1/4
-
C2Safeguards against corruption
1/4
-
C3Transparency of government
2/4
Freedom of Expression & Belief
CL
-
D1Free and independent media
2/4
-
D2Freedom of religious expression
2/4
-
D3Academic freedom
1/4
-
D4Free private discussion
3/4
Associational & Organisational Rights
CL
-
E1Freedom of assembly
3/4
-
E2Freedom for NGOs
1/4
-
E3Free trade unions
1/4
Rule of Law
CL
-
F1Independent judiciary
1/4
-
F2Due process in civil and criminal matters
1/4
-
F3Protection from illegitimate force
1/4
-
F4Equal treatment under the law
1/4
Personal Autonomy & Individual Rights
CL
-
G1Freedom of movement
1/4
-
G2Property rights
1/4
-
G3Personal social freedoms
2/4
-
G4Equality of opportunity
1/4
Each indicator is scored 0–4 by Freedom House analysts; category subtotals combine into the Political Rights (A + B + C = 0–40) and Civil Liberties (D + E + F + G = 0–60) aggregates shown above. 2024 edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Freedom House indicator moved most in Abkhazia?
Indicator A1 (Free and fair head-of-government elections) changed by -1 points, moving from 3/4 to 2/4 across the available history — the biggest indicator-level movement of the 25 Freedom House sub-scores for Abkhazia.
How does Abkhazia rank within its Freedom House region?
Abkhazia holds position #5 of 18 in the Eurasia region on the latest Freedom House aggregate score. The region's top country is Moldova (61/100).