Nagorno Karabakh is not rated by the RSF index; Freedom House classifies it as Not Free with a total score of 0/100.
2023 Press Freedom Scorecard
Overall score and global position
Nagorno Karabakh 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, Nagorno Karabakh earns 0 at the maximum 4/4 and 25 at 0/4; its strongest category is Electoral Process (0/12) and its weakest is Personal Autonomy (0/16).
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 Nagorno Karabakh as Not Free with a 2024 aggregate score of 0/100 — basic political rights and civil liberties are widely denied.
Within Freedom House's Eurasia region (18 countries), Nagorno Karabakh ranks #18 on the latest aggregate score — the 0th percentile. The region leaders are Moldova, Georgia, Armenia.
Political Rights vs Civil Liberties
Rating 7 of 7 (1 = best)
Rating 7 of 7 (1 = best)
Political rights and civil liberties are rated in similar territory, a sign that formal political channels and everyday personal freedoms move together in this country.
Twelve-year Freedom House trend
Between 2013 and 2024, Freedom House moved Nagorno Karabakh from Partly Free (Partly Free, 31/100) to Not Free (Not Free, 0/100).
Status transitions
Freedom House records 1 status transition for Nagorno Karabakh between 2024 and 2024 — each row below marks the year the classification flipped between Free, Partly Free, and Not Free.
| Year | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Partly Free | → | Not Free |
Indicator trajectory (A–G over 12 years)
Of the 25 Freedom House indicators tracked for Nagorno Karabakh, 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D4 | Private discussion | 3/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -3 |
| A1 | Free and fair head-of-government elections | 2/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| B1 | Right to organise in political parties | 2/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| F3 | Protection from force | 2/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| G3 | Personal social freedoms | 2/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| A2 | Free and fair legislative elections | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| A3 | Electoral framework | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| B2 | Opposition can gain power | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
Latest A–G indicator scorecard
Electoral Process
PR
-
A1Free and fair head-of-government elections
0/4
-
A2Free and fair legislative elections
0/4
-
A3Electoral laws and framework
0/4
Political Pluralism & Participation
PR
-
B1Right to organise in political parties
0/4
-
B2Opposition can realistically gain power
0/4
-
B3Free political choice without domination
0/4
-
B4Political rights of minorities
0/4
Functioning of Government
PR
-
C1Elected officials determine government policy
0/4
-
C2Safeguards against corruption
0/4
-
C3Transparency of government
0/4
Freedom of Expression & Belief
CL
-
D1Free and independent media
0/4
-
D2Freedom of religious expression
0/4
-
D3Academic freedom
0/4
-
D4Free private discussion
0/4
Associational & Organisational Rights
CL
-
E1Freedom of assembly
0/4
-
E2Freedom for NGOs
0/4
-
E3Free trade unions
0/4
Rule of Law
CL
-
F1Independent judiciary
0/4
-
F2Due process in civil and criminal matters
0/4
-
F3Protection from illegitimate force
0/4
-
F4Equal treatment under the law
0/4
Personal Autonomy & Individual Rights
CL
-
G1Freedom of movement
0/4
-
G2Property rights
0/4
-
G3Personal social freedoms
0/4
-
G4Equality of opportunity
0/4
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
Has Nagorno Karabakh changed Freedom House classification in the last 12 years?
Yes — Freedom House reclassified Nagorno Karabakh from Partly Free to Not Free in 2024, and the classification has held since.
Which Freedom House indicator moved most in Nagorno Karabakh?
Indicator D4 (Private discussion) changed by -3 points, moving from 3/4 to 0/4 across the available history — the biggest indicator-level movement of the 25 Freedom House sub-scores for Nagorno Karabakh.
How does Nagorno Karabakh rank within its Freedom House region?
Nagorno Karabakh holds position #18 of 18 in the Eurasia region on the latest Freedom House aggregate score. The region's top country is Moldova (61/100).