South Ossetia is not rated by the RSF index; Freedom House classifies it as Not Free with a total score of 12/100.
2023 Press Freedom Scorecard
Overall score and global position
South Ossetia 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, South Ossetia earns 0 at the maximum 4/4 and 13 at 0/4; its strongest category is Electoral Process (3/12) and its weakest is Government Functioning (0/12).
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 South Ossetia as Not Free with a 2024 aggregate score of 12/100 — basic political rights and civil liberties are widely denied.
Within Freedom House's Eurasia region (18 countries), South Ossetia ranks #10 on the latest aggregate score — the 47th percentile. The region leaders are Moldova, Georgia, Armenia.
Political Rights vs Civil Liberties
Rating 7 of 7 (1 = best)
Rating 6 of 7 (1 = best)
Civil liberties are rated higher than political rights — everyday freedoms are better protected than the formal political framework (elections, pluralism, government functioning).
Twelve-year Freedom House trend
Between 2013 and 2024, Freedom House moved South Ossetia from Not Free (Not Free, 5/100) to Not Free (Not Free, 12/100).
Indicator trajectory (A–G over 12 years)
Of the 25 Freedom House indicators tracked for South Ossetia, 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Freedom of assembly | 0/4 (2013) | 2/4 (2024) | ▲ +2 |
| A1 | Free and fair head-of-government elections | 0/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▲ +1 |
| A2 | Free and fair legislative elections | 0/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▲ +1 |
| A3 | Electoral framework | 0/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▲ +1 |
| B1 | Right to organise in political parties | 0/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▲ +1 |
| B2 | Opposition can gain power | 0/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▲ +1 |
| D2 | Religious expression | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| G1 | Freedom of movement | 1/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | • 0 |
Latest A–G indicator scorecard
Electoral Process
PR
-
A1Free and fair head-of-government elections
1/4
-
A2Free and fair legislative elections
1/4
-
A3Electoral laws and framework
1/4
Political Pluralism & Participation
PR
-
B1Right to organise in political parties
1/4
-
B2Opposition can realistically gain power
1/4
-
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
1/4
-
D3Academic freedom
1/4
-
D4Free private discussion
1/4
Associational & Organisational Rights
CL
-
E1Freedom of assembly
2/4
-
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
1/4
Personal Autonomy & Individual Rights
CL
-
G1Freedom of movement
1/4
-
G2Property rights
0/4
-
G3Personal social freedoms
2/4
-
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
Which Freedom House indicator moved most in South Ossetia?
Indicator E1 (Freedom of assembly) changed by +2 points, moving from 0/4 to 2/4 across the available history — the biggest indicator-level movement of the 25 Freedom House sub-scores for South Ossetia.
How does South Ossetia rank within its Freedom House region?
South Ossetia holds position #10 of 18 in the Eurasia region on the latest Freedom House aggregate score. The region's top country is Moldova (61/100).