Georgia shows highest score for human freedoms in Caucasus, Central Asia

Georgia has ranked 41st among 162 countries in the Human Freedom Index 2019, standing above all Caucasian and Central Asian countries.

This fifth annual index used 76 distinct indicators of personal and economic freedom in the following areas:

•  Rule of law
•  Security and safety
•  Movement  
• Religion
•  Association, assembly and civil society
• Expression and information
•  Identity and Relationships
•  Size of government
• Legal system and property rights
•  Access to sound Money
•  Freedom to trade internationally
•  Regulation of credit, labor, and business

The HFI 2019 covered 162 countries for 2017, the most recent year for which sufficient data are available, the official webpage reads.

On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents more freedom, the average human freedom rating for 162 countries in 2017 was 6.89.

 The index ranks countries beginning in 2008.

Top five on the list are New Zeeland, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Canada and Australia, while Yemen, Venezuela and Syria are at the bottom of the ranking.