by Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, BusinessWorld, 8 Feb 2021
THE PHILIPPINES ranks 83rd out of 162 countries in freedom index.
Filipinos became freer in 2018 after the country jumped three notches in the 2020 Human Freedom Index.
The country ranked 83rd out of 162 countries, scoring 6.9, higher than its score of 6.86 in 2017, according to a report posted on the Cato Institute website, a Washington, DC-based research group.
The county’s latest ranking was lower than its score of 7 in 2016 and 7.12 in 2015. The Philippines ranked 109th in terms of personal freedom and 54th in terms of economic freedom.
New Zealand was the freest in the world with a score of 8.87, replacing Switzerland (8.82) which moved to second spot, followed by Hong Kong (8.74), Denmark (8.73) and Australia (8.68).
Countries with the lowest levels of freedom were Iran (4.53), Yemen (4.17), Venezuela (4.08), Sudan (4.01) and Syria (3.97).
The Philippines was ahead of its Southeast Asian neighbors Timor Leste (85th), Cambodia (88th), Thailand (114th), Vietnam (121st), Brunei (135th) and Myanmar (146th). It fell behind Singapore (28th) and Indonesia (68th).
The institute said 15% of the world’s population lived in nations with vibrant economic and human freedoms, while 34% lived in countries that have the lowest levels of freedom.
The gap in human freedom between the most and least free countries has widened by 6% since 2008, it said.
The average human freedom rating for 162 countries in 2018 was 6.93%. Cato said the rating of 87 countries increased, while that of 70 nations fell.
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
June 6: Migrant Workers Day
June 19: Filipino Youth Day
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer
