Which has higher freedom score, South Africa or United States of America?

South Africa, at 81 against 81 in United States of America as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United States of America?

24 years are reported by both, from 2002 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Freedom Score. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

South Africa vs United States of America: Freedom Score

South Africa

in 2025

United States of America

in 2025

South Africa rank

67th

United States of America rank

67th

Freedom Score over time

South Africa
United States of America

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 81 against 81 in United States of America, a difference of 0.

Across all 24 years both countries report, United States of America has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 67th and United States of America ranks 67th of 197 countries.

United States of America has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	South Africa	United States of America	Difference	Ahead
2000s	86.62	93.25	6.62	United States of America
2010s	80.1	90.1	10	United States of America
2020s	79.67	82.83	3.17	United States of America

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher freedom score, South Africa or United States of America?: South Africa, at 81 against 81 in United States of America as of 2025.
What is the difference in freedom score between South Africa and United States of America?: 0, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United States of America?: 24 years are reported by both, from 2002 to 2025.
How do South Africa and United States of America rank globally for freedom score?: South Africa ranks 67th and United States of America ranks 67th of 197 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Freedom Score. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United States of America: Freedom Score. Statizoid, drawing on Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/freedom-score-fh/south-africa/united-states/

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<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/freedom-score-fh/south-africa/united-states/">South Africa vs United States of America: Freedom Score</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Freedom Score
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 197 places, 4,706 data points, 2002–2025
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Freedom House's total democracy score is a 0-to-100 aggregate that adds up a country's points on 25 indicators of political rights (max 40) and civil liberties (max 60), creating a single snapshot of the freedoms people actually enjoy.