Economic Freedom of the World 2025: A Global Perspective
A new report from the Fraser Institute, titled Economic Freedom of the World 2025, has mapped the global landscape of economic freedom across 165 jurisdictions. Based on 2023 data, this study evaluates countries according to 45 components divided into five broad areas:
- the size of government
- the legal system and property rights
- the soundness of money
- freedom to trade internationally
- regulation
Not surprisingly, the global ranking remains dominated by the most open economies. Hong Kong tops the list with a score of 8.55, followed by Singapore (8.50) and New Zealand (8.33). These three models confirm the close link between economic freedom, standard of living, and longevity: inhabitants of the freest countries earn an average of 6.2 times more than those in the least free quartile and live 17 years longer.
Africa's Contrasting Dynamics
In Africa, the dynamics are contrasting, but five countries stand out:
- Mauritius (21st globally) dominates the continent, thanks to good results in freedom to trade internationally (21st) and regulation (29th).
- Seychelles (31st) excels in the soundness of its currency, ranking 7th globally.
- Cape Verde (44th) confirms its progress, with an excellent score in monetary soundness (19th) and a relatively solid legal system (47th).
- Botswana (69th), often cited as a model of governance, displays balanced performance, particularly in justice and monetary stability.
- Uganda (72nd) completes this top 5, driven by a solid monetary policy (38th).
These results confirm that a handful of African countries are creating a more business-friendly and investment-conducive environment, even if the majority of the continent remains behind.
Tunisia's Performance
Tunisia, on the other hand, ranks 124th globally, far behind the African leaders. The country is in the quartile of the least free economies, with disappointing results in almost all areas:
- Size of government: 141st
- Freedom to trade internationally: 112th
- Regulation: 130th
- Soundness of money: 104th
- Legal system and property rights: 105th
For the Fraser Institute, the challenge is clear: more economic freedom means more prosperity. The gaps between countries at the top and bottom of the ranking show that policies favoring investment, transparency, and openness to trade are essential for improving the standard of living and growth.
