Partly Free
68
/ 100
| Political Rights | 28 / 40 |
| Civil Liberties | 40 / 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
68 / 100 Partly Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60. See the methodology.
Albania has a record of competitive elections, though political parties are highly polarized and often organized around leading personalities. Religious freedom and freedom of assembly are generally respected. Corruption and bribery remain major problems, though the government has worked to address corruption in the judiciary.
- A judicial vetting process, enabled by internationally endorsed legal reforms, concluded in December, resulting in the removal of scores of judges for suspected corruption over the past seven years.
- Opposition Democratic Party (PD) leader Sali Berisha was charged with corruption in September, only for a court rule on his release from house arrest in November. (He had been placed on house arrest in late 2023 after parliament voted to remove his parliamentary immunity; he faced a corruption investigation at the time.) Separately, the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure (SPAK), arrested former President Ilir Meta on corruption charges in October; in December, media reported that SPAK was investigating the assets of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj and members of his family.
- There were a number of anticorruption protests in Tirana at which opposition lawmakers and participants denounced the ruling Socialist Party (PS), some of which featured property damage and clashes between protesters and police.
- In July, PS and PD lawmakers in the unicameral legislature overwhelmingly approved amendments to the electoral code. The changes granted Albanians living abroad the right to vote by mail. Additional measures mandate that one-third of a party’s candidate list now be closed, while two-thirds of candidate lists be open for preferential voting. Candidates on closed lists are chosen by party leaders and voted on as a bloc under the party’s name; the open list allows voters to select from individual candidates.
This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2025 due to ongoing budget constraints. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.
For additional background information, see last year’s full report.
A1 0-4 pts
| Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? | 3 / 4 |
A2 0-4 pts
| Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? | 3 / 4 |
A3 0-4 pts
| Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? | 3 / 4 |
B1 0-4 pts
| Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? | 3 / 4 |
B2 0-4 pts
| Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? | 3 / 4 |
B3 0-4 pts
| Are the people’s political choices free from domination by forces that are external to the political sphere, or by political forces that employ extrapolitical means? | 3 / 4 |
B4 0-4 pts
| Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, racial, religious, gender, LGBT+, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? | 3 / 4 |
C1 0-4 pts
| Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? | 3 / 4 |
C2 0-4 pts
| Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? | 2 / 4 |
C3 0-4 pts
| Does the government operate with openness and transparency? | 2 / 4 |
D1 0-4 pts
| Are there free and independent media? | 2 / 4 |
D2 0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? | 4 / 4 |
D3 0-4 pts
| Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? | 3 / 4 |
D4 0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? | 4 / 4 |
E1 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom of assembly? | 3 / 4 |
E2 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights– and governance-related work? | 3 / 4 |
E3 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? | 2 / 4 |
F1 0-4 pts
| Is there an independent judiciary? | 3 / 4 |
F2 0-4 pts
| Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? | 2 / 4 |
F3 0-4 pts
| Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? | 2 / 4 |
F4 0-4 pts
| Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? | 3 / 4 |
G1 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? | 3 / 4 |
G2 0-4 pts
| Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? | 2 / 4 |
G3 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? | 2 / 4 |
G4 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? | 2 / 4 |
