Partly Free
48
/ 100
| Political Rights | 19 / 40 |
| Civil Liberties | 29 / 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
48 / 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.
Singapore’s parliamentary political system has been dominated by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and the powerful Lee family since 1959. The electoral and legal framework that the PAP has constructed allows for some political pluralism, but it constrains the growth of opposition parties and limits freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.
- Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister since 2004, stepped down in May, clearing the way for Finance Minister Lawrence Wong to succeed him in a planned transition within the ruling party. Wong also replaced Lee as secretary-general of the PAP in December.
- Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran was sentenced in October to a year in prison, having pleaded guilty in September to illegally receiving gifts while in office and obstruction of justice. He was the first political official in decades to be tried for corruption in Singapore.
- Authorities continued to use the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) to order correction notices or restrict access to content that was deemed false or contrary to the public interest. Targets of POFMA orders during the year included the social media platform LinkedIn, various online news sites, opposition Reform Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam, and the anti–death penalty organization Transformative Justice Collective.
- The number of executions increased in 2024, with a total of nine people put to death, all but one of whom had been sentenced for drug-trafficking offenses.
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? | 1 / 4 |
A2 0-4 pts
| Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? | 2 / 4 |
A3 0-4 pts
| Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? | 1 / 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? | 2 / 4 |
B2 0-4 pts
| Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? | 2 / 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? | 2 / 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? | 2 / 4 |
C1 0-4 pts
| Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? | 2 / 4 |
C2 0-4 pts
| Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? | 3 / 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? | 1 / 4 |
D2 0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? | 3 / 4 |
D3 0-4 pts
| Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? | 1 / 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? | 2 / 4 |
E1 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom of assembly? | 1 / 4 |
E2 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights– and governance-related work? | 1 / 4 |
E3 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? | 1 / 4 |
F1 0-4 pts
| Is there an independent judiciary? | 1 / 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? | 2 / 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? | 3 / 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? | 3 / 4 |
G4 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? | 3 / 4 |
