Phl in middle cluster of freedom index

WASHINGTON – The Philippines has landed in 71st place among 159 countries ranked in a new Human Freedom Index (HFI) that presents a broad measure of personal, civil and economic freedom around the world.

The report, published by the Cato Institute, Fraser Institute and the German Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, gives the Philippines an HFI score of 6.97 points.

On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents more freedom, the average human freedom rating for 159 countries is 6.93 points.

HFI is the average of two scores – personal freedom and economic freedom – compiled from 79 distinct indicators including rule of law, security and safety and property rights.

In the personal freedom category, the Philippines scored 6.46 points and ranked in 104th place, while in economic freedom it scored 7.47 points and ranked 39th.

The top 10 countries in the Human Freedom Index in order were Switzerland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Finland, Norway, Denmark and, tied at 9th place, the Netherlands and Britain.

Canada was in 11th place, the United States (17), Indonesia (78),  Malaysia (97) and China (130).