2025 Atlas: Freedom and Prosperity Around the World

2024 has seen escalating global crises, shifting alliances, and over half of the world's population voting in national elections. In this Atlas, twenty leading economists, scholars, and diplomats analyze the state of freedom and prosperity in sixteen countries around the world, looking back not only on a consequential year but across twenty-nine years of data on markets, rights, and the rule of law. Today's geopolitical landscape is defined by the escalation of violent crises, tense global alliances, and shifting leadership in many of the countries that held elections in 2024. In response to these challenges, many governments have eroded democratic institutions and expanded their authority in a clear show of defiance against traditional liberal principles. These trends raise critically important questions about the interplay between technology, executive aggrandizement, and constraints on the executive. Central to this discussion is the recognition of the enduring relationship between freedom and prosperity. The chapters in this Atlas provide compelling evidence that the preservation and advancement of freedoms are essential drivers of sustained economic growth and societal well-being. This comprehensive volume serves as a roadmap for navigating the complexities of contemporary governance. By examining the trajectories of various nations and regions, the 2025 Freedom and Prosperity Atlas illuminates key trends shaping global prosperity and underscores the importance of preserving fundamental freedoms in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges. Within the context of global uncertainty, the Atlantic Council's Freedom and Prosperity Center seeks to explore policies that restore global faith in democracy and enhance social and economic development. Through political, economic, and legal reforms, this collection of essays helps policymakers navigate the multifaceted dynamics of freedom, security, and prosperity in an increasingly interconnected world. In an era marked by global uncertainty and transformative change, this volume serves as both a warning and a guide. It underscores the urgent need to safeguard freedoms as the foundation of economic and social progress while addressing the challenges of an evolving geopolitical landscape. By advocating for innovative and principled policy responses, the contributors present a vision for a world where liberty and prosperity are not only preserved but also expanded and self-reinforcing. This book invites leaders, scholars, and citizens alike to embrace the complexities of governance with courage, conviction, and a steadfast commitment to the principles that foster human flourishing.