Taiwan is ranked second in Asia and 10th among 162 countries and territories around the world in the latest Human Freedom Index released Dec. 10 by three international public policy think tanks.
 
Jumping seven spots and 0.06 of a point from the previous edition, Taiwan scored 8.47 out of 10 to tie with Finland and Norway in 10th overall. The nation finished ahead of regional neighbors Singapore, 25th; South Korea, 27th and Japan, 31st. New Zealand, Switzerland and Hong Kong topped the list in that order.
 
Co-published by Canada’s Fraser Institute, Germany-headquartered Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and U.S.-based Cato Institute, the report assessed countries and territories based on 79 indicators of personal and economic freedom grouped into 12 categories.
 
Taiwan achieved a perfect score of 10 in three main classifications: association, assembly and civil society; identity and relationships; and movement. It also outperformed in expression and information, 9.3; religious freedom, 9.4; security and safety, 9.7; and sound money, 9.7.
 
According to the report, freedom and democracy continue to strengthen in the country despite China moving from anti-Taiwan rhetoric to open military threats. Taiwan was also highlighted in the survey as one of the nations that has registered the greatest improvement over the past decade, rising from 43rd in 2008.
 
First published in 2015, the annual report is one of the most comprehensive indexes of human freedom. It has compiled rankings of countries and territories dating to 2008, with this year’s assessments based off data collected from 2012 to 2016. (KWS-E)