Being an economically free state means having an environment where citizens and businesses can act autonomously, where property rights are respected, and where state intervention remains proportionate.
To measure this freedom worldwide, the Canadian think tank Fraser Institute publishes each year its Economic Freedom of the World report.
The 2025 edition provides a detailed overview across 165 countries and territories, based on 45 indicators grouped into five main categories.
The first measures the size of the state, through taxes, public ownership, and public spending. The legal system and property rights assess the independence of the judiciary, the effectiveness of law enforcement, and the protection of private rights.
Monetary stability takes into account inflation, money supply growth, and the management of foreign currencies. Freedom to Trade Internationally reflects the ease of movement of goods, capital, and people, while regulation examines the supervision of economic and financial activities.
In this ranking, Tunisia stands at the 27th position in Africa in terms of economic freedom and 124th globally, with an overall score of 5.88 out of 10.
It therefore falls within the third quartile, which groups countries considered as having low economic freedom.
Breaking down the different indicators, Tunisia’s best score is in the monetary stability category, with 7.14/10, followed by Freedom to Trade Internationally (6.59) and regulation (5.61).
The size of the state scores 5.41, while the weakest category remains the legal system and property rights, with 4.62/10.
To put Tunisia’s ranking into perspective, it is useful to compare its results with those of its Maghreb and North African neighbors.
Morocco slightly outperforms Tunisia, ranking 9th in Africa and 94th worldwide, with an overall score of 6.38. However, it still belongs to the same category as Tunisia: countries with low economic freedom.
Egypt, meanwhile, ranks 40th in Africa and 149th worldwide, with an overall score of 5.08, placing it among the least economically free countries.
Libya and Algeria show a similar situation: Libya is 47th in Africa and 157th globally with a score of 4.80, while Algeria is 48th in Africa and 162nd worldwide with a score of 4.24. Both countries also fall in the category of the least economically free.
Elsewhere in Africa, Mauritius (21st), Seychelles (31st), and Cape Verde (44th) occupy the top positions on the continent.
These countries share several characteristics: small open economies, relatively flexible regulation, and legal systems that encourage investment and protect private property.
At the global level, Hong Kong retains the first place, with a score of 8.85 points, followed closely by Singapore (8.50), New Zealand (8.33), Switzerland (8.28), and the United States (8.10), which complete the top 5.
These economies stand out for low state intervention, strong protection of property rights, and openness to trade.
