Historical Situation
The following chart shows South Africa's ratings since 1972 in the Freedom in the World reports, published annually by Freedom House. A rating of 1 is "free"; 7, "not free".1
| Historical ratings |
| Year |
Political Rights |
Civil Liberties |
Status |
Head of Government2 |
| 1972 |
5 |
6 |
Not Free |
Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| 1973 |
4 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| 1974 |
4 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| 1975 |
4 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| 1976 |
4 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| 1977 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| 1978 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Balthazar Johannes Vorster |
| 1979 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1980 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1981 |
5 |
6 |
Not Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 19823 |
5 |
6 |
Not Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1983 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1984 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1985 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1986 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1987 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1988 |
5 |
6 |
Partly Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1989 |
6 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Pieter Willem Botha |
| 1990 |
5 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Frederik Willem de Klerk |
| 1991 |
5 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Frederik Willem de Klerk |
| 1992 |
5 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Frederik Willem de Klerk |
| 1993 |
5 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Frederik Willem de Klerk |
| 1994 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
Frederik Willem de Klerk |
| 1995 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Nelson Mandela |
| 1996 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Nelson Mandela |
| 1997 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Nelson Mandela |
| 1998 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Nelson Mandela |
| 1999 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Nelson Mandela |
| 2000 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
| 2001 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
| 2002 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
| 2003 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
| 2004 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
| 2005 |
1 |
2 |
Free |
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
| 2006 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
| 2007 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
| 2008 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
| 2009 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe |
| 2010 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma |
| 2011 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma |
| 2012 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma |
| 2013 |
2 |
2 |
Free |
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma |
|