Freedom House Ratings of Nigeria
The following chart shows Nigeria'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 |
President2 |
| 1972 |
6 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Yakubu Gowon |
| 1973 |
6 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Yakubu Gowon |
| 1974 |
6 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Yakubu Gowon |
| 1975 |
6 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Yakubu Gowon |
| 1976 |
6 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Murtala Mohammed |
| 1977 |
5 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 1978 |
5 |
3 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 1979 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 1980 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
Shehu Shagari |
| 1981 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
Shehu Shagari |
| 19823 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
Shehu Shagari |
| 1983 |
2 |
3 |
Free |
Shehu Shagari |
| 1984 |
7 |
5 |
Not Free |
Muhammadu Buhari |
| 1985 |
7 |
5 |
Not Free |
Muhammadu Buhari |
| 1986 |
7 |
5 |
Not Free |
Ibrahim Babangida |
| 1987 |
6 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Ibrahim Babangida |
| 1988 |
5 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Ibrahim Babangida |
| 1989 |
6 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Ibrahim Babangida |
| 1990 |
5 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Ibrahim Babangida |
| 1991 |
5 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Ibrahim Babangida |
| 1992 |
5 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Ibrahim Babangida |
| 1993 |
7 |
5 |
Not Free |
Ibrahim Babangida |
| 1994 |
7 |
6 |
Not Free |
Sani Abacha |
| 1995 |
7 |
7 |
Not Free |
Sani Abacha |
| 1996 |
7 |
6 |
Not Free |
Sani Abacha |
| 1997 |
7 |
6 |
Not Free |
Sani Abacha |
| 1998 |
6 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Sani Abacha |
| 1999 |
4 |
3 |
Partly Free |
Abdulsalami Abubakar |
| 2000 |
4 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 2001 |
4 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 2002 |
4 |
5 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 2003 |
4 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 2004 |
4 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 2005 |
4 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 2006 |
4 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 2007 |
4 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Olusegun Obasanjo |
| 2008 |
5 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua |
| 2009 |
5 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua |
| 2010 |
4 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua |
| 2011 |
4 |
4 |
Partly Free |
Goodluck Jonathan |
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