In the latest "Freedom in the World 2026" report by Freedom House, Cuba has once again found itself at the bottom in terms of political and civil liberties in Latin America. This report also marks the twentieth consecutive year of decline in global freedom.
The island nation scored a mere 9 out of 100 points on the report's scale—one point less than the previous edition—with zero points for political rights and just nine for civil liberties. This assessment keeps it in the "Not Free" category, making it the least free country in the region, alongside Nicaragua and Venezuela as the continent's most extreme cases.
The report, titled "The Growing Shadow of Autocracy," highlights that in 2025, a total of 54 countries experienced a decline in political rights and civil liberties, while only 35 saw improvements. The number of nations classified as "Not Free" has increased from 45 in 2005 to 59 today. Just 21% of the global population currently lives in countries deemed free, compared to 46% two decades ago.
For Cuba, repression is more than just a statistic. Prisoners Defenders recorded 1,339 political prisoners as of August 2026, the highest number documented by the organization. The trend has been consistent: 1,214 prisoners in February, 1,250 in March, 1,281 in May, leading to the current record in August.
In this context, Freedom House celebrated the release of artist and activist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara in September. He is the co-founder of the San Isidro Movement and served five years in prison after being arrested on July 11, 2021, during the historic 11J protests.
However, the organization cautioned that his release was not an act of clemency: the regime conditioned his freedom on forced exile, and Otero Alcántara arrived in Miami on July 18, 2026, uncertain of when, or if, he will return to his homeland.
"The five years Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara spent in prison are a testament to the cruel and illegal nature of the Cuban regime, which will do whatever it takes to silence and punish dissent," stated Brian Tronic, director of Freedom House's Fred Hiatt Program. "Even his release does not end the regime's persecution, as it was conditioned on exile."
Jamie Fly, CEO of Freedom House, was more forthright about the broader situation: "We will continue to advocate for the more than 1,300 political prisoners still detained in Cuba for speaking out against decades of repression and corruption."
Cuba's deterioration is not an isolated phenomenon in the region. The report places Nicaragua and Venezuela among the countries with the most significant decline in freedom worldwide over the past 20 years, with losses of 49 and 41 points, respectively, since 2005. Between 2020 and 2025, both countries also fell to the lowest possible scores for personal freedom of expression, along with Belarus, Iran, Russia, and Tajikistan.
The report also warns of a structural shift that could worsen the situation: in 2025, the U.S. administration canceled approximately $80.5 billion in foreign aid managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department, impacting thousands of organizations in at least 129 countries.
European countries, for their part, also significantly reduced their funding for civil society and democracy abroad.
Digitally, Cuba fares no better: according to the "Freedom on the Net 2025" index by the same organization, the island scored 20 out of 100 in internet freedom, ranking it as the fourth least free network in the world.
"The desire for freedom is inexhaustible," concludes the Freedom House report. "Authoritarian regimes continue to advance globally, and only the combined efforts of human rights defenders, civil society organizations, and democratic governments can hasten the day when all people can live in freedom."
Understanding Cuba's Freedom Challenges
Why did Cuba receive such a low score in the Freedom House report?
Cuba received a low score due to its lack of political rights and limited civil liberties, leading to its classification in the "Not Free" category.
What impact does the U.S. aid reduction have on Cuba?
The reduction in U.S. aid affects numerous organizations that support civil society and democracy, potentially worsening the already dire situation in Cuba.
How does Cuba's internet freedom compare globally?
Cuba is ranked as the fourth least free country in terms of internet freedom according to the "Freedom on the Net 2025" index.