TORONTO—Nearly 9-in-10 people in 165 countries around the World have experienced declining freedom in recent years, according to the latest Human Freedom Index, released today by Canada’s Fraser Institute and the U.S.-based Cato Institute.

“During the COVID pandemic, governments enacted extremely restrictive measures as a means to fight the spread of the disease and these measures clearly reduced most peoples’ freedom, which is a critical ingredient for a better life,” said Matthew D. Mitchell, Fraser Institute senior fellow and co-author of this year’s report.