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The World's Most Repressive Societies

Belarus
Chechnya (under Russian jurisdiction)
China
Cuba
Côte d'Ivoire
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Laos
Libya
Myanmar (Burma)

North Korea
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tibet (under Chinese jurisdiction)
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Western Sahara (under Moroccan jurisdiction)
Zimbabwe

Repressive societies are defined as exerting pervasive state control over daily life, banning free speech, independent organizations, and political opposition, and practicing severe human rights violations. Source: Freedom in the World, 2007, published by Freedom House. http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=15 .

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