Region

Asia-Pacific

Democracy

6.74%

of region’s population

Hybrid Authoritarian

54.84%

of region’s population

Fully Authoritarian

38.38%

of region’s population

Source: Tyranny Tracker

Overview

Afghanistan

Australia

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Brunei

Burma

Cambodia

China

Fiji

Hong Kong

India

Indonesia

Japan

Laos

Malaysia

Maldives

Mongolia

Nepal

New Zealand

North Korea

Pakistan

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Singapore

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Taiwan

Thailand

Timor-Leste

Vietnam

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A Democracy Index Built to Inform Action

Asia-Pacific's Publications

Oct 27, 2026

Dispatches from Detention: Umar Khalid

Indian student-activist Umar Khalid was arrested on Sept. 13, 2020, after he became a prominent face of nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, a law excluding Muslims from eligibility for a fast-tracked path to Indian citizenship.

Oct 25, 2026

Dispatches from Detention: Dr. Mahrang Baloch

Dr. Mahrang Baloch is serving two life sentences in Pakistan on politically motivated terrorism charges. She is the founder of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, a network of activists dedicated to peaceful advocacy for Pakistan’s Baloch minority, and she regularly organizes demonstrations and events to highlight the enforced disappearance, torture, and killing of Baloch people.

Oct 19, 2026

China Casts a Wide Net for Travelers with New Exit and Entry Regulations

Travelers to China be warned: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) just doubled down on regulations that could subject innocent travelers and citizens to exit bans or detention.

Human Rights Dispatch

Oct 15, 2026

Joshua Wong Marks 30th Birthday Jailed in Hong Kong, Ulviyya Ali Spent Second Birthday in Azerbaijani Custody

Joshua Wong turned 30. He spent more than half of his twenties behind bars. From a 14-year-old student activist to one of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy voices, Joshua’s story traces the dismantling of Hong Kong’s freedoms.

Asia-Pacific's Reports

The CCP’s Deepening Footprint in Latin America and the Stakes for Democracy in the Region

Following a period of U.S. retreat that lasted until the end of 2025, and amid an ongoing realignment of the international democratic bloc, illiberal actors — particularly China, Russia, and their closest allies — continue to look for opportunities to gain influence and undermine institutions to their advantage, especially in middle-income countries, where American actions are viewed with disdain and alliances with alternative powers are seen as economic opportunities.

Manipulation of Sustainable Development: Framing of the UN SDGs by Authoritarian Regimes

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are global sustainability benchmarks adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to guide an inclusive and sustainable transformation by 2030.

Dictators and Diplomas: Why Foreign Autocracies Funding American Universities Threatens Democracy, Destroys Academic Freedom, and Entrenches Anti-Democratic Regimes

For years, foreign dictatorships and their proxies have searched out any number of ways to influence policy and discourse in the United States. From hiring fleets of lobbyists to setting up dark money networks, from bankrolling sports leagues to launching disinformation campaigns on American social media platforms, from backing strategic investments to hiring consulting firms and white-shoe law firms, the list of targets is lengthy.

Youthquake: Youth-led Movements Shaking Up East and Southeast Asia

In recent years, youth across East and Southeast Asia, and around the world, have spearheaded the demand for democracy, justice, and freedom.

HRF Authoritarianism Partnerships Report

Modern slavery, also known as “human trafficking” and “trafficking in persons” exists everywhere, and is on the rise.

HRF Report: Authoritarianism and Human Trafficking

Human trafficking, considered a modern form of slavery, exists in every region of the world.

HRF Report: CCP 100 Years of Suppression

2021 marks the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the sole ruling party of China.

Corporate Intimidation and Censorship in China

Since China’s rise as a global trade giant, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has leveraged its position in the global economy to intimidate foreign companies into becoming indirect messengers of its political ideology. Since the 1990s, the Chinese government has exerted pressure…

Authoritarianism and Trafficking in Persons

Though trafficking is present in every country, including democracies, our analysis shows that there is a connection between trafficking and authoritarianism. A possible explanation for this is that…