Index of Freedom in the World

Bulgaria has climbed 20 spots in the annual Media Freedom Index of the non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders. According to the organization, this freedom remains fragile and unstable in our country, which is "one of the poorest and most corrupt in the European Union".

Bulgaria ranks 39th in the Human Freedom Index-2019. With a human freedom rating of 7.79 on a scale of 0 to 10, Bulgaria advances one position as compared to the 2018 Human Freedom Index. Romania is the Balkan country with highest rating-8.11 (30th position). Albania ranks 38th with rating of 7.84.

At the recommendation of its Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the U.N. General Assembly in 1993 proclaimed May 3 as World Press Freedom Day, which is often referred to as World Press Day or Press Freedom Day.

British Consul-General to Turkey in Istanbul Leigh Turner has published a blog post following the attack on Hürriyet columnist Ahmet Hakan, calling on Turkey to support media freedom and freedom of expression ?without any ifs or buts.?

Below is Turner?s blog post, published on Oct. 2, titled ?Turkey: media freedom, stability and prosperity.?

Bulgaria occupies the 41st position in the latest edition of the Human Freedom Index - a global measurement of personal, civil and economic freedom ranking 152 countries on a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 represents more freedom.

Bulgaria had a freedom index of 7.8 in 2012, with a personal freedom of 8.21 and economic freedom measuring 7.39.