The latest “Freedom in the 50 States” index has ranked New Hampshire and Florida among the top states for personal and economic freedom in the United States. This comprehensive index, which evaluates both personal and economic freedoms, placed South Dakota, Nevada, and Arizona also in the top five.
Conversely, New York has been ranked as the least free state, a position it has consistently held since 2000. Hawaii’s recent decline placed it below California, with New Jersey and Oregon completing the bottom five.
The rankings reflect the states’ situations as of the beginning of 2023, accounting for legislative changes made by state governments elected in November 2020. The index, unique in its dual focus on personal and economic freedoms, analyzes over 230 state and local public policies.
The “Freedom in the 50 States: 2023 Edition” provides a detailed map showcasing the rankings and offers an interactive feature for users to explore the results by state. This project, the first of its kind, aims to be the most comprehensive source for state-level economic freedom data in America. The 2023 edition has added more policy variables and improved measurements for land-use regulation and occupational licensing, covering a time series from 2000 to 2022.
The least free states in America
| 45 | Maryland | –0.34 |
| 46 | Oregon | –0.40 |
| 47 | New Jersey | –0.42 |
| 48 | California | –0.58 |
| 49 | Hawaii | –0.72 |
| 50 | New York | –0.77 |