The following information is taken from Economic Freedom of the World: 2008 Annual Report by James Gwartney and Robert Lawson and co-published by The Fraser Institute and over seventy other research institutes of the Economic Freedom Network.

The Economic Freedom of the World project employs a variety of data to rate the degree of economic freedom in a country. The ratings are based on a zero to ten scale, with ten being most free and zero the least. The chart and table below indicate the overall economic freedom rating and ranking in the world. Additional information can be found by consulting Economic Freedom of the World: 2008 Annual Report.