Map layers
Migration and immigration
Colour the map by immigration, emigration, net migration or refugees, or pick a country to see where its immigrants come from and where its emigrants live. Tap any country for its full migration profile.
Freedom by area
Pick an area of freedom to colour the map. Scores come from Freedom House, the Human Freedom Index (Cato and Fraser Institutes), the Heritage Index of Economic Freedom and the Atlantic Council Freedom Index, plus press, civic space, rule of law and corruption data, all rescaled 0 to 100 where higher is freer.
How each index defines freedom
State control
How much control a government has over public life, scored 0 to 100 from five independent measures: civic space (CIVICUS, 28%), rights and liberties (Freedom House, 28%), press freedom (RSF, 17%), rule of law (World Justice Project, 17%) and corruption (Transparency International, 10%). Bands: open society (0–14), minor restrictions (15–24), noticeable restrictions (25–39, where people generally start to feel the change), heavily restricted (40–59), policed state (60–79), total control (80+). countries score 25 or more and score 60 or more. Tap a country on the map for its profile.
Cost of living pressure
Scored 0 to 100 from the latest food inflation (40%, Trading Economics, mostly Sep 2026), local purchasing power (35%, Numbeo 2026 mid-year) and inflation (25%, Trading Economics for G20, otherwise World Bank 2024). It compares pressure between countries; it does not capture every local squeeze, such as UK fuel prices after the Iran war.
Direction of travel, 2025
Highest war risk
Editorial index, 0 to 100: the likelihood of major war involving the country in the coming months, built from escalation stage, intensity, instability scores, active fronts and live disputes between states.
City labels
Pulse animation
Map key
Critical: active war with the highest escalation risk
High: major fighting or serious rioting
Elevated: significant but contained
Watch: could escalate within weeks
Shaded only: other armed conflict in the register
Diamond: riots and unrest. Circle: armed conflict
Triangle: terrorist threat or recent attack
Zoom in to see cities; capitals appear first, then hotspot towns.
State control layer: darker purple means more control; hatching marks a policed state (60+)
Sources
Stages, country risk scores and UK risk ratings are editorial assessments drawn from the reporting above, not official government advice. Before any travel, check the FCDO's travel advice for the country concerned.