Croatia joined the countries with moderately free economies, but it is still rated below countries such as Rwanda or Albania, according to the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom published jointly by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal, and in the region by their strategic partner the Adriatic Institute for Public Policy.

The survey showed that Croatia is still among countries repressed in three key areas: property rights, freedom from corruption and labor freedom.

Croatia’s economic freedom score is 61.1, making its economy the 82nd freest in the world, compared to the 92nd place it occupied last year.

However, it is still among worst rated countries in Europe, preceded by, among others, Montenegro, Albania, Slovenia, Romania, Macedonia and Hungary.

Economically freest country in the world is Hong Kong with score of 89.9, and it is followed by Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.