SOUTH frica’s economic freedom rating has improved from 5,9 in 1990 to 7,3 in 1997 on a scale of 10 according to the Economic Freedom of the World annual report. The Free Market Foundation of Southern Africa director Eustace Davie said on Monday South Africa was ranked 47th out of 123 countries analysed in the publication to be launched in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Hong Kong and Singapore shared the top rating of 9,4. They were followed by New Zealand, the USA and the United Kingdom. The five least free economies (in order from the bottom) were Myanmar (formerly Burma), the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Madagascar.