Human rights are increasingly under threat in China, according to a British firm which analyses dangers for business worldwide, while also describing risks in Russia, Nigeria and India as extreme.
While Afghanistan and Somalia are the worst countries in the world for rights, China has dropped five places in a global ranking and is notably poor on arbitrary arrest, freedom of speech and minority rights.
The Human Rights Risk Atlas 2010 by analysts Maplecroft also places Pakistan and Iraq among the worst offenders, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Myanmar, Sudan, Colombia and Zimbabwe.
The rankings are published to mark International Human Rights Day on Thursday.
"The economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China are predicted to drive the world's economy over the coming years," said Alyson Warhurst, executive chair of Maplecroft and a professor at Britain's Warwick Business School.
"But, the results of this research suggest that economic growth is not translating into progress on human rights. Organisations working in those countries have a number of risks to navigate," she added.
Afghanistan, where NATO-led forces have been fighting Taliban insurgents since 2001, is considered the worst place for kidnapping, child soldiers, disappearances, torture, unlawful killings or internal displacement.
Iraq, which has also seen a surge in violence since the US-led invasion in March 2003, is in second place, while Somalia, mired in civil conflict since 1991, and Pakistan, fighting an Islamist insurgency, are also in the top ten.
China is listed as the 12th most risky country overall for human rights, but the analysts rate the emerging economic giant as the worst for labour rights and protection.
In an assessment of child labour, forced labour and violations of freedom of association, discrimination and working conditions, China has the most risk, followed by Myanmar and Pakistan. Emerging economy India is placed sixth.
Iran, where anti-government protesters clashed with security forces this week, is in joint place with Somalia as the riskiest places for civil and political rights, which include freedom of speech and from arbitrary arrest.
Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, China, Syria, DR Congo and Pakistan complete the top 10.
Meanwhile indigenous people are most at risk in parts of Asia and Latin and Central America, with India topping the rankings followed by Colombia, Honduras, Bolivia, Brazil, DR Congo, Bangladesh, Guatemala, Mexico and Myanmar.
On a positive note, the tiny landlocked state of San Marino in southern Europe is named the best place for human rights, followed by Monaco, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Maplecroft has assessed 196 countries for the risks posed to businesses of complicity in human rights violations, putting Russia in 18th place, the United States in 134th and Britain in 155th.
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