V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · Freedom of Expression and Alternative Sources of Information Index
Freedom of expression by country
How free are the media and ordinary people to express political views?
Denmark placed first of the 176 countries compared in 2025, at 0.980, and North Korea last, at 0.013. In the middle country the figure was 0.693. Among the 168 countries measured in every edition since 1990, the middle one moved from 0.589 to 0.693.
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Part ofDemocracy & Civil Liberties
Freedom of expression · 2025
Context statistic
Highest of 176Denmark
0.980012025 · position · derived
Who leads
The three countries at the highest end of 176 compared, the three at the other end, and the first on each continent.
1Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2Photo: derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3Photo: Gf uip · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Lowest in 2025
- 176
North Korea0.013 - 175
Nicaragua0.018 - 174
Afghanistan0.022
Positions out of 176. Where a country sits says how it compares with the others measured, and nothing about why.
Highest on each continent
- Africa
Kenya0.900 - Americas
Canada0.933 - Asia
South Korea0.933 - EuropeDenmark0.980
- Oceania
New Zealand0.927 - Every region
02Every measured country
Freedom of expression on a map
Each country is shaded by its value, in five groups holding the same number of countries. Hover a country for its value, or select it to open its profile. Below the map, each continent’s middle country.
Darker is a higher value — the better end.
- 0.013–0.329
- 0.336–0.619
- 0.628–0.771
- 0.777–0.874
- 0.887–0.980
- No reading in 2025
- Europe
0.845
the middle country, of 40 measured · 49 members
Denmark0.980
Belarus0.025Highest and lowest reading in Europe.
- Oceania
0.844
the middle country, of 6 measured · 21 members
New Zealand0.927
Fiji0.724Highest and lowest reading in Oceania.
- Americas
0.810
the middle country, of 27 measured · 48 members
Canada0.933Nicaragua0.018Highest and lowest reading in Americas.
- Africa
0.599
the middle country, of 55 measured · 55 members
Kenya0.900
Eritrea0.024Highest and lowest reading in Africa.
- Asia
0.464
the middle country, of 48 measured · 52 members
South Korea0.933North Korea0.013Highest and lowest reading in Asia.
- Every region
20 sub-regions, highest middle country first
- Western Europe
0.957
the middle country, of 7 measured · 9 members
Belgium0.969
Netherlands0.910Highest and lowest reading in Western Europe.
- Northern Europe
0.946
the middle country, of 10 measured · 13 members
Denmark0.980
United Kingdom0.833Highest and lowest reading in Northern Europe.
- Caribbean
0.895
the middle country, of 6 measured · 24 members
Jamaica0.919
Cuba0.074Highest and lowest reading in Caribbean.
- Central America
0.812
the middle country, of 7 measured · 8 members
Costa Rica0.915Nicaragua0.018Highest and lowest reading in Central America.
- Southern Africa
0.798
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Namibia0.859
Eswatini0.113Highest and lowest reading in Southern Africa.
- Eastern Asia
0.771
the middle country, of 7 measured · 8 members
South Korea0.933North Korea0.013Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Asia.
- South America
0.767
the middle country, of 12 measured · 12 members
Uruguay0.931
Venezuela0.148Highest and lowest reading in South America.
- Southern Europe
0.756
the middle country, of 13 measured · 17 members
Portugal0.899
Serbia0.424Highest and lowest reading in Southern Europe.
- Western Africa
0.719
the middle country, of 16 measured · 16 members
Ghana0.896
Burkina Faso0.261Highest and lowest reading in Western Africa.
- Eastern Europe
0.703
the middle country, of 10 measured · 10 members
Czechia0.947Belarus0.025Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Europe.
- Southern Asia
0.559
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
Sri Lanka0.871Afghanistan0.022Highest and lowest reading in Southern Asia.
- Middle Africa
0.532
the middle country, of 9 measured · 9 members
São Tomé and Príncipe0.793
Equatorial Guinea0.112Highest and lowest reading in Middle Africa.
- Eastern Africa
0.518
the middle country, of 19 measured · 19 members
Kenya0.900Eritrea0.024Highest and lowest reading in Eastern Africa.
- South-eastern Asia
0.493
the middle country, of 10 measured · 11 members
Timor-Leste0.838
Myanmar0.026Highest and lowest reading in South-eastern Asia.
- Northern Africa
0.452
the middle country, of 6 measured · 6 members
Tunisia0.687
Egypt0.179Highest and lowest reading in Northern Africa.
- Western Asia
0.358
the middle country, of 17 measured · 19 members
Israel0.822
Qatar0.055Highest and lowest reading in Western Asia.
- Central Asia
0.234
the middle country, of 5 measured · 5 members
Kyrgyzstan0.469
Turkmenistan0.038Highest and lowest reading in Central Asia.
- Australia and New Zealand
2 of 2 measured — too few for a middle: Australia, New Zealand.
New Zealand0.927
Australia0.915Highest and lowest reading in Australia and New Zealand.
- Melanesia
4 of 5 measured — too few for a middle: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu.
Vanuatu0.848Fiji0.724Highest and lowest reading in Melanesia.
- Northern America
2 of 4 measured — too few for a middle: Canada, United States.
Canada0.933
United States0.729Highest and lowest reading in Northern America.
03The whole field at once
The spread
176 countries, one dot each, on one scale — further right is a higher value. Half the countries are above 0.693; a quarter are above 0.844, and a quarter below 0.423. The bar in each row marks that continent’s middle country.
04All 176 ever measured
Every country
In order, highest value first. “=” marks a position shared with another country. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg ranks nobody on this measure; the position is derived here by ordering the published values. It is one of the building blocks of V-Dem's Electoral Democracy Index, so the two track each other closely; read it for the speech-and-media part of that picture. Government censorship of the media, which also has a page here, is one of its inputs.
Showing 25 of 176 countries
Values for 2025. The change column compares 2025 with 2024 only; the sparkline covers the recent editions.
051990–2025 · 36 reference years
Over time
Each point is one year from 1990, all of them re-estimated together in V-Dem's v16 release. Restrictions on the press and on public debate can be early signs of a wider decline, so this series is worth reading beside the Electoral Democracy Index.
- the middle country
- the middle half of countries
- the middle of the 168 countries measured every time
- each continent’s middle country
The same, year by year
| Year | Countries | Middle country | Middle half | Measured every time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 176 | 0.693 | 0.423 – 0.844 | 0.693 |
| 2024 | 176 | 0.726 | 0.440 – 0.845 | 0.726 |
| 2023 | 176 | 0.731 | 0.446 – 0.855 | 0.730 |
| 2022 | 176 | 0.728 | 0.456 – 0.865 | 0.724 |
| 2021 | 176 | 0.740 | 0.472 – 0.862 | 0.740 |
| 2020 | 176 | 0.748 | 0.527 – 0.867 | 0.748 |
| 2019 | 176 | 0.736 | 0.540 – 0.867 | 0.736 |
| 2018 | 176 | 0.748 | 0.544 – 0.864 | 0.748 |
| 2017 | 176 | 0.765 | 0.502 – 0.875 | 0.765 |
| 2016 | 176 | 0.771 | 0.504 – 0.884 | 0.771 |
| 2015 | 176 | 0.768 | 0.529 – 0.890 | 0.768 |
| 2014 | 176 | 0.772 | 0.529 – 0.898 | 0.772 |
| 2013 | 176 | 0.775 | 0.544 – 0.892 | 0.775 |
| 2012 | 176 | 0.781 | 0.571 – 0.903 | 0.787 |
| 2011 | 176 | 0.788 | 0.574 – 0.899 | 0.799 |
| 2010 | 175 | 0.778 | 0.558 – 0.900 | 0.786 |
| 2009 | 175 | 0.784 | 0.555 – 0.901 | 0.790 |
| 2008 | 175 | 0.774 | 0.539 – 0.896 | 0.781 |
| 2007 | 175 | 0.775 | 0.524 – 0.900 | 0.776 |
| 2006 | 175 | 0.766 | 0.558 – 0.900 | 0.776 |
| 2005 | 175 | 0.768 | 0.548 – 0.899 | 0.771 |
| 2004 | 175 | 0.749 | 0.527 – 0.902 | 0.756 |
| 2003 | 175 | 0.746 | 0.467 – 0.901 | 0.746 |
| 2002 | 175 | 0.739 | 0.462 – 0.901 | 0.737 |
| 2001 | 175 | 0.747 | 0.458 – 0.891 | 0.748 |
| 2000 | 175 | 0.741 | 0.464 – 0.892 | 0.743 |
| 1999 | 175 | 0.724 | 0.414 – 0.884 | 0.728 |
| 1998 | 174 | 0.716 | 0.405 – 0.884 | 0.708 |
| 1997 | 173 | 0.719 | 0.397 – 0.888 | 0.712 |
| 1996 | 173 | 0.701 | 0.401 – 0.888 | 0.702 |
| 1995 | 173 | 0.701 | 0.400 – 0.888 | 0.704 |
| 1994 | 173 | 0.700 | 0.408 – 0.888 | 0.700 |
| 1993 | 173 | 0.683 | 0.383 – 0.884 | 0.684 |
| 1992 | 172 | 0.649 | 0.353 – 0.885 | 0.651 |
| 1991 | 171 | 0.611 | 0.303 – 0.869 | 0.619 |
| 1990 | 168 | 0.589 | 0.239 – 0.859 | 0.589 |
062024 → 2025
Who rose and fell
The biggest changes in value between the two newest editions — reference years recalculated in one report, not two separate publications. Places are shown second, because they also move when other countries do.
Improved most
before → after
Syria0.070 → 0.358 · 166th → 138th+0.288
Mauritius0.621 → 0.887 · 106th → 34th+0.266- South Korea0.782 → 0.933 · 72nd → 12th+0.151
Bangladesh0.444 → 0.527 · 130th → 122nd+0.083
Mongolia0.694 → 0.771 · 93rd → 69th+0.077
Declined most
before → after- United States0.904 → 0.729 · 28th → 84th−0.175
Tanzania0.683 → 0.552 · 96th → 117th−0.131
Mali0.589 → 0.490 · 112th → 127th−0.099- Burkina Faso0.348 → 0.261 · 138th → 144th−0.087
- United Kingdom0.915 → 0.833 · 23rd → 53rd−0.082
176 countries were measured in both 2024 and 2025.
07Across every edition
Freedom of expression in records
The extremes of the statistic. A record reached by more than one country names none of them.
Highest reading on record
0.988
Freedom of expression index (0–1)
Lowest reading on record
0.011
Freedom of expression index (0–1)
Biggest improvement between editions
+0.688
0.045 → 0.733
Biggest decline between editions
−0.632
0.682 → 0.050
Most improved since first measured
+0.780
0.058 → 0.838
At the top most often
36 of 36
editions, alone at the first-listed end
08The measure
About freedom of expression
V-Dem's index of freedom of expression and alternative sources of information asks whether the media can report freely and from a range of viewpoints, whether journalists are harassed or censor themselves, and whether ordinary people can discuss politics openly at home and in public. It runs from 0 to 1, and a higher figure means more freedom.
What the number is: Freedom of expression index (0–1).
What it does not measure
It is a component of V-Dem's electoral democracy index, so it adds detail to that measure rather than a separate verdict.
09Where it fits
Connections
Its part in the Country Index, the statistics whose values line up most closely with it across countries, and others on the same subject.
In the Country Index
Context, with no vote
This statistic is published in full under Democracy & Civil Liberties, but does not help decide any Country Index standing.
Moves with
Where freedom of expression is higher, these tend to be higher too.
- Government Censorship of the MediaV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 176 countries in commonρ 0.94
- V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexKeyV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 176 countries in commonρ 0.94
- Deliberative Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 176 countries in commonρ 0.94
Moves against
Where freedom of expression is higher, these tend to be lower.
- Neopatrimonial Rule IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 176 countries in commonρ −0.85
- Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 176 countries in commonρ −0.65
- Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 174 countries in commonρ −0.59
Rank correlation (ρ, from −1 to 1) across countries, on each statistic’s newest edition, out of 379 statistics sharing at least 80 countries with this one. Two statistics that move together do not cause each other.
10Keep reading
Explore further
The subject
The countries at either end
11Questions
Freedom of expression: questions and answers
Which country has the highest freedom of expression?
Denmark, at 0.980, among the 176 countries compared in 2025.
Which country has the lowest freedom of expression?
North Korea, at 0.013, among the 176 countries compared in 2025.
How many countries does the Freedom of Expression and Alternative Sources of Information Index cover?
176 in 2025. The number measured varies from 168 to 176 between editions.
What is the world average freedom of expression?
This site does not calculate a world average, which would depend on how countries are weighted. In the middle country of the 176 compared in 2025, the figure was 0.693.
Is this V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg’s own ranking?
No. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg publishes the values but ranks nobody; the position on this page is derived by Nations Inquiry by ordering the published values, and equal values share a position.
How often is the Freedom of Expression and Alternative Sources of Information Index published?
This site holds 36 reference years, 1990–2025, all recalculated in V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg’s 2026 report on one method — not 36 separate publications.
Where does the data come from, and can I download it?
From V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, under CC BY-SA 4.0. From the V-Dem Institute's Country-Year Core dataset (v16), University of Gothenburg, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. V-Dem's data runs back to 1789; the series here starts in 1990 so that every row belongs to a present-day country. Every edition is on this site’s Datasets pages as a full table, and downloads as a CSV file with every value unrounded.
12Method
Sources, method and citation
Source
Freedom of Expression and Alternative Sources of Information Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
From the V-Dem Institute's Country-Year Core dataset (v16), University of Gothenburg, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. V-Dem's data runs back to 1789; the series here starts in 1990 so that every row belongs to a present-day country.
Newest edition
Report year 2025Data year 2025
Cite the source as: Coppedge, M. et al. V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16. Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Project, University of Gothenburg.
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0, checked 2026-09-26.
How this page reads the numbers
- V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg ranks nobody on this measure. The position is derived by Nations Inquiry by ordering the published values; equal values share a position.
- Which end is better follows the publisher’s own reading of the measure.
- A country is named at an end only when it holds that value alone. Where several share it, the page says how many and names none first.
- Values are stored exactly as published and trimmed only for display. “The middle country” is the median of the countries measured, not a world average.
The file itself, column by column — where it came from, what each column holds, and every edition as a CSV — is on its dataset page.
Photographs
The countries at the top of this statistic, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ireland — derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Belgium — Gf uip, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Freedom of expression by country: Freedom of Expression and Alternative Sources of Information Index, data from V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg. https://nationsinquiry.com/statistics/freedom-of-expression