Which has higher freedom of expression index, Austria or New Zealand?

New Zealand, at 0.927 against 0.918 in Austria as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Austria and New Zealand?

167 years are reported by both, from 1853 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Austria vs New Zealand: Freedom of Expression Index

Austria

0.918

in 2025

New Zealand

0.927

in 2025

Austria rank

19th

New Zealand rank

16th

Freedom of Expression Index over time

Austria
New Zealand

How they compare

New Zealand currently reports 0.927 against 0.918 in Austria, a difference of 0.009.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 167 shared years of data; in 1853 it was New Zealand ahead.

Austria ranks 19th and New Zealand ranks 16th of 176 countries.

Across the 18 decades both report, Austria averaged higher in 8 and New Zealand in 10.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Austria	New Zealand	Difference	Ahead
1850s	0.161	0.842	0.681	New Zealand
1860s	0.3416	0.842	0.5004	New Zealand
1870s	0.528	0.842	0.314	New Zealand
1880s	0.549	0.842	0.293	New Zealand
1890s	0.738	0.842	0.104	New Zealand
1900s	0.738	0.8809	0.1429	New Zealand
1910s	0.6808	0.848	0.1672	New Zealand
1920s	0.8395	0.8785	0.039	New Zealand
1930s	0.4217	0.8699	0.4482	New Zealand
1940s	0.8818	0.8484	0.0334	Austria
1950s	0.908	0.8602	0.0478	Austria
1960s	0.9386	0.8943	0.0443	Austria
1970s	0.9549	0.9325	0.0224	Austria
1980s	0.9615	0.9524	0.0091	Austria
1990s	0.966	0.958	0.008	Austria
2000s	0.966	0.958	0.008	Austria
2010s	0.9599	0.9474	0.0125	Austria
2020s	0.9312	0.9387	0.0075	New Zealand

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher freedom of expression index, Austria or New Zealand?: New Zealand, at 0.927 against 0.918 in Austria as of 2025.
What is the difference in freedom of expression index between Austria and New Zealand?: 0.009, with New Zealand ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Austria and New Zealand?: 167 years are reported by both, from 1853 to 2025.
How do Austria and New Zealand rank globally for freedom of expression index?: Austria ranks 19th and New Zealand ranks 16th of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Austria vs New Zealand: Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/freedom-of-expression-index/austria/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator: Freedom of Expression Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,035 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 30 October 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which people can discuss political matters at home and in the public sphere, the press, and media are free and can present different political perspectives, and the freedom of academic and cultural expression.