Which has higher freedom of expression index, Botswana or Romania?

Botswana, at 0.798 against 0.777 in Romania as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and Romania?

126 years are reported by both, from 1900 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.

Botswana vs Romania: Freedom of Expression Index

Botswana

0.798

in 2025

Romania

0.777

in 2025

Botswana rank

65th

Romania rank

68th

Freedom of Expression Index over time

Botswana
Romania

How they compare

Botswana currently reports 0.798 against 0.777 in Romania, a difference of 0.021.

The two have swapped places 7 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Romania ahead.

Botswana ranks 65th and Romania ranks 68th of 176 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Botswana averaged higher in 4 and Romania in 9.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Botswana	Romania	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.15	0.6768	0.5268	Romania
1910s	0.149	0.6639	0.5149	Romania
1920s	0.152	0.6735	0.5215	Romania
1930s	0.1485	0.5499	0.4014	Romania
1940s	0.1451	0.2399	0.0948	Romania
1950s	0.153	0.04	0.113	Botswana
1960s	0.4141	0.0418	0.3723	Botswana
1970s	0.749	0.046	0.703	Botswana
1980s	0.7839	0.046	0.7379	Botswana
1990s	0.811	0.8181	0.0071	Romania
2000s	0.817	0.825	0.008	Romania
2010s	0.7992	0.8553	0.0561	Romania
2020s	0.7987	0.811	0.0123	Romania

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher freedom of expression index, Botswana or Romania?: Botswana, at 0.798 against 0.777 in Romania as of 2025.
What is the difference in freedom of expression index between Botswana and Romania?: 0.021, with Botswana ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Botswana and Romania?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Botswana and Romania rank globally for freedom of expression index?: Botswana ranks 65th and Romania ranks 68th 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.

Individual pages

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: 07 August 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.