Which has higher freedom of expression index, China or Cuba?

Cuba, at 0.074 against 0.045 in China as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for China and Cuba?

237 years are reported by both, from 1789 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.

China vs Cuba: Freedom of Expression Index

China

0.045

in 2025

Cuba

0.074

in 2025

China rank

167th

Cuba rank

164th

Freedom of Expression Index over time

China
Cuba

How they compare

Cuba currently reports 0.074 against 0.045 in China, a difference of 0.029.

That makes Cuba's figure about 1.6 times China's.

The two have swapped places 6 times across 237 shared years of data; in 1789 it was Cuba ahead.

China ranks 167th and Cuba ranks 164th of 176 countries.

Across the 25 decades both report, China averaged higher in 6 and Cuba in 19.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	Cuba	Difference	Ahead
1780s	0.161	0.21	0.049	Cuba
1790s	0.161	0.21	0.049	Cuba
1800s	0.161	0.21	0.049	Cuba
1810s	0.161	0.2106	0.0496	Cuba
1820s	0.161	0.214	0.053	Cuba
1830s	0.161	0.214	0.053	Cuba
1840s	0.161	0.2104	0.0494	Cuba
1850s	0.161	0.213	0.052	Cuba
1860s	0.2037	0.2108	0.0071	Cuba
1870s	0.222	0.2037	0.0183	China
1880s	0.222	0.2242	0.0022	Cuba
1890s	0.2696	0.4995	0.2299	Cuba
1900s	0.3304	0.7158	0.3854	Cuba
1910s	0.4234	0.7135	0.2901	Cuba
1920s	0.4298	0.7119	0.2821	Cuba
1930s	0.3805	0.6989	0.3184	Cuba
1940s	0.3428	0.79	0.4472	Cuba
1950s	0.0451	0.6167	0.5716	Cuba
1960s	0.032	0.0463	0.0143	Cuba
1970s	0.0448	0.0302	0.0146	China
1980s	0.2282	0.042	0.1862	China
1990s	0.226	0.0448	0.1812	China
2000s	0.2097	0.0463	0.1634	China
2010s	0.1158	0.0548	0.061	China
2020s	0.0502	0.0807	0.0305	Cuba

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher freedom of expression index, China or Cuba?: Cuba, at 0.074 against 0.045 in China as of 2025.
What is the difference in freedom of expression index between China and Cuba?: 0.029, with Cuba ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and Cuba?: 237 years are reported by both, from 1789 to 2025.
How do China and Cuba rank globally for freedom of expression index?: China ranks 167th and Cuba ranks 164th 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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China vs Cuba: Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/freedom-of-expression-index/china/cuba/

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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.