China vs Laos: Freedom of expression index
China
0.045
in 2025
Laos
0.032
in 2025
China rank
167th
Laos rank
170th
Freedom of expression index over time
- China
- Laos
How they compare
China currently reports 0.045 against 0.032 in Laos, a difference of 0.013.
That makes China's figure about 1.4 times Laos's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 230 shared years of data; in 1789 it was China ahead.
China ranks 167th and Laos ranks 170th of 176 countries.
Across the 25 decades both report, China averaged higher in 22 and Laos in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Laos | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.161 | 0.138 | 0.023 | China |
| 1790s | 0.161 | 0.138 | 0.023 | China |
| 1800s | 0.161 | 0.138 | 0.023 | China |
| 1810s | 0.161 | 0.138 | 0.023 | China |
| 1820s | 0.161 | 0.138 | 0.023 | China |
| 1830s | 0.161 | 0.138 | 0.023 | China |
| 1840s | 0.161 | 0.138 | 0.023 | China |
| 1850s | 0.161 | 0.138 | 0.023 | China |
| 1860s | 0.2037 | 0.138 | 0.0657 | China |
| 1870s | 0.222 | 0.1328 | 0.0892 | China |
| 1880s | 0.222 | 0.112 | 0.11 | China |
| 1890s | 0.222 | 0.112 | 0.11 | China |
| 1900s | 0.3304 | 0.221 | 0.1094 | China |
| 1910s | 0.4234 | 0.221 | 0.2024 | China |
| 1920s | 0.4298 | 0.221 | 0.2088 | China |
| 1930s | 0.3805 | 0.221 | 0.1595 | China |
| 1940s | 0.3428 | 0.3295 | 0.0133 | China |
| 1950s | 0.0451 | 0.4796 | 0.4345 | Laos |
| 1960s | 0.032 | 0.4238 | 0.3918 | Laos |
| 1970s | 0.0448 | 0.2154 | 0.1706 | Laos |
| 1980s | 0.2282 | 0.0168 | 0.2114 | China |
| 1990s | 0.226 | 0.017 | 0.209 | China |
| 2000s | 0.2097 | 0.0198 | 0.1899 | China |
| 2010s | 0.1158 | 0.0246 | 0.0912 | China |
| 2020s | 0.0502 | 0.0342 | 0.016 | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher freedom of expression index, China or Laos?
- China, at 0.045 against 0.032 in Laos as of 2025.
- What is the difference in freedom of expression index between China and Laos?
- 0.013, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Laos?
- 230 years are reported by both, from 1789 to 2025.
- How do China and Laos rank globally for freedom of expression index?
- China ranks 167th and Laos ranks 170th of 176 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- 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.