Which has higher freedom of expression index, Congo or Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe, at 0.414 against 0.373 in Congo as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Congo and Zimbabwe?

123 years are reported by both, from 1903 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.

Congo vs Zimbabwe: Freedom of Expression Index

Congo

0.373

in 2025

Zimbabwe

0.414

in 2025

Congo rank

135th

Zimbabwe rank

132nd

Freedom of Expression Index over time

Congo
Zimbabwe

How they compare

Zimbabwe currently reports 0.414 against 0.373 in Congo, a difference of 0.041.

That makes Zimbabwe's figure about 1.1 times Congo's.

The two have swapped places 6 times across 123 shared years of data; in 1903 it was Zimbabwe ahead.

Congo ranks 135th and Zimbabwe ranks 132nd of 176 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Congo averaged higher in 4 and Zimbabwe in 9.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Congo	Zimbabwe	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.111	0.378	0.267	Zimbabwe
1910s	0.111	0.378	0.267	Zimbabwe
1920s	0.111	0.378	0.267	Zimbabwe
1930s	0.111	0.378	0.267	Zimbabwe
1940s	0.1134	0.3485	0.2351	Zimbabwe
1950s	0.117	0.322	0.205	Zimbabwe
1960s	0.3884	0.1929	0.1955	Congo
1970s	0.1545	0.118	0.0365	Congo
1980s	0.1481	0.3985	0.2504	Zimbabwe
1990s	0.5681	0.3901	0.178	Congo
2000s	0.3598	0.3541	0.0057	Congo
2010s	0.3798	0.4513	0.0715	Zimbabwe
2020s	0.3812	0.4822	0.101	Zimbabwe

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher freedom of expression index, Congo or Zimbabwe?: Zimbabwe, at 0.414 against 0.373 in Congo as of 2025.
What is the difference in freedom of expression index between Congo and Zimbabwe?: 0.041, with Zimbabwe ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Congo and Zimbabwe?: 123 years are reported by both, from 1903 to 2025.
How do Congo and Zimbabwe rank globally for freedom of expression index?: Congo ranks 135th and Zimbabwe ranks 132nd 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.