Which has higher freedom of expression index, Ecuador or Lesotho?

Lesotho, at 0.728 against 0.706 in Ecuador as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Ecuador and Lesotho?

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.

Ecuador vs Lesotho: Freedom of Expression Index

Ecuador

0.706

in 2025

Lesotho

0.728

in 2025

Ecuador rank

86th

Lesotho rank

84th

Freedom of Expression Index over time

Ecuador
Lesotho

How they compare

Lesotho currently reports 0.728 against 0.706 in Ecuador, a difference of 0.022.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Ecuador ahead.

Ecuador ranks 86th and Lesotho ranks 84th of 176 countries.

Ecuador has averaged higher in every one of the 13 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Ecuador	Lesotho	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.677	0.198	0.479	Ecuador
1910s	0.6502	0.198	0.4522	Ecuador
1920s	0.6338	0.198	0.4358	Ecuador
1930s	0.5987	0.198	0.4007	Ecuador
1940s	0.5825	0.198	0.3845	Ecuador
1950s	0.6281	0.199	0.4291	Ecuador
1960s	0.5483	0.2522	0.2961	Ecuador
1970s	0.5538	0.2506	0.3032	Ecuador
1980s	0.8045	0.2873	0.5172	Ecuador
1990s	0.8009	0.5875	0.2134	Ecuador
2000s	0.7852	0.6895	0.0957	Ecuador
2010s	0.7358	0.7136	0.0222	Ecuador
2020s	0.7778	0.7567	0.0212	Ecuador

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher freedom of expression index, Ecuador or Lesotho?: Lesotho, at 0.728 against 0.706 in Ecuador as of 2025.
What is the difference in freedom of expression index between Ecuador and Lesotho?: 0.022, with Lesotho ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ecuador and Lesotho?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Ecuador and Lesotho rank globally for freedom of expression index?: Ecuador ranks 86th and Lesotho ranks 84th 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.