Which has higher freedom of expression index, Latvia or New Zealand?

Latvia, at 0.932 against 0.927 in New Zealand as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Latvia and New Zealand?

173 years are reported by both, from 1853 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.

Latvia vs New Zealand: Freedom of Expression Index

Latvia

0.932

in 2025

New Zealand

0.927

in 2025

Latvia rank

14th

New Zealand rank

16th

Freedom of Expression Index over time

Latvia
New Zealand

How they compare

Latvia currently reports 0.932 against 0.927 in New Zealand, a difference of 0.005.

The two have swapped places 7 times across 173 shared years of data; in 1853 it was New Zealand ahead.

Latvia ranks 14th and New Zealand ranks 16th of 176 countries.

Across the 18 decades both report, Latvia averaged higher in 1 and New Zealand in 17.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Latvia	New Zealand	Difference	Ahead
1850s	0.1333	0.842	0.7087	New Zealand
1860s	0.181	0.842	0.661	New Zealand
1870s	0.1751	0.842	0.6669	New Zealand
1880s	0.1858	0.842	0.6562	New Zealand
1890s	0.19	0.842	0.652	New Zealand
1900s	0.2187	0.8809	0.6622	New Zealand
1910s	0.1825	0.848	0.6655	New Zealand
1920s	0.8389	0.8785	0.0396	New Zealand
1930s	0.5845	0.8659	0.2814	New Zealand
1940s	0.0127	0.8352	0.8225	New Zealand
1950s	0.0212	0.8602	0.839	New Zealand
1960s	0.0276	0.8943	0.8667	New Zealand
1970s	0.0252	0.9325	0.9073	New Zealand
1980s	0.1196	0.9524	0.8328	New Zealand
1990s	0.9318	0.958	0.0262	New Zealand
2000s	0.9378	0.958	0.0202	New Zealand
2010s	0.9434	0.9474	0.004	New Zealand
2020s	0.9392	0.9387	0.0005	Latvia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher freedom of expression index, Latvia or New Zealand?: Latvia, at 0.932 against 0.927 in New Zealand as of 2025.
What is the difference in freedom of expression index between Latvia and New Zealand?: 0.005, with Latvia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Latvia and New Zealand?: 173 years are reported by both, from 1853 to 2025.
How do Latvia and New Zealand rank globally for freedom of expression index?: Latvia ranks 14th and New Zealand ranks 16th 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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Latvia vs New Zealand: Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/freedom-of-expression-index/latvia/new-zealand/

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<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/compare/freedom-of-expression-index/latvia/new-zealand/">Latvia vs New Zealand: Freedom of Expression Index</a> — Statizoid

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.