South Africa vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Freedom of Expression Index
Freedom of Expression Index over time
- South Africa
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 0.837 against 0.833 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 0.004.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
South Africa ranks 51st and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 53rd of 176 countries.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 13 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.417 | 0.8475 | 0.4305 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1910s | 0.416 | 0.8176 | 0.4016 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1920s | 0.416 | 0.851 | 0.435 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1930s | 0.416 | 0.8441 | 0.4281 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1940s | 0.395 | 0.8395 | 0.4445 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1950s | 0.337 | 0.907 | 0.57 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1960s | 0.2969 | 0.9087 | 0.6118 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1970s | 0.2719 | 0.9119 | 0.64 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1980s | 0.2507 | 0.891 | 0.6403 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1990s | 0.6855 | 0.9177 | 0.2322 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2000s | 0.8761 | 0.9609 | 0.0848 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2010s | 0.8713 | 0.9549 | 0.0836 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2020s | 0.8472 | 0.918 | 0.0708 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher freedom of expression index, South Africa or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- South Africa, at 0.837 against 0.833 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2025.
- What is the difference in freedom of expression index between South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 0.004, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for freedom of expression index?
- South Africa ranks 51st and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 53rd 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
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.