What is freedom of expression index in Australia?

Freedom of expression index in Australia was 0.915 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Australia?

The highest recorded value was 0.967 in 2007.

What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Australia?

The lowest recorded value was 0.305 in 1789.

How does Australia rank for freedom of expression index?

Australia ranks 22nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Australia?

Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Australia data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Freedom of Expression Index in Australia

Name: Freedom of Expression Index in Australia
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Australia: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.915 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.915

Change on year

down 0.9%

World rank

22nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.967

in 2007

All-time low

0.305

in 1789

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Australia, 1789–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Australia recorded 0.915 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Australia peaked at 0.967 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0.305, in 1789.

Australia ranks 22nd of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.305	0.305	0.305	1
1790s	0.305	0.305	0.305	10
1800s	0.305	0.305	0.305	10
1810s	0.305	0.305	0.305	10
1820s	0.635	0.305	0.855	10
1830s	0.855	0.855	0.855	10
1840s	0.855	0.855	0.855	10
1850s	0.855	0.855	0.855	10
1860s	0.855	0.855	0.855	10
1870s	0.855	0.855	0.855	10
1880s	0.855	0.855	0.855	10
1890s	0.855	0.855	0.855	10
1900s	0.8838	0.855	0.887	10
1910s	0.8588	0.826	0.887	10
1920s	0.884	0.884	0.884	10
1930s	0.88	0.844	0.884	10
1940s	0.8682	0.822	0.905	10
1950s	0.907	0.896	0.916	10
1960s	0.9176	0.914	0.926	10
1970s	0.9502	0.942	0.955	10
1980s	0.962	0.962	0.962	10
1990s	0.964	0.964	0.964	10
2000s	0.9654	0.964	0.967	10
2010s	0.9451	0.887	0.967	10
2020s	0.9168	0.898	0.929	6

Countries ranked near Australia

19 Austria 0.918 compare
20 Lithuania 0.917 compare
20 Poland 0.917 compare
22 Costa Rica 0.915 compare
24 Germany 0.914 compare
25 Barbados 0.911 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Australia

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 33,415 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 41 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.844 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.793 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.906 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.648 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.906 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.844 (2025)

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Australia?: Freedom of expression index in Australia was 0.915 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Australia?: The highest recorded value was 0.967 in 2007.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Australia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.305 in 1789.
How does Australia rank for freedom of expression index?: Australia ranks 22nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Australia?: Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Australia data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Freedom of Expression Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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.