What is freedom of expression index in Bhutan?

Freedom of expression index in Bhutan was 0.682 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.766 in 2012.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.091 in 1944.

How does Bhutan rank for freedom of expression index?

Bhutan ranks 92nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Bhutan?

Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Bhutan 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 Bhutan

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

Bhutan: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.682 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.682

Change on year

down 3.1%

World rank

92nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.766

in 2012

All-time low

0.091

in 1944

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Bhutan, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for freedom of expression index in Bhutan is 0.682, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Bhutan peaked at 0.766 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.091, in 1944.

Bhutan ranks 92nd of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Freedom of Expression Index in Bhutan, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in Bhutan, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.1	—
1901	0.1	+0.0%
1902	0.106	+6.0%
1903	0.106	+0.0%
1904	0.106	+0.0%
1905	0.106	+0.0%
1906	0.106	+0.0%
1907	0.096	-9.4%
1908	0.096	+0.0%
1909	0.096	+0.0%
1910	0.096	+0.0%
1911	0.096	+0.0%
1912	0.096	+0.0%
1913	0.096	+0.0%
1914	0.096	+0.0%
1915	0.096	+0.0%
1916	0.096	+0.0%
1917	0.096	+0.0%
1918	0.096	+0.0%
1919	0.096	+0.0%
1920	0.096	+0.0%
1921	0.096	+0.0%
1922	0.096	+0.0%
1923	0.096	+0.0%
1924	0.096	+0.0%
1925	0.096	+0.0%
1926	0.096	+0.0%
1927	0.096	+0.0%
1928	0.096	+0.0%
1929	0.096	+0.0%
1930	0.096	+0.0%
1931	0.096	+0.0%
1932	0.096	+0.0%
1933	0.096	+0.0%
1934	0.096	+0.0%
1935	0.096	+0.0%
1936	0.096	+0.0%
1937	0.096	+0.0%
1938	0.096	+0.0%
1939	0.096	+0.0%
1940	0.096	+0.0%
1941	0.096	+0.0%
1942	0.096	+0.0%
1943	0.133	+38.5%
1944	0.091	-31.6%
1945	0.142	+56.0%
1946	0.142	+0.0%
1947	0.142	+0.0%
1948	0.142	+0.0%
1949	0.142	+0.0%
1950	0.154	+8.5%
1951	0.154	+0.0%
1952	0.173	+12.3%
1953	0.181	+4.6%
1954	0.181	+0.0%
1955	0.198	+9.4%
1956	0.198	+0.0%
1957	0.198	+0.0%
1958	0.199	+0.5%
1959	0.199	+0.0%
1960	0.208	+4.5%
1961	0.208	+0.0%
1962	0.208	+0.0%
1963	0.208	+0.0%
1964	0.208	+0.0%
1965	0.208	+0.0%
1966	0.208	+0.0%
1967	0.255	+22.6%
1968	0.255	+0.0%
1969	0.256	+0.4%
1970	0.256	+0.0%
1971	0.271	+5.9%
1972	0.278	+2.6%
1973	0.283	+1.8%
1974	0.283	+0.0%
1975	0.283	+0.0%
1976	0.297	+4.9%
1977	0.307	+3.4%
1978	0.307	+0.0%
1979	0.307	+0.0%
1980	0.312	+1.6%
1981	0.312	+0.0%
1982	0.312	+0.0%
1983	0.312	+0.0%
1984	0.312	+0.0%
1985	0.317	+1.6%
1986	0.348	+9.8%
1987	0.354	+1.7%
1988	0.354	+0.0%
1989	0.37	+4.5%
1990	0.37	+0.0%
1991	0.37	+0.0%
1992	0.395	+6.8%
1993	0.404	+2.3%
1994	0.4	-1.0%
1995	0.4	+0.0%
1996	0.406	+1.5%
1997	0.406	+0.0%
1998	0.409	+0.7%
1999	0.422	+3.2%
2000	0.432	+2.4%
2001	0.451	+4.4%
2002	0.458	+1.6%
2003	0.471	+2.8%
2004	0.487	+3.4%
2005	0.496	+1.8%
2006	0.56	+12.9%
2007	0.61	+8.9%
2008	0.739	+21.1%
2009	0.76	+2.8%
2010	0.757	-0.4%
2011	0.757	+0.0%
2012	0.766	+1.2%
2013	0.696	-9.1%
2014	0.691	-0.7%
2015	0.697	+0.9%
2016	0.66	-5.3%
2017	0.682	+3.3%
2018	0.677	-0.7%
2019	0.703	+3.8%
2020	0.749	+6.5%
2021	0.714	-4.7%
2022	0.685	-4.1%
2023	0.699	+2.0%
2024	0.704	+0.7%
2025	0.682	-3.1%

Bhutan compared with similar countries

Bhutan's 0.682 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.579, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Bhutan's 0.682 is below the median for South Asia, which is 0.6885, 99% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.1018	0.096	0.106	10
1910s	0.096	0.096	0.096	10
1920s	0.096	0.096	0.096	10
1930s	0.096	0.096	0.096	10
1940s	0.1222	0.091	0.142	10
1950s	0.1835	0.154	0.199	10
1960s	0.2222	0.208	0.256	10
1970s	0.2872	0.256	0.307	10
1980s	0.3303	0.312	0.37	10
1990s	0.3982	0.37	0.422	10
2000s	0.5464	0.432	0.76	10
2010s	0.7086	0.66	0.766	10
2020s	0.7055	0.682	0.749	6

Countries ranked near Bhutan

89 Indonesia 0.688 compare
90 Georgia 0.687 compare
90 Tunisia 0.687 compare
93 Cote d'Ivoire 0.681 compare
94 Bolivia 0.68 compare
95 Benin 0.676 compare
95 Philippines 0.676 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Bhutan

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 7,257 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0091 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 7,257 (2025)
Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -2.37 % change on previous year (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Bhutan →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Bhutan?: Freedom of expression index in Bhutan was 0.682 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Bhutan?: The highest recorded value was 0.766 in 2012.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Bhutan?: The lowest recorded value was 0.091 in 1944.
How does Bhutan rank for freedom of expression index?: Bhutan ranks 92nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Bhutan?: Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bhutan 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.

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Freedom of Expression Index in Bhutan. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/freedom-of-expression-index/bhutan/

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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.