What is freedom of expression index in Burundi?

Freedom of expression index in Burundi was 0.164 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.666 in 2005.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.065 in 1920.

How does Burundi rank for freedom of expression index?

Burundi ranks 152nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Burundi?

Over the last ten years it is down 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Burundi 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 Burundi

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

Burundi: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.164 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.164

Change on year

up 3.8%

World rank

152nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.666

in 2005

All-time low

0.065

in 1920

Years of data

110

1916–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Burundi, 1916–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, freedom of expression index in Burundi stood at 0.164.

The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and down 23.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Burundi peaked at 0.666 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.065, in 1920.

That places Burundi 152nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Freedom of Expression Index in Burundi, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in Burundi, 1916 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1916	0.07	—
1917	0.07	+0.0%
1918	0.07	+0.0%
1919	0.07	+0.0%
1920	0.065	-7.1%
1921	0.065	+0.0%
1922	0.065	+0.0%
1923	0.065	+0.0%
1924	0.065	+0.0%
1925	0.065	+0.0%
1926	0.065	+0.0%
1927	0.065	+0.0%
1928	0.065	+0.0%
1929	0.065	+0.0%
1930	0.065	+0.0%
1931	0.065	+0.0%
1932	0.065	+0.0%
1933	0.065	+0.0%
1934	0.065	+0.0%
1935	0.065	+0.0%
1936	0.065	+0.0%
1937	0.065	+0.0%
1938	0.065	+0.0%
1939	0.065	+0.0%
1940	0.091	+40.0%
1941	0.091	+0.0%
1942	0.091	+0.0%
1943	0.091	+0.0%
1944	0.091	+0.0%
1945	0.091	+0.0%
1946	0.091	+0.0%
1947	0.091	+0.0%
1948	0.091	+0.0%
1949	0.091	+0.0%
1950	0.088	-3.3%
1951	0.088	+0.0%
1952	0.088	+0.0%
1953	0.088	+0.0%
1954	0.088	+0.0%
1955	0.088	+0.0%
1956	0.088	+0.0%
1957	0.088	+0.0%
1958	0.088	+0.0%
1959	0.099	+12.5%
1960	0.103	+4.0%
1961	0.103	+0.0%
1962	0.205	+99.0%
1963	0.213	+3.9%
1964	0.213	+0.0%
1965	0.216	+1.4%
1966	0.106	-50.9%
1967	0.099	-6.6%
1968	0.099	+0.0%
1969	0.099	+0.0%
1970	0.099	+0.0%
1971	0.099	+0.0%
1972	0.099	+0.0%
1973	0.099	+0.0%
1974	0.099	+0.0%
1975	0.099	+0.0%
1976	0.078	-21.2%
1977	0.088	+12.8%
1978	0.088	+0.0%
1979	0.091	+3.4%
1980	0.103	+13.2%
1981	0.103	+0.0%
1982	0.103	+0.0%
1983	0.106	+2.9%
1984	0.106	+0.0%
1985	0.116	+9.4%
1986	0.116	+0.0%
1987	0.128	+10.3%
1988	0.133	+3.9%
1989	0.136	+2.3%
1990	0.142	+4.4%
1991	0.142	+0.0%
1992	0.447	+214.8%
1993	0.554	+23.9%
1994	0.562	+1.4%
1995	0.562	+0.0%
1996	0.548	-2.5%
1997	0.536	-2.2%
1998	0.503	-6.2%
1999	0.521	+3.6%
2000	0.524	+0.6%
2001	0.544	+3.8%
2002	0.609	+11.9%
2003	0.662	+8.7%
2004	0.663	+0.2%
2005	0.666	+0.5%
2006	0.647	-2.9%
2007	0.644	-0.5%
2008	0.643	-0.2%
2009	0.633	-1.6%
2010	0.549	-13.3%
2011	0.571	+4.0%
2012	0.571	+0.0%
2013	0.554	-3.0%
2014	0.529	-4.5%
2015	0.214	-59.5%
2016	0.12	-43.9%
2017	0.084	-30.0%
2018	0.085	+1.2%
2019	0.098	+15.3%
2020	0.118	+20.4%
2021	0.147	+24.6%
2022	0.222	+51.0%
2023	0.217	-2.3%
2024	0.158	-27.2%
2025	0.164	+3.8%

Burundi compared with similar countries

Burundi's 0.164 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.432, 38% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Burundi's 0.164 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.616, 27% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1910s	0.07	0.07	0.07	4
1920s	0.065	0.065	0.065	10
1930s	0.065	0.065	0.065	10
1940s	0.091	0.091	0.091	10
1950s	0.0891	0.088	0.099	10
1960s	0.1456	0.099	0.216	10
1970s	0.0939	0.078	0.099	10
1980s	0.115	0.103	0.136	10
1990s	0.4517	0.142	0.562	10
2000s	0.6235	0.524	0.666	10
2010s	0.3375	0.084	0.571	10
2020s	0.171	0.118	0.222	6

Countries ranked near Burundi

149 Bahrain 0.172 compare
150 Rwanda 0.17 compare
151 Iran 0.166 compare
153 South Sudan 0.155 compare
154 Cambodia 0.153 compare
155 Oman 0.151 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Burundi

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 110,800 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 318,291 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0221 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 318,291 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0077 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Burundi →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Burundi?: Freedom of expression index in Burundi was 0.164 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Burundi?: The highest recorded value was 0.666 in 2005.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Burundi?: The lowest recorded value was 0.065 in 1920.
How does Burundi rank for freedom of expression index?: Burundi ranks 152nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Burundi?: Over the last ten years it is down 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Burundi 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 Burundi. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/freedom-of-expression-index/burundi/

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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: 18 September 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.