What is freedom of expression index in Canada?

Freedom of expression index in Canada was 0.933 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.952 in 2023.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.82 in 1915.

How does Canada rank for freedom of expression index?

Canada ranks 12th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Canada?

Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Canada 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 Canada

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

Canada: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.933 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.933

Change on year

down 0.9%

World rank

12th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.952

in 2023

All-time low

0.82

in 1915

Years of data

185

1841–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Canada, 1841–2025

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

Analysis

Canada recorded 0.933 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Canada peaked at 0.952 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.82, in 1915.

That places Canada 12th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 185 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1840s	0.847	0.847	0.847	9
1850s	0.847	0.847	0.847	10
1860s	0.847	0.847	0.847	10
1870s	0.847	0.847	0.847	10
1880s	0.847	0.847	0.847	10
1890s	0.847	0.847	0.847	10
1900s	0.87	0.87	0.87	10
1910s	0.848	0.82	0.878	10
1920s	0.878	0.878	0.878	10
1930s	0.8514	0.828	0.862	10
1940s	0.8504	0.828	0.884	10
1950s	0.8923	0.892	0.893	10
1960s	0.9209	0.912	0.923	10
1970s	0.9284	0.923	0.93	10
1980s	0.9316	0.93	0.932	10
1990s	0.9286	0.923	0.932	10
2000s	0.9318	0.93	0.933	10
2010s	0.9366	0.93	0.943	10
2020s	0.942	0.933	0.952	6

Countries ranked near Canada

9 Czechia 0.947 compare
10 Finland 0.946 compare
10 Sweden 0.946 compare
12 South Korea 0.933 compare
14 Latvia 0.932 compare
15 Uruguay 0.931 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Canada

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 416,028 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 360 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.84 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.736 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.897 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.589 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.897 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.84 (2025)

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Canada?: Freedom of expression index in Canada was 0.933 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Canada?: The highest recorded value was 0.952 in 2023.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Canada?: The lowest recorded value was 0.82 in 1915.
How does Canada rank for freedom of expression index?: Canada ranks 12th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Canada?: Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Canada 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 — 185 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.