What is freedom of expression index in China?

Freedom of expression index in China was 0.045 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.455 in 1919.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.018 in 1969.

How does China rank for freedom of expression index?

China ranks 167th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is down 55.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this China 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 China

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

China: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.045 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.045

Change on year

up 4.7%

World rank

167th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.455

in 1919

All-time low

0.018

in 1969

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in China, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for freedom of expression index in China is 0.045, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 55.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in China peaked at 0.455 in 1919 and was at its lowest, 0.018, in 1969.

That places China 167th 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.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.161	0.161	0.161	1
1790s	0.161	0.161	0.161	10
1800s	0.161	0.161	0.161	10
1810s	0.161	0.161	0.161	10
1820s	0.161	0.161	0.161	10
1830s	0.161	0.161	0.161	10
1840s	0.161	0.161	0.161	10
1850s	0.161	0.161	0.161	10
1860s	0.2037	0.161	0.222	10
1870s	0.222	0.222	0.222	10
1880s	0.222	0.222	0.222	10
1890s	0.2696	0.222	0.35	10
1900s	0.3304	0.323	0.338	10
1910s	0.4234	0.337	0.455	10
1920s	0.4298	0.394	0.442	10
1930s	0.3805	0.363	0.386	10
1940s	0.3428	0.212	0.363	10
1950s	0.0451	0.033	0.051	10
1960s	0.032	0.018	0.036	10
1970s	0.0448	0.018	0.19	10
1980s	0.2282	0.214	0.256	10
1990s	0.226	0.186	0.241	10
2000s	0.2097	0.176	0.246	10
2010s	0.1158	0.051	0.18	10
2020s	0.0502	0.043	0.059	6

Countries ranked near China

164 Cuba 0.074 compare
165 United Arab Emirates 0.063 compare
166 Qatar 0.055 compare
168 Tajikistan 0.043 compare
169 Turkmenistan 0.038 compare
170 Laos 0.032 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for China

Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 230 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 153,962 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.072 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.039 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.179 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.036 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.179 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.072 (2025)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in China?: Freedom of expression index in China was 0.045 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 0.455 in 1919.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 0.018 in 1969.
How does China rank for freedom of expression index?: China ranks 167th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is down 55.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China 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.