What is freedom of expression index in Ethiopia?

Freedom of expression index in Ethiopia was 0.285 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.619 in 2019.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.042 in 1976.

How does Ethiopia rank for freedom of expression index?

Ethiopia ranks 142nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Ethiopia?

Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia

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

Ethiopia: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.285 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.285

Change on year

up 16.3%

World rank

142nd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.619

in 2019

All-time low

0.042

in 1976

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Ethiopia, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

Ethiopia recorded 0.285 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

That represents a change of up 16.3% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Ethiopia peaked at 0.619 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.042, in 1976.

Ethiopia ranks 142nd of 176 countries on this measure, 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	0.047	0.047	0.047	1
1790s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1800s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1810s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1820s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1830s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1840s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1850s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1860s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1870s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1880s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1890s	0.047	0.047	0.047	10
1900s	0.056	0.056	0.056	10
1910s	0.056	0.056	0.056	10
1920s	0.056	0.056	0.056	10
1930s	0.0548	0.053	0.056	10
1940s	0.0639	0.053	0.07	10
1950s	0.07	0.07	0.07	10
1960s	0.0716	0.07	0.074	10
1970s	0.0607	0.042	0.08	10
1980s	0.0426	0.042	0.045	10
1990s	0.3525	0.045	0.416	10
2000s	0.3372	0.275	0.376	10
2010s	0.3361	0.276	0.619	10
2020s	0.3583	0.245	0.567	6

Countries ranked near Ethiopia

140 Kazakhstan 0.329 compare
141 Sudan 0.289 compare
143 Burkina Faso 0.261 compare
144 Uzbekistan 0.234 compare
145 Hong Kong 0.227 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Ethiopia

Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 1.01 million (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 164,215 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.257 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.1 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.304 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.128 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.304 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.257 (2025)

All data for Ethiopia →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Ethiopia?: Freedom of expression index in Ethiopia was 0.285 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Ethiopia?: The highest recorded value was 0.619 in 2019.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Ethiopia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.042 in 1976.
How does Ethiopia rank for freedom of expression index?: Ethiopia ranks 142nd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Ethiopia?: Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ethiopia 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.