What is freedom of expression index in Hong Kong?

Freedom of expression index in Hong Kong was 0.227 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Hong Kong?

The highest recorded value was 0.897 in 1991.

What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Hong Kong?

The lowest recorded value was 0.213 in 2023.

How does Hong Kong rank for freedom of expression index?

Hong Kong ranks 145th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Hong Kong?

Over the last ten years it is down 70.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong

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

Hong Kong: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.227 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.227

Change on year

down 14.3%

World rank

145th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.897

in 1991

All-time low

0.213

in 2023

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Hong Kong, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, freedom of expression index in Hong Kong stood at 0.227.

That represents a change of down 14.3% on the previous year and down 70.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Hong Kong peaked at 0.897 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.213, in 2023.

That places Hong Kong 145th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.

Freedom of Expression Index in Hong Kong, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in Hong Kong, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.607	—
1901	0.607	+0.0%
1902	0.607	+0.0%
1903	0.607	+0.0%
1904	0.607	+0.0%
1905	0.607	+0.0%
1906	0.607	+0.0%
1907	0.607	+0.0%
1908	0.607	+0.0%
1909	0.607	+0.0%
1910	0.607	+0.0%
1911	0.607	+0.0%
1912	0.607	+0.0%
1913	0.607	+0.0%
1914	0.607	+0.0%
1915	0.607	+0.0%
1916	0.607	+0.0%
1917	0.607	+0.0%
1918	0.607	+0.0%
1919	0.607	+0.0%
1920	0.607	+0.0%
1921	0.607	+0.0%
1922	0.607	+0.0%
1923	0.607	+0.0%
1924	0.607	+0.0%
1925	0.607	+0.0%
1926	0.607	+0.0%
1927	0.607	+0.0%
1928	0.607	+0.0%
1929	0.607	+0.0%
1930	0.607	+0.0%
1931	0.607	+0.0%
1932	0.607	+0.0%
1933	0.607	+0.0%
1934	0.607	+0.0%
1935	0.607	+0.0%
1936	0.607	+0.0%
1937	0.607	+0.0%
1938	0.607	+0.0%
1939	0.607	+0.0%
1940	0.607	+0.0%
1941	0.433	-28.7%
1942	0.433	+0.0%
1943	0.433	+0.0%
1944	0.433	+0.0%
1945	0.433	+0.0%
1946	0.613	+41.6%
1947	0.613	+0.0%
1948	0.613	+0.0%
1949	0.613	+0.0%
1950	0.613	+0.0%
1951	0.613	+0.0%
1952	0.613	+0.0%
1953	0.613	+0.0%
1954	0.613	+0.0%
1955	0.613	+0.0%
1956	0.613	+0.0%
1957	0.613	+0.0%
1958	0.613	+0.0%
1959	0.613	+0.0%
1960	0.709	+15.7%
1961	0.709	+0.0%
1962	0.709	+0.0%
1963	0.709	+0.0%
1964	0.709	+0.0%
1965	0.709	+0.0%
1966	0.709	+0.0%
1967	0.709	+0.0%
1968	0.709	+0.0%
1969	0.709	+0.0%
1970	0.728	+2.7%
1971	0.728	+0.0%
1972	0.728	+0.0%
1973	0.728	+0.0%
1974	0.728	+0.0%
1975	0.728	+0.0%
1976	0.728	+0.0%
1977	0.756	+3.8%
1978	0.756	+0.0%
1979	0.756	+0.0%
1980	0.849	+12.3%
1981	0.849	+0.0%
1982	0.849	+0.0%
1983	0.849	+0.0%
1984	0.849	+0.0%
1985	0.849	+0.0%
1986	0.864	+1.8%
1987	0.864	+0.0%
1988	0.864	+0.0%
1989	0.864	+0.0%
1990	0.872	+0.9%
1991	0.897	+2.9%
1992	0.897	+0.0%
1993	0.897	+0.0%
1994	0.897	+0.0%
1995	0.897	+0.0%
1996	0.897	+0.0%
1997	0.84	-6.4%
1998	0.847	+0.8%
1999	0.847	+0.0%
2000	0.847	+0.0%
2001	0.847	+0.0%
2002	0.847	+0.0%
2003	0.847	+0.0%
2004	0.847	+0.0%
2005	0.847	+0.0%
2006	0.847	+0.0%
2007	0.844	-0.4%
2008	0.839	-0.6%
2009	0.836	-0.4%
2010	0.834	-0.2%
2011	0.834	+0.0%
2012	0.798	-4.3%
2013	0.79	-1.0%
2014	0.783	-0.9%
2015	0.771	-1.5%
2016	0.771	+0.0%
2017	0.771	+0.0%
2018	0.754	-2.2%
2019	0.68	-9.8%
2020	0.428	-37.1%
2021	0.243	-43.2%
2022	0.227	-6.6%
2023	0.213	-6.2%
2024	0.265	+24.4%
2025	0.227	-14.3%

Hong Kong compared with similar countries

Hong Kong's 0.227 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.874, 26% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Hong Kong's 0.227 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.682, 33% of the median. (22 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.607	0.607	0.607	10
1910s	0.607	0.607	0.607	10
1920s	0.607	0.607	0.607	10
1930s	0.607	0.607	0.607	10
1940s	0.5224	0.433	0.613	10
1950s	0.613	0.613	0.613	10
1960s	0.709	0.709	0.709	10
1970s	0.7364	0.728	0.756	10
1980s	0.855	0.849	0.864	10
1990s	0.8788	0.84	0.897	10
2000s	0.8448	0.836	0.847	10
2010s	0.7786	0.68	0.834	10
2020s	0.2672	0.213	0.428	6

Countries ranked near Hong Kong

142 Ethiopia 0.285 compare
143 Burkina Faso 0.261 compare
144 Uzbekistan 0.234 compare
146 Yemen 0.219 compare
147 Egypt 0.179 compare
147 Turkey 0.179 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Hong Kong

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 236 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 245 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 245 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -9.23 % change on previous year (2025)

All data for Hong Kong →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Hong Kong?: Freedom of expression index in Hong Kong was 0.227 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Hong Kong?: The highest recorded value was 0.897 in 1991.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Hong Kong?: The lowest recorded value was 0.213 in 2023.
How does Hong Kong rank for freedom of expression index?: Hong Kong ranks 145th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Hong Kong?: Over the last ten years it is down 70.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong. 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/hong-kong-sar-china/

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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.