What is freedom of expression index in Hungary?

Freedom of expression index in Hungary was 0.493 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.962 in 1990.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.027 in 1950.

How does Hungary rank for freedom of expression index?

Hungary ranks 124th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Hungary?

Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Hungary 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 Hungary

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

Hungary: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.493 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.493

Change on year

down 3.7%

World rank

124th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.962

in 1990

All-time low

0.027

in 1950

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Hungary, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

Hungary recorded 0.493 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 30.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Hungary peaked at 0.962 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.027, in 1950.

Hungary ranks 124th of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Freedom of Expression Index in Hungary, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in Hungary, 1789 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1789	0.144	—
1790	0.144	+0.0%
1791	0.144	+0.0%
1792	0.144	+0.0%
1793	0.144	+0.0%
1794	0.144	+0.0%
1795	0.13	-9.7%
1796	0.135	+3.8%
1797	0.135	+0.0%
1798	0.135	+0.0%
1799	0.135	+0.0%
1800	0.135	+0.0%
1801	0.135	+0.0%
1802	0.135	+0.0%
1803	0.135	+0.0%
1804	0.135	+0.0%
1805	0.135	+0.0%
1806	0.135	+0.0%
1807	0.135	+0.0%
1808	0.135	+0.0%
1809	0.135	+0.0%
1810	0.135	+0.0%
1811	0.135	+0.0%
1812	0.135	+0.0%
1813	0.135	+0.0%
1814	0.135	+0.0%
1815	0.135	+0.0%
1816	0.135	+0.0%
1817	0.135	+0.0%
1818	0.135	+0.0%
1819	0.135	+0.0%
1820	0.151	+11.9%
1821	0.151	+0.0%
1822	0.151	+0.0%
1823	0.151	+0.0%
1824	0.151	+0.0%
1825	0.151	+0.0%
1826	0.151	+0.0%
1827	0.151	+0.0%
1828	0.151	+0.0%
1829	0.151	+0.0%
1830	0.151	+0.0%
1831	0.151	+0.0%
1832	0.151	+0.0%
1833	0.151	+0.0%
1834	0.151	+0.0%
1835	0.151	+0.0%
1836	0.151	+0.0%
1837	0.151	+0.0%
1838	0.151	+0.0%
1839	0.151	+0.0%
1840	0.255	+68.9%
1841	0.365	+43.1%
1842	0.365	+0.0%
1843	0.365	+0.0%
1844	0.365	+0.0%
1845	0.365	+0.0%
1846	0.365	+0.0%
1847	0.365	+0.0%
1848	0.761	+108.5%
1849	0.753	-1.1%
1850	0.222	-70.5%
1851	0.222	+0.0%
1852	0.222	+0.0%
1853	0.222	+0.0%
1854	0.222	+0.0%
1855	0.222	+0.0%
1856	0.222	+0.0%
1857	0.222	+0.0%
1858	0.222	+0.0%
1859	0.222	+0.0%
1860	0.277	+24.8%
1861	0.294	+6.1%
1862	0.294	+0.0%
1863	0.294	+0.0%
1864	0.294	+0.0%
1865	0.334	+13.6%
1866	0.334	+0.0%
1867	0.609	+82.3%
1868	0.654	+7.4%
1869	0.654	+0.0%
1870	0.654	+0.0%
1871	0.654	+0.0%
1872	0.654	+0.0%
1873	0.654	+0.0%
1874	0.654	+0.0%
1875	0.654	+0.0%
1876	0.654	+0.0%
1877	0.654	+0.0%
1878	0.654	+0.0%
1879	0.654	+0.0%
1880	0.654	+0.0%
1881	0.654	+0.0%
1882	0.654	+0.0%
1883	0.654	+0.0%
1884	0.654	+0.0%
1885	0.654	+0.0%
1886	0.654	+0.0%
1887	0.654	+0.0%
1888	0.654	+0.0%
1889	0.654	+0.0%
1890	0.654	+0.0%
1891	0.654	+0.0%
1892	0.654	+0.0%
1893	0.654	+0.0%
1894	0.654	+0.0%
1895	0.654	+0.0%
1896	0.654	+0.0%
1897	0.654	+0.0%
1898	0.654	+0.0%
1899	0.654	+0.0%
1900	0.654	+0.0%
1901	0.654	+0.0%
1902	0.654	+0.0%
1903	0.654	+0.0%
1904	0.654	+0.0%
1905	0.654	+0.0%
1906	0.654	+0.0%
1907	0.654	+0.0%
1908	0.654	+0.0%
1909	0.654	+0.0%
1910	0.654	+0.0%
1911	0.654	+0.0%
1912	0.654	+0.0%
1913	0.654	+0.0%
1914	0.625	-4.4%
1915	0.625	+0.0%
1916	0.625	+0.0%
1917	0.625	+0.0%
1918	0.673	+7.7%
1919	0.27	-59.9%
1920	0.504	+86.7%
1921	0.512	+1.6%
1922	0.565	+10.4%
1923	0.566	+0.2%
1924	0.574	+1.4%
1925	0.589	+2.6%
1926	0.593	+0.7%
1927	0.592	-0.2%
1928	0.592	+0.0%
1929	0.592	+0.0%
1930	0.585	-1.2%
1931	0.6	+2.6%
1932	0.599	-0.2%
1933	0.609	+1.7%
1934	0.609	+0.0%
1935	0.609	+0.0%
1936	0.609	+0.0%
1937	0.602	-1.1%
1938	0.568	-5.6%
1939	0.509	-10.4%
1940	0.491	-3.5%
1941	0.342	-30.3%
1942	0.334	-2.3%
1943	0.319	-4.5%
1944	0.19	-40.4%
1945	0.275	+44.7%
1946	0.5	+81.8%
1947	0.488	-2.4%
1948	0.441	-9.6%
1949	0.056	-87.3%
1950	0.027	-51.8%
1951	0.027	+0.0%
1952	0.027	+0.0%
1953	0.027	+0.0%
1954	0.027	+0.0%
1955	0.031	+14.8%
1956	0.034	+9.7%
1957	0.029	-14.7%
1958	0.032	+10.3%
1959	0.032	+0.0%
1960	0.034	+6.3%
1961	0.037	+8.8%
1962	0.051	+37.8%
1963	0.066	+29.4%
1964	0.076	+15.2%
1965	0.077	+1.3%
1966	0.077	+0.0%
1967	0.077	+0.0%
1968	0.088	+14.3%
1969	0.09	+2.3%
1970	0.092	+2.2%
1971	0.092	+0.0%
1972	0.092	+0.0%
1973	0.092	+0.0%
1974	0.092	+0.0%
1975	0.092	+0.0%
1976	0.092	+0.0%
1977	0.092	+0.0%
1978	0.092	+0.0%
1979	0.092	+0.0%
1980	0.108	+17.4%
1981	0.122	+13.0%
1982	0.124	+1.6%
1983	0.124	+0.0%
1984	0.124	+0.0%
1985	0.169	+36.3%
1986	0.196	+16.0%
1987	0.232	+18.4%
1988	0.316	+36.2%
1989	0.554	+75.3%
1990	0.962	+73.6%
1991	0.953	-0.9%
1992	0.953	+0.0%
1993	0.953	+0.0%
1994	0.953	+0.0%
1995	0.955	+0.2%
1996	0.955	+0.0%
1997	0.955	+0.0%
1998	0.949	-0.6%
1999	0.949	+0.0%
2000	0.949	+0.0%
2001	0.949	+0.0%
2002	0.955	+0.6%
2003	0.955	+0.0%
2004	0.955	+0.0%
2005	0.955	+0.0%
2006	0.947	-0.8%
2007	0.952	+0.5%
2008	0.952	+0.0%
2009	0.952	+0.0%
2010	0.885	-7.0%
2011	0.863	-2.5%
2012	0.854	-1.0%
2013	0.783	-8.3%
2014	0.769	-1.8%
2015	0.707	-8.1%
2016	0.692	-2.1%
2017	0.646	-6.6%
2018	0.584	-9.6%
2019	0.578	-1.0%
2020	0.542	-6.2%
2021	0.524	-3.3%
2022	0.507	-3.2%
2023	0.499	-1.6%
2024	0.512	+2.6%
2025	0.493	-3.7%

Hungary compared with similar countries

Hungary's 0.493 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.874, 56% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Hungary's 0.493 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7935, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.144	0.144	0.144	1
1790s	0.139	0.13	0.144	10
1800s	0.135	0.135	0.135	10
1810s	0.135	0.135	0.135	10
1820s	0.151	0.151	0.151	10
1830s	0.151	0.151	0.151	10
1840s	0.4324	0.255	0.761	10
1850s	0.222	0.222	0.222	10
1860s	0.4038	0.277	0.654	10
1870s	0.654	0.654	0.654	10
1880s	0.654	0.654	0.654	10
1890s	0.654	0.654	0.654	10
1900s	0.654	0.654	0.654	10
1910s	0.6059	0.27	0.673	10
1920s	0.5679	0.504	0.593	10
1930s	0.5899	0.509	0.609	10
1940s	0.3436	0.056	0.5	10
1950s	0.0293	0.027	0.034	10
1960s	0.0673	0.034	0.09	10
1970s	0.092	0.092	0.092	10
1980s	0.2069	0.108	0.554	10
1990s	0.9537	0.949	0.962	10
2000s	0.9521	0.947	0.955	10
2010s	0.7361	0.578	0.885	10
2020s	0.5128	0.493	0.542	6

Countries ranked near Hungary

121 Mozambique 0.518 compare
122 Comoros 0.498 compare
123 Angola 0.497 compare
125 Mali 0.49 compare
126 Kyrgyzstan 0.469 compare
127 India 0.458 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Hungary

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 71,332 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,055 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,055 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0075 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 Hungary →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Hungary?: Freedom of expression index in Hungary was 0.493 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Hungary?: The highest recorded value was 0.962 in 1990.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Hungary?: The lowest recorded value was 0.027 in 1950.
How does Hungary rank for freedom of expression index?: Hungary ranks 124th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Hungary?: Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Hungary 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).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Freedom of Expression Index in Hungary. 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/hungary/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/freedom-of-expression-index/hungary/">Freedom of Expression Index in Hungary</a> — Statizoid

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.