What is freedom of expression index in Iceland?

Freedom of expression index in Iceland was 0.846 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.955 in 2009.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.828 in 1940.

How does Iceland rank for freedom of expression index?

Iceland ranks 44th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Iceland?

Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Iceland 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 Iceland

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

Iceland: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.846 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.846

Change on year

down 7.2%

World rank

44th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.955

in 2009

All-time low

0.828

in 1940

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Iceland, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for freedom of expression index in Iceland is 0.846, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Iceland peaked at 0.955 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.828, in 1940.

Iceland ranks 44th of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.879	0.879	0.879	10
1910s	0.879	0.879	0.879	10
1920s	0.868	0.868	0.868	10
1930s	0.863	0.863	0.863	10
1940s	0.8446	0.828	0.861	10
1950s	0.862	0.862	0.862	10
1960s	0.8725	0.862	0.89	10
1970s	0.896	0.896	0.896	10
1980s	0.9183	0.908	0.936	10
1990s	0.9458	0.943	0.95	10
2000s	0.95	0.947	0.955	10
2010s	0.9377	0.921	0.955	10
2020s	0.9102	0.846	0.939	6

Countries ranked near Iceland

41 Nigeria 0.849 compare
42 Vanuatu 0.848 compare
43 Japan 0.847 compare
45 Spain 0.843 compare
46 Solomon Islands 0.84 compare
47 Guatemala 0.839 compare
47 Papua New Guinea 0.839 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Iceland

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 8,459 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 0 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.807 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.72 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.95 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.565 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.95 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.807 (2025)

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Iceland?: Freedom of expression index in Iceland was 0.846 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Iceland?: The highest recorded value was 0.955 in 2009.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Iceland?: The lowest recorded value was 0.828 in 1940.
How does Iceland rank for freedom of expression index?: Iceland ranks 44th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Iceland?: Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iceland 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 — 126 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.