What is freedom of expression index in India?

Freedom of expression index in India was 0.458 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.897 in 1994.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.08 in 1878.

How does India rank for freedom of expression index?

India ranks 127th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in India?

Over the last ten years it is down 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this India 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 India

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

India: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.458 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.458

Change on year

down 4.0%

World rank

127th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.897

in 1994

All-time low

0.08

in 1878

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in India, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, freedom of expression index in India stood at 0.458.

That represents a change of down 4.0% on the previous year and down 30.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in India peaked at 0.897 in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0.08, in 1878.

India ranks 127th 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.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.156	0.156	0.156	1
1790s	0.156	0.156	0.156	10
1800s	0.156	0.156	0.156	10
1810s	0.1574	0.156	0.163	10
1820s	0.163	0.163	0.163	10
1830s	0.163	0.163	0.163	10
1840s	0.163	0.163	0.163	10
1850s	0.1598	0.147	0.163	10
1860s	0.147	0.147	0.147	10
1870s	0.1324	0.08	0.147	10
1880s	0.2434	0.08	0.282	10
1890s	0.282	0.282	0.282	10
1900s	0.2908	0.286	0.292	10
1910s	0.286	0.286	0.286	10
1920s	0.286	0.286	0.286	10
1930s	0.2774	0.276	0.278	10
1940s	0.4326	0.279	0.773	10
1950s	0.824	0.824	0.824	10
1960s	0.8162	0.806	0.824	10
1970s	0.718	0.391	0.856	10
1980s	0.856	0.856	0.856	10
1990s	0.8868	0.867	0.897	10
2000s	0.8876	0.885	0.892	10
2010s	0.7244	0.527	0.889	10
2020s	0.4523	0.422	0.477	6

Countries ranked near India

124 Hungary 0.493 compare
125 Mali 0.49 compare
126 Kyrgyzstan 0.469 compare
128 Uganda 0.432 compare
129 Chad 0.427 compare
130 Serbia 0.424 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for India

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 238,643 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 42,610 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.377 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.26 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.534 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.246 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.534 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.377 (2025)

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in India?: Freedom of expression index in India was 0.458 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in India?: The highest recorded value was 0.897 in 1994.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in India?: The lowest recorded value was 0.08 in 1878.
How does India rank for freedom of expression index?: India ranks 127th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in India?: Over the last ten years it is down 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India 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.