What is freedom of expression index in Lesotho?

Freedom of expression index in Lesotho was 0.728 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.805 in 2022.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.198 in 1900.

How does Lesotho rank for freedom of expression index?

Lesotho ranks 84th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Lesotho?

Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Lesotho 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 Lesotho

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

Lesotho: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.728 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.728

Change on year

up 2.8%

World rank

84th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.805

in 2022

All-time low

0.198

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Lesotho, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for freedom of expression index in Lesotho is 0.728, measured in 2025.

The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Lesotho peaked at 0.805 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.198, in 1900.

That places Lesotho 84th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Lesotho, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in Lesotho, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.198	—
1901	0.198	+0.0%
1902	0.198	+0.0%
1903	0.198	+0.0%
1904	0.198	+0.0%
1905	0.198	+0.0%
1906	0.198	+0.0%
1907	0.198	+0.0%
1908	0.198	+0.0%
1909	0.198	+0.0%
1910	0.198	+0.0%
1911	0.198	+0.0%
1912	0.198	+0.0%
1913	0.198	+0.0%
1914	0.198	+0.0%
1915	0.198	+0.0%
1916	0.198	+0.0%
1917	0.198	+0.0%
1918	0.198	+0.0%
1919	0.198	+0.0%
1920	0.198	+0.0%
1921	0.198	+0.0%
1922	0.198	+0.0%
1923	0.198	+0.0%
1924	0.198	+0.0%
1925	0.198	+0.0%
1926	0.198	+0.0%
1927	0.198	+0.0%
1928	0.198	+0.0%
1929	0.198	+0.0%
1930	0.198	+0.0%
1931	0.198	+0.0%
1932	0.198	+0.0%
1933	0.198	+0.0%
1934	0.198	+0.0%
1935	0.198	+0.0%
1936	0.198	+0.0%
1937	0.198	+0.0%
1938	0.198	+0.0%
1939	0.198	+0.0%
1940	0.198	+0.0%
1941	0.198	+0.0%
1942	0.198	+0.0%
1943	0.198	+0.0%
1944	0.198	+0.0%
1945	0.198	+0.0%
1946	0.198	+0.0%
1947	0.198	+0.0%
1948	0.198	+0.0%
1949	0.198	+0.0%
1950	0.199	+0.5%
1951	0.199	+0.0%
1952	0.199	+0.0%
1953	0.199	+0.0%
1954	0.199	+0.0%
1955	0.199	+0.0%
1956	0.199	+0.0%
1957	0.199	+0.0%
1958	0.199	+0.0%
1959	0.199	+0.0%
1960	0.201	+1.0%
1961	0.201	+0.0%
1962	0.201	+0.0%
1963	0.201	+0.0%
1964	0.201	+0.0%
1965	0.201	+0.0%
1966	0.329	+63.7%
1967	0.329	+0.0%
1968	0.329	+0.0%
1969	0.329	+0.0%
1970	0.248	-24.6%
1971	0.248	+0.0%
1972	0.248	+0.0%
1973	0.248	+0.0%
1974	0.248	+0.0%
1975	0.248	+0.0%
1976	0.248	+0.0%
1977	0.248	+0.0%
1978	0.261	+5.2%
1979	0.261	+0.0%
1980	0.261	+0.0%
1981	0.261	+0.0%
1982	0.264	+1.1%
1983	0.255	-3.4%
1984	0.255	+0.0%
1985	0.283	+11.0%
1986	0.268	-5.3%
1987	0.34	+26.9%
1988	0.343	+0.9%
1989	0.343	+0.0%
1990	0.351	+2.3%
1991	0.351	+0.0%
1992	0.351	+0.0%
1993	0.682	+94.3%
1994	0.695	+1.9%
1995	0.695	+0.0%
1996	0.695	+0.0%
1997	0.695	+0.0%
1998	0.669	-3.7%
1999	0.691	+3.3%
2000	0.691	+0.0%
2001	0.691	+0.0%
2002	0.691	+0.0%
2003	0.691	+0.0%
2004	0.691	+0.0%
2005	0.691	+0.0%
2006	0.691	+0.0%
2007	0.686	-0.7%
2008	0.686	+0.0%
2009	0.686	+0.0%
2010	0.704	+2.6%
2011	0.704	+0.0%
2012	0.699	-0.7%
2013	0.737	+5.4%
2014	0.738	+0.1%
2015	0.7	-5.1%
2016	0.661	-5.6%
2017	0.688	+4.1%
2018	0.73	+6.1%
2019	0.775	+6.2%
2020	0.788	+1.7%
2021	0.766	-2.8%
2022	0.805	+5.1%
2023	0.745	-7.5%
2024	0.708	-5.0%
2025	0.728	+2.8%

Lesotho compared with similar countries

Lesotho's 0.728 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.579, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Lesotho's 0.728 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.616, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.198	0.198	0.198	10
1910s	0.198	0.198	0.198	10
1920s	0.198	0.198	0.198	10
1930s	0.198	0.198	0.198	10
1940s	0.198	0.198	0.198	10
1950s	0.199	0.199	0.199	10
1960s	0.2522	0.201	0.329	10
1970s	0.2506	0.248	0.261	10
1980s	0.2873	0.255	0.343	10
1990s	0.5875	0.351	0.695	10
2000s	0.6895	0.686	0.691	10
2010s	0.7136	0.661	0.775	10
2020s	0.7567	0.708	0.805	6

Countries ranked near Lesotho

81 Argentina 0.736 compare
82 Armenia 0.732 compare
83 United States 0.729 compare
85 Fiji 0.724 compare
86 Ecuador 0.706 compare
87 Maldives 0.695 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Lesotho

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 27 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (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 27 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Lesotho →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Lesotho?: Freedom of expression index in Lesotho was 0.728 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Lesotho?: The highest recorded value was 0.805 in 2022.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Lesotho?: The lowest recorded value was 0.198 in 1900.
How does Lesotho rank for freedom of expression index?: Lesotho ranks 84th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Lesotho?: Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Lesotho 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 Lesotho. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/freedom-of-expression-index/lesotho/

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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: 18 September 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.