What is freedom of expression index in Maldives?

Freedom of expression index in Maldives was 0.695 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.83 in 2009.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.053 in 1900.

How does Maldives rank for freedom of expression index?

Maldives ranks 87th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Maldives?

Over the last ten years it is up 29.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Maldives 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 Maldives

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

Maldives: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.695 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.695

Change on year

down 5.8%

World rank

87th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.83

in 2009

All-time low

0.053

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Maldives, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

Maldives recorded 0.695 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.8% on the previous year and up 29.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Maldives peaked at 0.83 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.053, in 1900.

That places Maldives 87th 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 Maldives, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in Maldives, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.053	—
1901	0.053	+0.0%
1902	0.053	+0.0%
1903	0.053	+0.0%
1904	0.053	+0.0%
1905	0.053	+0.0%
1906	0.053	+0.0%
1907	0.053	+0.0%
1908	0.053	+0.0%
1909	0.053	+0.0%
1910	0.053	+0.0%
1911	0.053	+0.0%
1912	0.053	+0.0%
1913	0.053	+0.0%
1914	0.053	+0.0%
1915	0.053	+0.0%
1916	0.053	+0.0%
1917	0.053	+0.0%
1918	0.053	+0.0%
1919	0.053	+0.0%
1920	0.053	+0.0%
1921	0.053	+0.0%
1922	0.053	+0.0%
1923	0.053	+0.0%
1924	0.053	+0.0%
1925	0.053	+0.0%
1926	0.053	+0.0%
1927	0.053	+0.0%
1928	0.053	+0.0%
1929	0.053	+0.0%
1930	0.053	+0.0%
1931	0.053	+0.0%
1932	0.053	+0.0%
1933	0.053	+0.0%
1934	0.054	+1.9%
1935	0.054	+0.0%
1936	0.054	+0.0%
1937	0.054	+0.0%
1938	0.054	+0.0%
1939	0.054	+0.0%
1940	0.054	+0.0%
1941	0.054	+0.0%
1942	0.054	+0.0%
1943	0.054	+0.0%
1944	0.054	+0.0%
1945	0.054	+0.0%
1946	0.054	+0.0%
1947	0.054	+0.0%
1948	0.054	+0.0%
1949	0.054	+0.0%
1950	0.054	+0.0%
1951	0.054	+0.0%
1952	0.054	+0.0%
1953	0.054	+0.0%
1954	0.054	+0.0%
1955	0.059	+9.3%
1956	0.059	+0.0%
1957	0.059	+0.0%
1958	0.059	+0.0%
1959	0.059	+0.0%
1960	0.059	+0.0%
1961	0.059	+0.0%
1962	0.067	+13.6%
1963	0.059	-11.9%
1964	0.059	+0.0%
1965	0.064	+8.5%
1966	0.061	-4.7%
1967	0.061	+0.0%
1968	0.082	+34.4%
1969	0.082	+0.0%
1970	0.082	+0.0%
1971	0.082	+0.0%
1972	0.082	+0.0%
1973	0.082	+0.0%
1974	0.082	+0.0%
1975	0.082	+0.0%
1976	0.082	+0.0%
1977	0.082	+0.0%
1978	0.064	-22.0%
1979	0.058	-9.4%
1980	0.058	+0.0%
1981	0.058	+0.0%
1982	0.058	+0.0%
1983	0.058	+0.0%
1984	0.058	+0.0%
1985	0.058	+0.0%
1986	0.058	+0.0%
1987	0.058	+0.0%
1988	0.058	+0.0%
1989	0.079	+36.2%
1990	0.136	+72.2%
1991	0.081	-40.4%
1992	0.081	+0.0%
1993	0.09	+11.1%
1994	0.09	+0.0%
1995	0.083	-7.8%
1996	0.083	+0.0%
1997	0.083	+0.0%
1998	0.092	+10.8%
1999	0.092	+0.0%
2000	0.101	+9.8%
2001	0.104	+3.0%
2002	0.119	+14.4%
2003	0.174	+46.2%
2004	0.232	+33.3%
2005	0.376	+62.1%
2006	0.416	+10.6%
2007	0.436	+4.8%
2008	0.697	+59.9%
2009	0.83	+19.1%
2010	0.818	-1.4%
2011	0.814	-0.5%
2012	0.723	-11.2%
2013	0.596	-17.6%
2014	0.594	-0.3%
2015	0.535	-9.9%
2016	0.472	-11.8%
2017	0.472	+0.0%
2018	0.536	+13.6%
2019	0.773	+44.2%
2020	0.791	+2.3%
2021	0.806	+1.9%
2022	0.768	-4.7%
2023	0.763	-0.7%
2024	0.738	-3.3%
2025	0.695	-5.8%

Maldives compared with similar countries

Maldives's 0.695 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6745, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Maldives's 0.695 is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.6885, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.053	0.053	0.053	10
1910s	0.053	0.053	0.053	10
1920s	0.053	0.053	0.053	10
1930s	0.0536	0.053	0.054	10
1940s	0.054	0.054	0.054	10
1950s	0.0565	0.054	0.059	10
1960s	0.0653	0.059	0.082	10
1970s	0.0778	0.058	0.082	10
1980s	0.0601	0.058	0.079	10
1990s	0.0911	0.081	0.136	10
2000s	0.3485	0.101	0.83	10
2010s	0.6333	0.472	0.818	10
2020s	0.7602	0.695	0.806	6

Countries ranked near Maldives

84 Lesotho 0.728 compare
85 Fiji 0.724 compare
86 Ecuador 0.706 compare
88 Slovenia 0.691 compare
89 Indonesia 0.688 compare
90 Georgia 0.687 compare
90 Tunisia 0.687 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Maldives

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 62 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 62 (2025)
Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -18.42 % change on previous year (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Maldives →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Maldives?: Freedom of expression index in Maldives was 0.695 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Maldives?: The highest recorded value was 0.83 in 2009.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Maldives?: The lowest recorded value was 0.053 in 1900.
How does Maldives rank for freedom of expression index?: Maldives ranks 87th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Maldives?: Over the last ten years it is up 29.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Maldives 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 Maldives. 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/maldives/

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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.