Freedom of Expression Index in Montenegro
Montenegro: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.853 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.853
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
40th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.855
in 2024
All-time low
0.1
in 1917
Years of data
82
1865–2025
Freedom of Expression Index in Montenegro, 1865–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Montenegro recorded 0.853 for freedom of expression index in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Montenegro peaked at 0.855 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.1, in 1917.
Montenegro ranks 40th of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Freedom of Expression Index in Montenegro, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1865 | 0.147 | — |
| 1866 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.147 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.131 | -10.9% |
| 1901 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.131 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.135 | +3.1% |
| 1906 | 0.187 | +38.5% |
| 1907 | 0.17 | -9.1% |
| 1908 | 0.121 | -28.8% |
| 1909 | 0.121 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.121 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.121 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.126 | +4.1% |
| 1913 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.126 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.109 | -13.5% |
| 1916 | 0.105 | -3.7% |
| 1917 | 0.1 | -4.8% |
| 1918 | 0.133 | +33.0% |
| 1998 | 0.654 | +391.7% |
| 1999 | 0.729 | +11.5% |
| 2000 | 0.729 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.729 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.729 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.729 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.729 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.744 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 0.745 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 0.749 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 0.749 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.749 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.749 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.749 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.765 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 0.78 | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 0.78 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.78 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.787 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 0.795 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 0.795 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.784 | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 0.788 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 0.848 | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 0.84 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 0.85 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 0.855 | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 0.853 | -0.2% |
Montenegro compared with similar countries
- Montenegro's 0.853 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6745, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Montenegro's 0.853 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7935, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 0.147 | 0.147 | 0.147 | 5 |
| 1870s | 0.147 | 0.147 | 0.147 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.147 | 0.147 | 0.147 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.147 | 0.147 | 0.147 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.1389 | 0.121 | 0.187 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.1186 | 0.1 | 0.133 | 9 |
| 1990s | 0.6915 | 0.654 | 0.729 | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.7381 | 0.729 | 0.749 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7764 | 0.749 | 0.795 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.839 | 0.788 | 0.855 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Montenegro
More social development data for Montenegro
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 12,269 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 696 (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 0.0011 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 696 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0197 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom of expression index in Montenegro?
- Freedom of expression index in Montenegro was 0.853 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Montenegro?
- The highest recorded value was 0.855 in 2024.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Montenegro?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 in 1917.
- How does Montenegro rank for freedom of expression index?
- Montenegro ranks 40th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Montenegro?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Montenegro 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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About this data
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.