What is freedom of expression index in Myanmar?

Freedom of expression index in Myanmar was 0.026 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.787 in 1949.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.026 in 2025.

How does Myanmar rank for freedom of expression index?

Myanmar ranks 171st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Myanmar?

Over the last ten years it is down 95.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Myanmar 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 Myanmar

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

Myanmar: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.026 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.026

Change on year

down 29.7%

World rank

171st

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.787

in 1949

All-time low

0.026

in 2025

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Myanmar, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

Myanmar recorded 0.026 for freedom of expression index in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 237 years on record.

The figure is down 29.7% on the previous year and down 95.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Myanmar peaked at 0.787 in 1949 and was at its lowest, 0.026, in 2025.

Myanmar ranks 171st of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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	0.085	0.085	0.085	1
1790s	0.069	0.069	0.069	10
1800s	0.069	0.069	0.069	10
1810s	0.069	0.069	0.069	10
1820s	0.069	0.069	0.069	10
1830s	0.0951	0.069	0.156	10
1840s	0.156	0.156	0.156	10
1850s	0.156	0.156	0.156	10
1860s	0.1832	0.156	0.19	10
1870s	0.3181	0.19	0.373	10
1880s	0.4394	0.373	0.539	10
1890s	0.539	0.539	0.539	10
1900s	0.527	0.527	0.527	10
1910s	0.527	0.527	0.527	10
1920s	0.5734	0.527	0.585	10
1930s	0.5998	0.585	0.622	10
1940s	0.5597	0.308	0.787	10
1950s	0.7688	0.728	0.779	10
1960s	0.1846	0.033	0.747	10
1970s	0.033	0.033	0.033	10
1980s	0.0368	0.033	0.056	10
1990s	0.06	0.059	0.069	10
2000s	0.0618	0.059	0.073	10
2010s	0.5152	0.17	0.699	10
2020s	0.1428	0.026	0.682	6

Countries ranked near Myanmar

168 Tajikistan 0.043 compare
169 Turkmenistan 0.038 compare
170 Laos 0.032 compare
172 Belarus 0.025 compare
173 Eritrea 0.024 compare
174 Afghanistan 0.022 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Myanmar

Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 1.52 million (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.08 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.015 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.102 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.041 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.102 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.08 (2025)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.015 (2025)

All data for Myanmar →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Myanmar?: Freedom of expression index in Myanmar was 0.026 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Myanmar?: The highest recorded value was 0.787 in 1949.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Myanmar?: The lowest recorded value was 0.026 in 2025.
How does Myanmar rank for freedom of expression index?: Myanmar ranks 171st out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Myanmar?: Over the last ten years it is down 95.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Myanmar 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.