What is freedom of expression index in Netherlands?

Freedom of expression index in Netherlands was 0.91 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.959 in 2010.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.102 in 1813.

How does Netherlands rank for freedom of expression index?

Netherlands ranks 26th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Netherlands?

Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Netherlands 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 Netherlands

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

Netherlands: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.91 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.91

Change on year

up 2.0%

World rank

26th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.959

in 2010

All-time low

0.102

in 1813

Years of data

237

1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Netherlands, 1789–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, freedom of expression index in Netherlands stood at 0.91.

That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Netherlands peaked at 0.959 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.102, in 1813.

Netherlands ranks 26th of 176 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 237 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.515	0.515	0.515	1
1790s	0.5435	0.515	0.572	10
1800s	0.4233	0.251	0.572	10
1810s	0.3056	0.102	0.464	10
1820s	0.464	0.464	0.464	10
1830s	0.5377	0.49	0.543	10
1840s	0.59	0.543	0.778	10
1850s	0.778	0.778	0.778	10
1860s	0.778	0.778	0.778	10
1870s	0.778	0.778	0.778	10
1880s	0.778	0.778	0.778	10
1890s	0.778	0.778	0.778	10
1900s	0.778	0.778	0.778	10
1910s	0.7798	0.778	0.79	10
1920s	0.811	0.811	0.811	10
1930s	0.811	0.811	0.811	10
1940s	0.5571	0.322	0.854	10
1950s	0.854	0.854	0.854	10
1960s	0.8833	0.862	0.937	10
1970s	0.9454	0.943	0.951	10
1980s	0.958	0.958	0.958	10
1990s	0.957	0.953	0.958	10
2000s	0.9537	0.946	0.955	10
2010s	0.9535	0.932	0.959	10
2020s	0.9188	0.892	0.934	6

Countries ranked near Netherlands

24 Germany 0.914 compare
25 Barbados 0.911 compare
26 Brazil 0.91 compare
28 Dominican Republic 0.901 compare
29 Kenya 0.9 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Netherlands

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 283,935 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 159 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.832 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.774 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.912 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.553 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.912 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.832 (2025)

All data for Netherlands →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Netherlands?: Freedom of expression index in Netherlands was 0.91 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Netherlands?: The highest recorded value was 0.959 in 2010.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Netherlands?: The lowest recorded value was 0.102 in 1813.
How does Netherlands rank for freedom of expression index?: Netherlands ranks 26th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Netherlands?: Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Netherlands 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.