What is freedom of expression index in Panama?

Freedom of expression index in Panama was 0.812 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.857 in 2000.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.125 in 1982.

How does Panama rank for freedom of expression index?

Panama ranks 60th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Panama?

Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Panama 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 Panama

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

Panama: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.812 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.812

Change on year

up 1.0%

World rank

60th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.857

in 2000

All-time low

0.125

in 1982

Years of data

123

1903–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Panama, 1903–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, freedom of expression index in Panama stood at 0.812.

That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Panama peaked at 0.857 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.125, in 1982.

That places Panama 60th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 123 years of available data.

Freedom of Expression Index in Panama, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in Panama, 1903 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1903	0.511	—
1904	0.511	+0.0%
1905	0.511	+0.0%
1906	0.511	+0.0%
1907	0.511	+0.0%
1908	0.511	+0.0%
1909	0.511	+0.0%
1910	0.511	+0.0%
1911	0.511	+0.0%
1912	0.511	+0.0%
1913	0.511	+0.0%
1914	0.511	+0.0%
1915	0.511	+0.0%
1916	0.511	+0.0%
1917	0.511	+0.0%
1918	0.511	+0.0%
1919	0.51	-0.2%
1920	0.51	+0.0%
1921	0.51	+0.0%
1922	0.51	+0.0%
1923	0.51	+0.0%
1924	0.51	+0.0%
1925	0.51	+0.0%
1926	0.51	+0.0%
1927	0.51	+0.0%
1928	0.51	+0.0%
1929	0.51	+0.0%
1930	0.51	+0.0%
1931	0.517	+1.4%
1932	0.534	+3.3%
1933	0.534	+0.0%
1934	0.534	+0.0%
1935	0.534	+0.0%
1936	0.534	+0.0%
1937	0.534	+0.0%
1938	0.534	+0.0%
1939	0.534	+0.0%
1940	0.534	+0.0%
1941	0.528	-1.1%
1942	0.546	+3.4%
1943	0.546	+0.0%
1944	0.546	+0.0%
1945	0.546	+0.0%
1946	0.546	+0.0%
1947	0.546	+0.0%
1948	0.546	+0.0%
1949	0.538	-1.5%
1950	0.546	+1.5%
1951	0.542	-0.7%
1952	0.556	+2.6%
1953	0.556	+0.0%
1954	0.556	+0.0%
1955	0.556	+0.0%
1956	0.556	+0.0%
1957	0.556	+0.0%
1958	0.556	+0.0%
1959	0.556	+0.0%
1960	0.569	+2.3%
1961	0.569	+0.0%
1962	0.569	+0.0%
1963	0.569	+0.0%
1964	0.569	+0.0%
1965	0.569	+0.0%
1966	0.555	-2.5%
1967	0.546	-1.6%
1968	0.17	-68.9%
1969	0.156	-8.2%
1970	0.143	-8.3%
1971	0.143	+0.0%
1972	0.143	+0.0%
1973	0.143	+0.0%
1974	0.143	+0.0%
1975	0.143	+0.0%
1976	0.143	+0.0%
1977	0.143	+0.0%
1978	0.143	+0.0%
1979	0.143	+0.0%
1980	0.15	+4.9%
1981	0.15	+0.0%
1982	0.125	-16.7%
1983	0.125	+0.0%
1984	0.126	+0.8%
1985	0.126	+0.0%
1986	0.125	-0.8%
1987	0.125	+0.0%
1988	0.125	+0.0%
1989	0.125	+0.0%
1990	0.839	+571.2%
1991	0.839	+0.0%
1992	0.839	+0.0%
1993	0.847	+1.0%
1994	0.851	+0.5%
1995	0.855	+0.5%
1996	0.855	+0.0%
1997	0.855	+0.0%
1998	0.855	+0.0%
1999	0.855	+0.0%
2000	0.857	+0.2%
2001	0.857	+0.0%
2002	0.857	+0.0%
2003	0.857	+0.0%
2004	0.857	+0.0%
2005	0.857	+0.0%
2006	0.857	+0.0%
2007	0.857	+0.0%
2008	0.857	+0.0%
2009	0.831	-3.0%
2010	0.825	-0.7%
2011	0.825	+0.0%
2012	0.825	+0.0%
2013	0.826	+0.1%
2014	0.829	+0.4%
2015	0.851	+2.7%
2016	0.853	+0.2%
2017	0.815	-4.5%
2018	0.811	-0.5%
2019	0.803	-1.0%
2020	0.78	-2.9%
2021	0.805	+3.2%
2022	0.792	-1.6%
2023	0.776	-2.0%
2024	0.804	+3.6%
2025	0.812	+1.0%

Panama compared with similar countries

Panama's 0.812 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.874, 93% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Panama's 0.812 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 0.81, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.511	0.511	0.511	7
1910s	0.5109	0.51	0.511	10
1920s	0.51	0.51	0.51	10
1930s	0.5299	0.51	0.534	10
1940s	0.5422	0.528	0.546	10
1950s	0.5536	0.542	0.556	10
1960s	0.4841	0.156	0.569	10
1970s	0.143	0.143	0.143	10
1980s	0.1302	0.125	0.15	10
1990s	0.849	0.839	0.855	10
2000s	0.8544	0.831	0.857	10
2010s	0.8263	0.803	0.853	10
2020s	0.7948	0.776	0.812	6

Countries ranked near Panama

57 Senegal 0.82 compare
58 Gambia 0.814 compare
59 Nepal 0.813 compare
60 Cyprus 0.812 compare
62 Colombia 0.81 compare
62 Greece 0.81 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Panama

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,694 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 375 (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 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 375 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0006 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 Panama →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Panama?: Freedom of expression index in Panama was 0.812 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Panama?: The highest recorded value was 0.857 in 2000.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Panama?: The lowest recorded value was 0.125 in 1982.
How does Panama rank for freedom of expression index?: Panama ranks 60th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Panama?: Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Panama 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 Panama. 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/panama/

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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.