What is freedom of expression index in Rwanda?

Freedom of expression index in Rwanda was 0.17 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.329 in 1993.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.081 in 1916.

How does Rwanda rank for freedom of expression index?

Rwanda ranks 150th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Rwanda?

Over the last ten years it is down 30.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Rwanda 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 Rwanda

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

Rwanda: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.17 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.17

Change on year

up 10.4%

World rank

150th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.329

in 1993

All-time low

0.081

in 1916

Years of data

110

1916–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Rwanda, 1916–2025

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

Analysis

Rwanda recorded 0.17 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

That represents a change of up 10.4% on the previous year and down 30.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Rwanda peaked at 0.329 in 1993 and was at its lowest, 0.081, in 1916.

That places Rwanda 150th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 110 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1910s	0.081	0.081	0.081	4
1920s	0.081	0.081	0.081	10
1930s	0.0837	0.081	0.084	10
1940s	0.0824	0.082	0.083	10
1950s	0.088	0.084	0.106	10
1960s	0.1933	0.141	0.21	10
1970s	0.1865	0.157	0.213	10
1980s	0.193	0.189	0.209	10
1990s	0.2259	0.148	0.329	10
2000s	0.223	0.214	0.243	10
2010s	0.2276	0.209	0.245	10
2020s	0.1902	0.154	0.231	6

Countries ranked near Rwanda

147 Egypt 0.179 compare
147 Turkey 0.179 compare
149 Bahrain 0.172 compare
151 Iran 0.166 compare
152 Burundi 0.164 compare
153 South Sudan 0.155 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Rwanda

Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 115,794 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 244,415 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Varieties of democracy 0.193 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.09 (2025)
Human Rights Index 0.194 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.13 (2025)
Key features of human rights 0.194 (2025)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.193 (2025)

All data for Rwanda →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Rwanda?: Freedom of expression index in Rwanda was 0.17 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Rwanda?: The highest recorded value was 0.329 in 1993.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Rwanda?: The lowest recorded value was 0.081 in 1916.
How does Rwanda rank for freedom of expression index?: Rwanda ranks 150th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Rwanda?: Over the last ten years it is down 30.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Rwanda 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 — 110 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.