Statizoid

Freedom of Expression Index in Serbia

Serbia: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.424 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
0.424
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
130th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.819
in 2002
All-time low
0.034
in 1942
Years of data
208
1789–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Serbia, 1789–2025

00.20.40.60.8178919072025

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

Analysis

Serbia recorded 0.424 for freedom of expression index in 2025.

The figure is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 13.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Serbia peaked at 0.819 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 0.034, in 1942.

Serbia ranks 130th of 176 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Freedom of Expression Index in Serbia, year by year

Year Value Change
1789 0.08 —
1790 0.08 +0.0%
1791 0.08 +0.0%
1792 0.08 +0.0%
1793 0.08 +0.0%
1794 0.08 +0.0%
1795 0.08 +0.0%
1796 0.08 +0.0%
1797 0.08 +0.0%
1798 0.08 +0.0%
1799 0.08 +0.0%
1800 0.08 +0.0%
1801 0.08 +0.0%
1802 0.08 +0.0%
1803 0.08 +0.0%
1814 0.069 -13.7%
1834 0.181 +162.3%
1835 0.183 +1.1%
1836 0.197 +7.7%
1837 0.197 +0.0%
1838 0.197 +0.0%
1839 0.197 +0.0%
1840 0.215 +9.1%
1841 0.215 +0.0%
1842 0.215 +0.0%
1843 0.215 +0.0%
1844 0.215 +0.0%
1845 0.215 +0.0%
1846 0.232 +7.9%
1847 0.232 +0.0%
1848 0.232 +0.0%
1849 0.232 +0.0%
1850 0.216 -6.9%
1851 0.216 +0.0%
1852 0.216 +0.0%
1853 0.216 +0.0%
1854 0.216 +0.0%
1855 0.216 +0.0%
1856 0.216 +0.0%
1857 0.216 +0.0%
1858 0.192 -11.1%
1859 0.192 +0.0%
1860 0.214 +11.5%
1861 0.214 +0.0%
1862 0.214 +0.0%
1863 0.214 +0.0%
1864 0.214 +0.0%
1865 0.214 +0.0%
1866 0.214 +0.0%
1867 0.214 +0.0%
1868 0.214 +0.0%
1869 0.226 +5.6%
1870 0.226 +0.0%
1871 0.226 +0.0%
1872 0.226 +0.0%
1873 0.226 +0.0%
1874 0.226 +0.0%
1875 0.226 +0.0%
1876 0.226 +0.0%
1877 0.226 +0.0%
1878 0.226 +0.0%
1879 0.226 +0.0%
1880 0.226 +0.0%
1881 0.245 +8.4%
1882 0.333 +35.9%
1883 0.333 +0.0%
1884 0.333 +0.0%
1885 0.333 +0.0%
1886 0.333 +0.0%
1887 0.333 +0.0%
1888 0.333 +0.0%
1889 0.42 +26.1%
1890 0.427 +1.7%
1891 0.427 +0.0%
1892 0.427 +0.0%
1893 0.427 +0.0%
1894 0.427 +0.0%
1895 0.427 +0.0%
1896 0.427 +0.0%
1897 0.427 +0.0%
1898 0.427 +0.0%
1899 0.427 +0.0%
1900 0.353 -17.3%
1901 0.353 +0.0%
1902 0.353 +0.0%
1903 0.347 -1.7%
1904 0.375 +8.1%
1905 0.374 -0.3%
1906 0.374 +0.0%
1907 0.374 +0.0%
1908 0.374 +0.0%
1909 0.374 +0.0%
1910 0.374 +0.0%
1911 0.374 +0.0%
1912 0.374 +0.0%
1913 0.376 +0.5%
1914 0.347 -7.7%
1915 0.272 -21.6%
1916 0.264 -2.9%
1917 0.264 +0.0%
1918 0.267 +1.1%
1919 0.359 +34.5%
1920 0.359 +0.0%
1921 0.359 +0.0%
1922 0.356 -0.8%
1923 0.356 +0.0%
1924 0.356 +0.0%
1925 0.356 +0.0%
1926 0.356 +0.0%
1927 0.349 -2.0%
1928 0.324 -7.2%
1929 0.24 -25.9%
1930 0.228 -5.0%
1931 0.235 +3.1%
1932 0.286 +21.7%
1933 0.292 +2.1%
1934 0.292 +0.0%
1935 0.292 +0.0%
1936 0.292 +0.0%
1937 0.292 +0.0%
1938 0.292 +0.0%
1939 0.292 +0.0%
1940 0.231 -20.9%
1941 0.065 -71.9%
1942 0.034 -47.7%
1943 0.034 +0.0%
1944 0.034 +0.0%
1945 0.048 +41.2%
1946 0.054 +12.5%
1947 0.054 +0.0%
1948 0.054 +0.0%
1949 0.054 +0.0%
1950 0.061 +13.0%
1951 0.061 +0.0%
1952 0.061 +0.0%
1953 0.065 +6.6%
1954 0.069 +6.2%
1955 0.069 +0.0%
1956 0.069 +0.0%
1957 0.069 +0.0%
1958 0.069 +0.0%
1959 0.069 +0.0%
1960 0.069 +0.0%
1961 0.069 +0.0%
1962 0.069 +0.0%
1963 0.069 +0.0%
1964 0.069 +0.0%
1965 0.069 +0.0%
1966 0.069 +0.0%
1967 0.073 +5.8%
1968 0.072 -1.4%
1969 0.072 +0.0%
1970 0.072 +0.0%
1971 0.072 +0.0%
1972 0.075 +4.2%
1973 0.075 +0.0%
1974 0.075 +0.0%
1975 0.075 +0.0%
1976 0.075 +0.0%
1977 0.075 +0.0%
1978 0.075 +0.0%
1979 0.075 +0.0%
1980 0.075 +0.0%
1981 0.124 +65.3%
1982 0.124 +0.0%
1983 0.124 +0.0%
1984 0.124 +0.0%
1985 0.124 +0.0%
1986 0.124 +0.0%
1987 0.135 +8.9%
1988 0.138 +2.2%
1989 0.138 +0.0%
1990 0.305 +121.0%
1991 0.356 +16.7%
1992 0.342 -3.9%
1993 0.342 +0.0%
1994 0.342 +0.0%
1995 0.342 +0.0%
1996 0.359 +5.0%
1997 0.371 +3.3%
1998 0.371 +0.0%
1999 0.371 +0.0%
2000 0.685 +84.6%
2001 0.81 +18.2%
2002 0.819 +1.1%
2003 0.819 +0.0%
2004 0.805 -1.7%
2005 0.805 +0.0%
2006 0.801 -0.5%
2007 0.801 +0.0%
2008 0.803 +0.2%
2009 0.798 -0.6%
2010 0.792 -0.8%
2011 0.789 -0.4%
2012 0.769 -2.5%
2013 0.584 -24.1%
2014 0.528 -9.6%
2015 0.492 -6.8%
2016 0.493 +0.2%
2017 0.446 -9.5%
2018 0.401 -10.1%
2019 0.432 +7.7%
2020 0.443 +2.5%
2021 0.425 -4.1%
2022 0.437 +2.8%
2023 0.448 +2.5%
2024 0.438 -2.2%
2025 0.424 -3.2%

Serbia compared with similar countries

  • Serbia's 0.424 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6745, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
  • Serbia's 0.424 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7935, 53% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1780s 0.08 0.08 0.08 1
1790s 0.08 0.08 0.08 10
1800s 0.08 0.08 0.08 4
1810s 0.069 0.069 0.069 1
1830s 0.192 0.181 0.197 6
1840s 0.2218 0.215 0.232 10
1850s 0.2112 0.192 0.216 10
1860s 0.2152 0.214 0.226 10
1870s 0.226 0.226 0.226 10
1880s 0.3222 0.226 0.42 10
1890s 0.427 0.427 0.427 10
1900s 0.3651 0.347 0.375 10
1910s 0.3271 0.264 0.376 10
1920s 0.3411 0.24 0.359 10
1930s 0.2793 0.228 0.292 10
1940s 0.0662 0.034 0.231 10
1950s 0.0662 0.061 0.069 10
1960s 0.07 0.069 0.073 10
1970s 0.0744 0.072 0.075 10
1980s 0.123 0.075 0.138 10
1990s 0.3501 0.305 0.371 10
2000s 0.7946 0.685 0.819 10
2010s 0.5726 0.401 0.792 10
2020s 0.4358 0.424 0.448 6

Countries ranked near Serbia

  1. 127 India 0.458 compare
  2. 128 Uganda 0.432 compare
  3. 129 Chad 0.427 compare
  4. 131 Ukraine 0.418 compare
  5. 132 Zimbabwe 0.414 compare
  6. 133 Palestine 0.41 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Serbia

All data for Serbia →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Serbia?
Freedom of expression index in Serbia was 0.424 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Serbia?
The highest recorded value was 0.819 in 2002.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Serbia?
The lowest recorded value was 0.034 in 1942.
How does Serbia rank for freedom of expression index?
Serbia ranks 130th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Serbia?
Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Serbia 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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Relationships involving this indicator

Comparisons with other indicators across countries. Each was re-measured with population and national income held constant, so a relationship that only reflected country size is not listed here.

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Freedom of Expression Index in Serbia. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/freedom-of-expression-index/serbia/

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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

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.