What is freedom of expression index in Somalia?

Freedom of expression index in Somalia was 0.619 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.619 in 2024.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.038 in 1982.

How does Somalia rank for freedom of expression index?

Somalia ranks 103rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Somalia?

Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Somalia 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 Somalia

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

Somalia: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.619 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.619

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

103rd

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.619

in 2024

All-time low

0.038

in 1982

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Freedom of Expression Index in Somalia, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for freedom of expression index in Somalia is 0.619, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.

The figure is up 15.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Somalia peaked at 0.619 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.038, in 1982.

Somalia ranks 103rd 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 Somalia, year by year

Annual values for Freedom of Expression Index in Somalia, 1900 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1900	0.228	—
1901	0.228	+0.0%
1902	0.228	+0.0%
1903	0.228	+0.0%
1904	0.228	+0.0%
1905	0.228	+0.0%
1906	0.228	+0.0%
1907	0.228	+0.0%
1908	0.228	+0.0%
1909	0.228	+0.0%
1910	0.208	-8.8%
1911	0.208	+0.0%
1912	0.208	+0.0%
1913	0.208	+0.0%
1914	0.208	+0.0%
1915	0.208	+0.0%
1916	0.208	+0.0%
1917	0.208	+0.0%
1918	0.208	+0.0%
1919	0.208	+0.0%
1920	0.208	+0.0%
1921	0.208	+0.0%
1922	0.208	+0.0%
1923	0.208	+0.0%
1924	0.208	+0.0%
1925	0.208	+0.0%
1926	0.208	+0.0%
1927	0.208	+0.0%
1928	0.208	+0.0%
1929	0.208	+0.0%
1930	0.208	+0.0%
1931	0.208	+0.0%
1932	0.208	+0.0%
1933	0.208	+0.0%
1934	0.208	+0.0%
1935	0.208	+0.0%
1936	0.208	+0.0%
1937	0.208	+0.0%
1938	0.208	+0.0%
1939	0.208	+0.0%
1940	0.172	-17.3%
1941	0.249	+44.8%
1942	0.249	+0.0%
1943	0.249	+0.0%
1944	0.249	+0.0%
1945	0.24	-3.6%
1946	0.246	+2.5%
1947	0.246	+0.0%
1948	0.246	+0.0%
1949	0.246	+0.0%
1950	0.348	+41.5%
1951	0.348	+0.0%
1952	0.348	+0.0%
1953	0.348	+0.0%
1954	0.348	+0.0%
1955	0.348	+0.0%
1956	0.348	+0.0%
1957	0.348	+0.0%
1958	0.348	+0.0%
1959	0.348	+0.0%
1960	0.529	+52.0%
1961	0.552	+4.3%
1962	0.552	+0.0%
1963	0.552	+0.0%
1964	0.552	+0.0%
1965	0.552	+0.0%
1966	0.533	-3.4%
1967	0.533	+0.0%
1968	0.533	+0.0%
1969	0.212	-60.2%
1970	0.044	-79.2%
1971	0.044	+0.0%
1972	0.044	+0.0%
1973	0.046	+4.5%
1974	0.046	+0.0%
1975	0.046	+0.0%
1976	0.046	+0.0%
1977	0.046	+0.0%
1978	0.046	+0.0%
1979	0.042	-8.7%
1980	0.042	+0.0%
1981	0.042	+0.0%
1982	0.038	-9.5%
1983	0.038	+0.0%
1984	0.038	+0.0%
1985	0.038	+0.0%
1986	0.038	+0.0%
1987	0.038	+0.0%
1988	0.038	+0.0%
1989	0.038	+0.0%
1990	0.05	+31.6%
1991	0.143	+186.0%
1992	0.303	+111.9%
1993	0.34	+12.2%
1994	0.359	+5.6%
1995	0.367	+2.2%
1996	0.367	+0.0%
1997	0.367	+0.0%
1998	0.367	+0.0%
1999	0.367	+0.0%
2000	0.433	+18.0%
2001	0.4	-7.6%
2002	0.4	+0.0%
2003	0.4	+0.0%
2004	0.409	+2.2%
2005	0.456	+11.5%
2006	0.465	+2.0%
2007	0.465	+0.0%
2008	0.465	+0.0%
2009	0.476	+2.4%
2010	0.536	+12.6%
2011	0.568	+6.0%
2012	0.581	+2.3%
2013	0.537	-7.6%
2014	0.537	+0.0%
2015	0.537	+0.0%
2016	0.521	-3.0%
2017	0.561	+7.7%
2018	0.502	-10.5%
2019	0.478	-4.8%
2020	0.527	+10.3%
2021	0.571	+8.3%
2022	0.569	-0.4%
2023	0.609	+7.0%
2024	0.619	+1.6%
2025	0.619	+0.0%

Somalia compared with similar countries

Somalia's 0.619 is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.432, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Somalia's 0.619 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.616, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.228	0.228	0.228	10
1910s	0.208	0.208	0.208	10
1920s	0.208	0.208	0.208	10
1930s	0.208	0.208	0.208	10
1940s	0.2392	0.172	0.249	10
1950s	0.348	0.348	0.348	10
1960s	0.51	0.212	0.552	10
1970s	0.045	0.042	0.046	10
1980s	0.0388	0.038	0.042	10
1990s	0.303	0.05	0.367	10
2000s	0.4369	0.4	0.476	10
2010s	0.5358	0.478	0.581	10
2020s	0.5857	0.527	0.619	6

Countries ranked near Somalia

100 Moldova 0.652 compare
101 Madagascar 0.635 compare
102 Mauritania 0.628 compare
103 Mexico 0.619 compare
105 Central African Republic 0.613 compare
106 Democratic Republic of Congo 0.599 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Somalia

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,967 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 892,037 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0454 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 892,037 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0011 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 Somalia →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Somalia?: Freedom of expression index in Somalia was 0.619 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Somalia?: The highest recorded value was 0.619 in 2024.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Somalia?: The lowest recorded value was 0.038 in 1982.
How does Somalia rank for freedom of expression index?: Somalia ranks 103rd out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Somalia?: Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Somalia 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 Somalia. 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/somalia-fed-rep/

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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.