Freedom of Expression Index in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.234 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Freedom of Expression Index in Uzbekistan, 1912–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom of expression index in Uzbekistan is 0.234, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 387.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Uzbekistan peaked at 0.369 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.012, in 1934.
Uzbekistan ranks 144th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Freedom of Expression Index in Uzbekistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1912 | 0.116 | — |
| 1913 | 0.116 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.116 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.116 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.116 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.116 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.116 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.116 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.116 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.032 | -72.4% |
| 1922 | 0.031 | -3.1% |
| 1923 | 0.027 | -12.9% |
| 1924 | 0.025 | -7.4% |
| 1925 | 0.022 | -12.0% |
| 1926 | 0.021 | -4.5% |
| 1927 | 0.019 | -9.5% |
| 1928 | 0.018 | -5.3% |
| 1929 | 0.018 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.015 | -16.7% |
| 1931 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.012 | -20.0% |
| 1935 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.014 | +16.7% |
| 1946 | 0.015 | +7.1% |
| 1947 | 0.014 | -6.7% |
| 1948 | 0.012 | -14.3% |
| 1949 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.012 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.016 | +33.3% |
| 1954 | 0.023 | +43.7% |
| 1955 | 0.025 | +8.7% |
| 1956 | 0.024 | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 0.029 | +20.8% |
| 1958 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.03 | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 0.028 | -6.7% |
| 1961 | 0.028 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.029 | +3.6% |
| 1963 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.027 | -6.9% |
| 1966 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.027 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.025 | -7.4% |
| 1970 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.026 | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 0.025 | -3.8% |
| 1973 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.024 | -4.0% |
| 1975 | 0.026 | +8.3% |
| 1976 | 0.026 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.025 | -3.8% |
| 1978 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.025 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.038 | +52.0% |
| 1986 | 0.087 | +128.9% |
| 1987 | 0.286 | +228.7% |
| 1988 | 0.291 | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 0.369 | +26.8% |
| 1990 | 0.15 | -59.3% |
| 1991 | 0.177 | +18.0% |
| 1992 | 0.107 | -39.5% |
| 1993 | 0.1 | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 0.081 | -19.0% |
| 1995 | 0.061 | -24.7% |
| 1996 | 0.058 | -4.9% |
| 1997 | 0.058 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.049 | -15.5% |
| 1999 | 0.03 | -38.8% |
| 2000 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.027 | -10.0% |
| 2002 | 0.033 | +22.2% |
| 2003 | 0.032 | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.029 | -9.4% |
| 2007 | 0.029 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.03 | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 0.03 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.029 | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 0.031 | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 0.03 | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 0.047 | +56.7% |
| 2014 | 0.051 | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 0.048 | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 0.059 | +22.9% |
| 2017 | 0.161 | +172.9% |
| 2018 | 0.15 | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 0.214 | +42.7% |
| 2020 | 0.224 | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 0.214 | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 0.209 | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 0.222 | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 0.222 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.234 | +5.4% |
Uzbekistan compared with similar countries
- Uzbekistan's 0.234 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.579, 40% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Uzbekistan's 0.234 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7935, 29% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Freedom of Expression Index in Uzbekistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +228.7% | 0.087 | 0.286 |
| 2017 | +172.9% | 0.059 | 0.161 |
| 1986 | +128.9% | 0.038 | 0.087 |
| 1921 | -72.4% | 0.116 | 0.032 |
| 1990 | -59.3% | 0.369 | 0.15 |
| 2013 | +56.7% | 0.03 | 0.047 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0.116 | 0.116 | 0.116 | 8 |
| 1920s | 0.0329 | 0.018 | 0.116 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0132 | 0.012 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0127 | 0.012 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.0212 | 0.012 | 0.03 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0276 | 0.025 | 0.029 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0252 | 0.024 | 0.026 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1196 | 0.025 | 0.369 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0871 | 0.03 | 0.177 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0304 | 0.027 | 0.033 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.082 | 0.029 | 0.214 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2208 | 0.209 | 0.234 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uzbekistan
More social development data for Uzbekistan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5,164 (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 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5,164 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom of expression index in Uzbekistan?
- Freedom of expression index in Uzbekistan was 0.234 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Uzbekistan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.369 in 1989.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Uzbekistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.012 in 1934.
- How does Uzbekistan rank for freedom of expression index?
- Uzbekistan ranks 144th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Uzbekistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 387.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uzbekistan 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
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About this data
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.