What is freedom of expression index in Vatican?

Freedom of expression index in Vatican was 0.13 in 1870, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

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

The highest recorded value was 0.533 in 1849.

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

The lowest recorded value was 0.082 in 1844.

How does Vatican rank for freedom of expression index?

Vatican ranks 157th out of 176 countries with data for 1870.

Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Vatican?

Over the last ten years it is down 45.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this Vatican 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 Vatican

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

Vatican: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.13 in 1870. ▼ Falling

Latest (1870)

0.13

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

157th

of 176 countries

All-time high

0.533

in 1849

All-time low

0.082

in 1844

Years of data

1789–1870

Freedom of Expression Index in Vatican, 1789–1870

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

Analysis

In 1870, freedom of expression index in Vatican stood at 0.13.

The figure is down 45.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Vatican peaked at 0.533 in 1849 and was at its lowest, 0.082, in 1844.

Vatican ranks 157th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 78 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1780s	0.269	0.269	0.269	1
1790s	0.2604	0.226	0.269	10
1800s	0.2859	0.241	0.318	10
1810s	0.178	0.178	0.178	6
1820s	0.1509	0.13	0.178	10
1830s	0.096	0.083	0.155	10
1840s	0.2192	0.082	0.533	10
1850s	0.227	0.19	0.332	10
1860s	0.1409	0.13	0.239	10
1870s	0.13	0.13	0.13	1

Countries ranked near Vatican

154 Cambodia 0.153 compare
155 Oman 0.151 compare
156 Venezuela 0.148 compare
158 Eswatini 0.113 compare
159 Equatorial Guinea 0.112 compare
160 Vietnam 0.102 compare

See the full ranking of 176 places →

More social development data for Vatican

Electoral democracy 0 (1869)
Varieties of democracy 0.026 (1870)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.027 (1870)
Human Rights Index 0.3 (1870)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.01 (1870)
Key features of human rights 0.3 (1870)
Key features of electoral democracy 0.026 (1870)
Key features of liberal democracy 0.027 (1870)
Human Rights Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index 0.3 (1870)
Electoral democracy 0 (1861)

All data for Vatican →

Frequently asked questions

What is freedom of expression index in Vatican?: Freedom of expression index in Vatican was 0.13 in 1870, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Vatican?: The highest recorded value was 0.533 in 1849.
What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Vatican?: The lowest recorded value was 0.082 in 1844.
How does Vatican rank for freedom of expression index?: Vatican ranks 157th out of 176 countries with data for 1870.
Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Vatican?: Over the last ten years it is down 45.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Vatican 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 — 78 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.