Freedom of Expression Index in Vietnam
Vietnam: Freedom of Expression Index was 0.102 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Freedom of Expression Index in Vietnam, 1976–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, freedom of expression index in Vietnam stood at 0.102.
That represents a change of down 15.0% on the previous year and down 32.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression index in Vietnam peaked at 0.212 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.067, in 1976.
That places Vietnam 160th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Freedom of Expression Index in Vietnam, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 0.067 | — |
| 1977 | 0.067 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.067 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.067 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.073 | +9.0% |
| 1981 | 0.073 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.073 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.073 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.073 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.073 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.132 | +80.8% |
| 1987 | 0.197 | +49.2% |
| 1988 | 0.212 | +7.6% |
| 1989 | 0.195 | -8.0% |
| 1990 | 0.131 | -32.8% |
| 1991 | 0.137 | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 0.142 | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.142 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.153 | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.149 | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 0.149 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.149 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.149 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.157 | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 0.157 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.156 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 0.153 | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.153 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.151 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.151 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.146 | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 0.152 | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 0.139 | -8.6% |
| 2019 | 0.128 | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 0.123 | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 0.137 | +11.4% |
| 2022 | 0.147 | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 0.121 | -17.7% |
| 2024 | 0.12 | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 0.102 | -15.0% |
Vietnam compared with similar countries
- Vietnam's 0.102 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6745, 15% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Vietnam's 0.102 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.682, 15% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.067 | 0.067 | 0.067 | 4 |
| 1980s | 0.1174 | 0.073 | 0.212 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1448 | 0.131 | 0.153 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1525 | 0.149 | 0.157 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1477 | 0.128 | 0.153 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.125 | 0.102 | 0.147 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Vietnam
- 157 Vatican 0.13
- 158 Eswatini 0.113 compare
- 159 Equatorial Guinea 0.112 compare
- 161 Azerbaijan 0.092 compare
- 161 Saudi Arabia 0.092 compare
- 163 Russia 0.08 compare
More social development data for Vietnam
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 13 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,636 (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 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,636 (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 Vietnam?
- Freedom of expression index in Vietnam was 0.102 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression index recorded in Vietnam?
- The highest recorded value was 0.212 in 1988.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression index recorded in Vietnam?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.067 in 1976.
- How does Vietnam rank for freedom of expression index?
- Vietnam ranks 160th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression index rising or falling in Vietnam?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Vietnam 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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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.