Freedom of Expression Score in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Freedom of Expression Score was 5 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in Bangladesh, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Bangladesh recorded 5 for freedom of expression score in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 66.7% on the previous year and up 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Bangladesh peaked at 7 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 3, in 2019.
Bangladesh ranks 49th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Freedom of Expression Score in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2015 | 4 | -33.3% |
| 2017 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 2021 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 5 | +66.7% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 5 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4, 1.2× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 5 is below the median for South Asia, which is 7, 71% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.8 | 3 | 7 | 5 |
| 2020s | 3.67 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More social development data for Bangladesh
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.18 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 31,862 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (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 31,862 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0067 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 score in Bangladesh?
- Freedom of expression score in Bangladesh was 5 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression score recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 2019.
- How does Bangladesh rank for freedom of expression score?
- Bangladesh ranks 49th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Freedom of Expression Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Indicates the extent to which individuals, groups, and the press can express their views free from government interference.