Freedom of Expression Score in Belarus
Belarus: Freedom of Expression Score was 2 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in Belarus, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom of expression score in Belarus is 2, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Belarus peaked at 4 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 2, in 2021.
That places Belarus 98th out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Freedom of Expression Score in Belarus, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 | — |
| 2007 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 2009 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 2023 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2 | +0.0% |
Belarus compared with similar countries
- Belarus's 2 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5, 40% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Belarus's 2 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6, 33% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.33 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 2010s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 2020s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belarus
- 98 Azerbaijan 2 compare
- 98 Cambodia 2 compare
- 98 Cameroon 2 compare
- 98 Chad 2 compare
- 98 Cuba 2 compare
- 98 Egypt 2 compare
- 98 Kazakhstan 2 compare
- 98 Laos 2 compare
- 98 Mali 2 compare
- 98 Morocco 2 compare
- 98 Nicaragua 2 compare
- 98 Niger 2 compare
- 98 Russia 2 compare
- 98 Saudi Arabia 2 compare
- 98 Somalia 2 compare
- 98 Sudan 2 compare
- 98 United Arab Emirates 2 compare
More social development data for Belarus
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 40,794 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,462 (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 0.0021 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,462 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0045 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 Belarus?
- Freedom of expression score in Belarus was 2 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression score recorded in Belarus?
- The highest recorded value was 4 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Belarus?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 in 2021.
- How does Belarus rank for freedom of expression score?
- Belarus ranks 98th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Belarus?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belarus 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.