Freedom of Expression Score in Bhutan
Bhutan: Freedom of Expression Score was 7 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Freedom of Expression Score in Bhutan, 2007–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom of expression score in Bhutan is 7, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Bhutan peaked at 7 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2007.
That places Bhutan 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Freedom of Expression Score in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 | — |
| 2009 | 6 | +50.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 2015 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 7 | +0.0% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 7 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4, 1.8× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 7 is above the median for South Asia, which is 7, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.8 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| 2020s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 19 Albania 7 compare
- 19 Argentina 7 compare
- 19 Bolivia 7 compare
- 19 Brazil 7 compare
- 19 Colombia 7 compare
- 19 Cote d'Ivoire 7 compare
- 19 Croatia 7 compare
- 19 Ecuador 7 compare
- 19 Lesotho 7 compare
- 19 Liberia 7 compare
- 19 Malawi 7 compare
- 19 Montenegro 7 compare
- 19 Namibia 7 compare
- 19 North Macedonia 7 compare
- 19 Panama 7 compare
- 19 Papua New Guinea 7 compare
- 19 Peru 7 compare
- 19 Romania 7 compare
- 19 Senegal 7 compare
- 19 South Africa 7 compare
- 19 Sri Lanka 7 compare
More social development data for Bhutan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 7,257 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0091 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 7,257 (2025)
- Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -2.37 % change on previous year (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 Bhutan?
- Freedom of expression score in Bhutan was 7 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression score recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 2013.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2007.
- How does Bhutan rank for freedom of expression score?
- Bhutan ranks 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.