Freedom of Expression Score in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Freedom of Expression Score was 3 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in Ethiopia, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, freedom of expression score in Ethiopia stood at 3.
The figure is up 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Ethiopia peaked at 4 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 2, in 2007.
That places Ethiopia 74th out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 | — |
| 2007 | 2 | -50.0% |
| 2009 | 4 | +100.0% |
| 2011 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 2013 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 2015 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 2021 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 3 | +0.0% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 3 is above the median for low income countries, which is 3, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 3 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4, 75% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.33 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 2010s | 2.4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 2020s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 74 Algeria 3 compare
- 74 Burkina Faso 3 compare
- 74 Burundi 3 compare
- 74 Congo 3 compare
- 74 Democratic Republic of Congo 3 compare
- 74 Guinea 3 compare
- 74 Haiti 3 compare
- 74 Jordan 3 compare
- 74 Kuwait 3 compare
- 74 Kyrgyzstan 3 compare
- 74 Madagascar 3 compare
- 74 Mozambique 3 compare
- 74 Pakistan 3 compare
- 74 Rwanda 3 compare
- 74 Serbia 3 compare
- 74 Singapore 3 compare
- 74 South Sudan 3 compare
- 74 Thailand 3 compare
- 74 Togo 3 compare
- 74 Turkey 3 compare
- 74 Uzbekistan 3 compare
- 74 Venezuela 3 compare
- 74 Zimbabwe 3 compare
More social development data for Ethiopia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.01 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 164,215 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0012 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 164,215 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0075 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 Ethiopia?
- Freedom of expression score in Ethiopia was 3 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression score recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 4 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 in 2007.
- How does Ethiopia rank for freedom of expression score?
- Ethiopia ranks 74th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Indicates the extent to which individuals, groups, and the press can express their views free from government interference.