Freedom of Expression Score in India
India: Freedom of Expression Score was 4 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in India, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom of expression score in India is 4, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 42.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in India peaked at 9 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2023.
That places India 62nd 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 India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 9 | — |
| 2007 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 9 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 8 | -11.1% |
| 2015 | 7 | -12.5% |
| 2017 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2021 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2023 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2025 | 4 | +0.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 4 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- India's 4 is below the median for South Asia, which is 7, 57% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9 | 9 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | 7.4 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
| 2020s | 4.33 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Countries ranked near India
More social development data for India
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 238,643 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,610 (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 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,610 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom of expression score in India?
- Freedom of expression score in India was 4 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression score recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2023.
- How does India rank for freedom of expression score?
- India ranks 62nd out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.