Freedom of Expression Score in Kenya
Kenya: Freedom of Expression Score was 5 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in Kenya, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom of expression score in Kenya is 5, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.7% on the previous year and down 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Kenya peaked at 8 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 5, in 2019.
Kenya 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.67 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
| 2010s | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
| 2020s | 5.33 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More social development data for Kenya
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 617,125 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 13,325 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 2 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.446 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
- Human Rights Index 0.74 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.335 (2025)
- Key features of human rights 0.74 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom of expression score in Kenya?
- Freedom of expression score in Kenya 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 8 in 2007.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 in 2019.
- How does Kenya rank for freedom of expression score?
- Kenya ranks 49th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.