Freedom of Expression Score in Lesotho
Lesotho: Freedom of Expression Score was 7 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Freedom of Expression Score in Lesotho, 2009–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 7 for freedom of expression score in 2025. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Lesotho peaked at 7 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2009.
That places Lesotho 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Freedom of Expression Score in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 | — |
| 2011 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6 | +50.0% |
| 2015 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2019 | 6 | +20.0% |
| 2021 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2023 | 7 | +40.0% |
| 2025 | 7 | +0.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 7 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4, 1.8× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 7 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4, 1.8× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | 5.4 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| 2020s | 6.33 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 19 Albania 7 compare
- 19 Argentina 7 compare
- 19 Bhutan 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 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 Lesotho
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 27 (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 27 (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 Lesotho?
- Freedom of expression score in Lesotho 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 2023.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2009.
- How does Lesotho rank for freedom of expression score?
- Lesotho ranks 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.