Freedom of Expression Score in Namibia
Namibia: Freedom of Expression Score was 7 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in Namibia, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom of expression score in Namibia is 7, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is down 12.5% on the previous year and down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Namibia peaked at 9 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 7, in 2025.
That places Namibia 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.67 | 8 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | 8.4 | 8 | 9 | 5 |
| 2020s | 7.67 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 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 Lesotho 7 compare
- 19 Liberia 7 compare
- 19 Malawi 7 compare
- 19 Montenegro 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 Namibia
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 5,470 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 685 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 2 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.519 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 2 (2025)
- Human Rights Index 0.883 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.349 (2025)
- Key features of human rights 0.883 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom of expression score in Namibia?
- Freedom of expression score in Namibia 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7 in 2025.
- How does Namibia rank for freedom of expression score?
- Namibia ranks 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia 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.