Freedom of Expression Score in Nepal
Nepal: Freedom of Expression Score was 8 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Freedom of Expression Score in Nepal, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, freedom of expression score in Nepal stood at 8. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Nepal peaked at 8 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6, in 2005.
Nepal ranks 10th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Freedom of Expression Score in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 | — |
| 2007 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 2015 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 8 | +14.3% |
| 2021 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 8 | +0.0% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 8 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4, 2.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 8 is above the median for South Asia, which is 7, 1.1× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| 2010s | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| 2020s | 8 | 8 | 8 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More social development data for Nepal
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,613 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,019 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,019 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0007 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 Nepal?
- Freedom of expression score in Nepal was 8 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression score recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 8 in 2019.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 6 in 2005.
- How does Nepal rank for freedom of expression score?
- Nepal ranks 10th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.