Freedom of Expression Score in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Freedom of Expression Score was 7 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in North Macedonia, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
North Macedonia recorded 7 for freedom of expression score in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.5% on the previous year and up 75.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in North Macedonia peaked at 9 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2015.
North Macedonia ranks 19th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Freedom of Expression Score in North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 9 | — |
| 2007 | 8 | -11.1% |
| 2009 | 7 | -12.5% |
| 2011 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2013 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2015 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2017 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 6 | +50.0% |
| 2021 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 2023 | 8 | +14.3% |
| 2025 | 7 | -12.5% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 7 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 7 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8 | 7 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| 2020s | 7.33 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
- 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 Namibia 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 North Macedonia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,822 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,886 (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 0.001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,886 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0114 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 North Macedonia?
- Freedom of expression score in North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 9 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2015.
- How does North Macedonia rank for freedom of expression score?
- North Macedonia ranks 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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.