Freedom of Expression Score in Qatar
Qatar: Freedom of Expression Score was 4 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in Qatar, 2009–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom of expression score in Qatar is 4, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Qatar peaked at 7 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2017.
That places Qatar 62nd out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Freedom of Expression Score in Qatar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 7 | — |
| 2011 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2015 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2017 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2019 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 4 | +0.0% |
Qatar compared with similar countries
- Qatar's 4 is below the median for high income countries, which is 7, 57% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 4 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2, 2.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| 2010s | 5.2 | 4 | 7 | 5 |
| 2020s | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
More social development data for Qatar
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 195 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 73 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (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 73 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 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 Qatar?
- Freedom of expression score in Qatar was 4 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression score recorded in Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 2009.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2017.
- How does Qatar rank for freedom of expression score?
- Qatar ranks 62nd out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Qatar 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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CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Indicates the extent to which individuals, groups, and the press can express their views free from government interference.