Freedom of Expression Score in South Africa
South Africa: Freedom of Expression Score was 7 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in South Africa, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, freedom of expression score in South Africa stood at 7. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.5% on the previous year and down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in South Africa peaked at 10 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 7, in 2017.
South Africa 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 10 | — |
| 2007 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 8 | -20.0% |
| 2011 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7 | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 8 | +14.3% |
| 2021 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 7 | -12.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Africa'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 | 9.33 | 8 | 10 | 3 |
| 2010s | 7.8 | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| 2020s | 7.67 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 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 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 Sri Lanka 7 compare
More social development data for South Africa
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 55,177 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (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 1,319 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 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 South Africa?
- Freedom of expression score in South Africa 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7 in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for freedom of expression score?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.