Freedom of Expression Score in South Sudan
South Sudan: Freedom of Expression Score was 3 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
3
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
74th
of 128 countries
All-time high
4
in 2013
All-time low
2
in 2019
Years of data
7
2013–2025
Freedom of Expression Score in South Sudan, 2013–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Sudan recorded 3 for freedom of expression score in 2025.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in South Sudan peaked at 4 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 2, in 2019.
South Sudan ranks 74th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Freedom of Expression Score in South Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 4 | — |
| 2015 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 2017 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 2021 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 2023 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 3 | +0.0% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 3 is above the median for low income countries, which is 3, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 3 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4, 75% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
- 74 Algeria 3 compare
- 74 Burkina Faso 3 compare
- 74 Burundi 3 compare
- 74 Congo 3 compare
- 74 Democratic Republic of Congo 3 compare
- 74 Ethiopia 3 compare
- 74 Guinea 3 compare
- 74 Haiti 3 compare
- 74 Jordan 3 compare
- 74 Kuwait 3 compare
- 74 Kyrgyzstan 3 compare
- 74 Madagascar 3 compare
- 74 Mozambique 3 compare
- 74 Pakistan 3 compare
- 74 Rwanda 3 compare
- 74 Serbia 3 compare
- 74 Singapore 3 compare
- 74 Thailand 3 compare
- 74 Togo 3 compare
- 74 Turkey 3 compare
- 74 Uzbekistan 3 compare
- 74 Venezuela 3 compare
- 74 Zimbabwe 3 compare
More social development data for South Sudan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 601,818 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.39 million (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.1958 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.39 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0494 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom of expression score in South Sudan?
- Freedom of expression score in South Sudan was 3 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 4 in 2013.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 in 2019.
- How does South Sudan rank for freedom of expression score?
- South Sudan ranks 74th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Sudan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 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.