Freedom of Expression Score in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Freedom of Expression Score was 7 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Freedom of Expression Score in Sri Lanka, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, freedom of expression score in Sri Lanka stood at 7. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of up 75.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Sri Lanka peaked at 7 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2013.
Sri Lanka ranks 19th of 128 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Freedom of Expression Score in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5 | -28.6% |
| 2011 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2015 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7 | +75.0% |
| 2019 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 7 | +0.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 7 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5, 1.4× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 7 is above the median for South Asia, which is 7, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.33 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
| 2010s | 5.4 | 4 | 7 | 5 |
| 2020s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 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 South Africa 7 compare
More social development data for Sri Lanka
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 213 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (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 0.0068 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 148,369 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom of expression score in Sri Lanka?
- Freedom of expression score in Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2013.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for freedom of expression score?
- Sri Lanka ranks 19th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 — 11 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.