Freedom of Expression Score in Turkey
Turkey: Freedom of Expression Score was 3 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in Turkey, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Turkey recorded 3 for freedom of expression score in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Turkey peaked at 7 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3, in 2019.
That places Turkey 74th out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Freedom of Expression Score in Turkey, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 | — |
| 2007 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7 | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2015 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2017 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2019 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 2021 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 3 | +0.0% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 3 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5, 60% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 3 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6, 50% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.33 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
| 2010s | 5 | 3 | 7 | 5 |
| 2020s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
- 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 South Sudan 3 compare
- 74 Thailand 3 compare
- 74 Togo 3 compare
- 74 Uzbekistan 3 compare
- 74 Venezuela 3 compare
- 74 Zimbabwe 3 compare
More social development data for Turkey
- 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 149,405 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0017 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 149,405 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0278 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 Turkey?
- Freedom of expression score in Turkey 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 Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 2009.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 2019.
- How does Turkey rank for freedom of expression score?
- Turkey ranks 74th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Turkey 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.