Freedom of Expression Score in Vietnam
Vietnam: Freedom of Expression Score was 1 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in Vietnam, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, freedom of expression score in Vietnam stood at 1. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is down 50.0% on the previous year and down 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Vietnam peaked at 2 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1, in 2017.
That places Vietnam 116th out of 128 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 11 years of available data.
Freedom of Expression Score in Vietnam, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | — |
| 2007 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 2019 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 2021 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 1 | -50.0% |
Vietnam compared with similar countries
- Vietnam's 1 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5, 20% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Vietnam's 1 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3, 33% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.8 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.67 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Vietnam
More social development data for Vietnam
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 13 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,636 (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 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,636 (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 Vietnam?
- Freedom of expression score in Vietnam was 1 in 2025, according to Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom of expression score recorded in Vietnam?
- The highest recorded value was 2 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Vietnam?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 2017.
- How does Vietnam rank for freedom of expression score?
- Vietnam ranks 116th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Vietnam?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Vietnam 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.