Freedom of Expression Score in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Freedom of Expression Score was 3 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Freedom of Expression Score in Zimbabwe, 2005–2025
Source: Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom of expression score in Zimbabwe is 3, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom of expression score in Zimbabwe peaked at 4 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 3, in 2007.
That places Zimbabwe 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.33 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 2010s | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| 2020s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 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 Turkey 3 compare
- 74 Uzbekistan 3 compare
- 74 Venezuela 3 compare
More social development data for Zimbabwe
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 8,570 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 6,632 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Liberal democracy 1 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.147 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Human Rights Index 0.381 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.202 (2025)
- Key features of human rights 0.381 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freedom of expression score in Zimbabwe?
- Freedom of expression score in Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 4 in 2005.
- What is the lowest freedom of expression score recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 in 2007.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for freedom of expression score?
- Zimbabwe ranks 74th out of 128 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom of expression score rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.