Freedom Score in Somalia
Somalia: Freedom Score was 8 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Freedom Score in Somalia, 2002–2025
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for freedom score in Somalia is 8, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 300.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, freedom score in Somalia peaked at 15 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1, in 2009.
Somalia ranks 184th of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Freedom Score in Somalia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 15 | — |
| 2003 | 14 | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 14 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 15 | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 4 | -73.3% |
| 2007 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 2008 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 2009 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 2010 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 2013 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 5 | +150.0% |
| 2017 | 7 | +40.0% |
| 2018 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 8 | +14.3% |
| 2023 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 8 | +0.0% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 8 is below the median for low income countries, which is 18, 44% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 8 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 35, 23% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.5 | 1 | 15 | 8 |
| 2010s | 3.6 | 1 | 7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.67 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
- 181 China 9 compare
- 181 Cuba 9 compare
- 181 Saudi Arabia 9 compare
- 184 Afghanistan 8 compare
- 186 Belarus 7 compare
- 187 Azerbaijan 6 compare
More social development data for Somalia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,967 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 892,037 (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 0.0454 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 892,037 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0011 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 score in Somalia?
- Freedom score in Somalia was 8 in 2025, according to Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest freedom score recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 15 in 2002.
- What is the lowest freedom score recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 in 2009.
- How does Somalia rank for freedom score?
- Somalia ranks 184th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is freedom score rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 300.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia data come from?
- The figures come from Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Freedom Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Freedom House’s freedom score captures the extent of free and fair elections, political pluralism and participation, a functioning government, freedom of expression and association, the rule of law, and personal autonomy. Higher scores indicate more freedom.