Press Freedom Index in Australia
Australia: Press Freedom Index was 19.79 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
19.79
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
153rd
of 177 countries
All-time high
20.21
in 2020
All-time low
15.24
in 2013
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Australia, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Australia recorded 19.79 for press freedom index in 2021.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 29.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Australia peaked at 20.21 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.24, in 2013.
That places Australia 153rd out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 15.24 | — |
| 2014 | 16.91 | +11.0% |
| 2015 | 17.03 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 17.84 | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 16.02 | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 15.46 | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 16.55 | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 20.21 | +22.1% |
| 2021 | 19.79 | -2.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 19.79 is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.1, 86% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Australia's 19.79 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 37.4, 53% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 16.44 | 15.24 | 17.84 | 7 |
| 2020s | 20 | 19.79 | 20.21 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More social development data for Australia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 33,415 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 41 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 41 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0012 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 press freedom index in Australia?
- Press freedom index in Australia was 19.79 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.21 in 2020.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.24 in 2013.
- How does Australia rank for press freedom index?
- Australia ranks 153rd out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Press Freedom Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The index combines expert estimates with data on violence against journalists. It ranges from 0-100 (no freedom).