Press Freedom Index in Belarus
Belarus: Press Freedom Index was 50.82 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
50.82
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
23rd
of 177 countries
All-time high
54.32
in 2016
All-time low
47.82
in 2014
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Belarus, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Belarus stood at 50.82.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Belarus peaked at 54.32 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 47.82, in 2014.
Belarus ranks 23rd of 177 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Belarus, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 48.35 | — |
| 2014 | 47.82 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 47.98 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 54.32 | +13.2% |
| 2017 | 52.43 | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 52.59 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 51.66 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 49.75 | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 50.82 | +2.2% |
Belarus compared with similar countries
- Belarus's 50.82 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.52, 1.5× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Belarus's 50.82 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23.38, 2.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 50.74 | 47.82 | 54.32 | 7 |
| 2020s | 50.28 | 49.75 | 50.82 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Belarus
More social development data for Belarus
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 40,794 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,462 (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 0.0021 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,462 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0045 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 Belarus?
- Press freedom index in Belarus was 50.82 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Belarus?
- The highest recorded value was 54.32 in 2016.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Belarus?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.82 in 2014.
- How does Belarus rank for press freedom index?
- Belarus ranks 23rd out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Belarus?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belarus 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).