Press Freedom Index in Benin
Benin: Press Freedom Index was 38.18 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Press Freedom Index in Benin, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Benin stood at 38.18. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.7% on the previous year and up 34.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Benin peaked at 38.18 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 28.33, in 2013.
That places Benin 67th out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Benin, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 28.33 | — |
| 2014 | 28.83 | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 29.24 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 28.97 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 30.32 | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 30.16 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 31.74 | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 35.11 | +10.6% |
| 2021 | 38.18 | +8.7% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 38.18 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.21, 100% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Benin's 38.18 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 29.66 | 28.33 | 31.74 | 7 |
| 2020s | 36.64 | 35.11 | 38.18 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More social development data for Benin
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 16,974 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,279 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,279 (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 press freedom index in Benin?
- Press freedom index in Benin was 38.18 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 38.18 in 2021.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.33 in 2013.
- How does Benin rank for press freedom index?
- Benin ranks 67th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Benin 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).