Press Freedom Index in Brazil
Brazil: Press Freedom Index was 36.25 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Press Freedom Index in Brazil, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Brazil recorded 36.25 for press freedom index in 2021. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 6.5% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Brazil peaked at 36.25 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 31.2, in 2018.
That places Brazil 70th out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Brazil, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 32.75 | — |
| 2014 | 34.03 | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 31.93 | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 32.62 | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 33.58 | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 31.2 | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 32.79 | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 34.05 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 36.25 | +6.5% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 36.25 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.52, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 36.25 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 31.12, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 32.7 | 31.2 | 34.03 | 7 |
| 2020s | 35.15 | 34.05 | 36.25 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More social development data for Brazil
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 278,966 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 6,306 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (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 6,306 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0013 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 Brazil?
- Press freedom index in Brazil was 36.25 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 36.25 in 2021.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.2 in 2018.
- How does Brazil rank for press freedom index?
- Brazil ranks 70th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Brazil 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).