Press Freedom Index in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Press Freedom Index was 23.17 in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
23.17
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
141st
of 177 countries
All-time high
24.53
in 2019
All-time low
22.66
in 2016
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Burkina Faso, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Burkina Faso recorded 23.17 for press freedom index in 2021.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Burkina Faso peaked at 24.53 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 22.66, in 2016.
Burkina Faso ranks 141st of 177 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 23.7 | — |
| 2014 | 24.45 | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 23.79 | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 22.66 | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 23.85 | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 23.33 | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 24.53 | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 23.47 | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 23.17 | -1.3% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 23.17 is below the median for low income countries, which is 40.2, 58% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 23.17 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 69% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 23.76 | 22.66 | 24.53 | 7 |
| 2020s | 23.32 | 23.17 | 23.47 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More social development data for Burkina Faso
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 40,996 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 351,209 (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 0.0146 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 351,209 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0017 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 Burkina Faso?
- Press freedom index in Burkina Faso was 23.17 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 24.53 in 2019.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.66 in 2016.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for press freedom index?
- Burkina Faso ranks 141st out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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).