Press Freedom Index in Cameroon
Cameroon: Press Freedom Index was 43.78 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Press Freedom Index in Cameroon, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Cameroon stood at 43.78. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Cameroon peaked at 43.78 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 34.78, in 2013.
Cameroon ranks 46th of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 34.78 | — |
| 2014 | 38.13 | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 39.63 | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 40.53 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 41.59 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 40.92 | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 43.32 | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 43.28 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 43.78 | +1.2% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 43.78 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.21, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 43.78 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 39.84 | 34.78 | 43.32 | 7 |
| 2020s | 43.53 | 43.28 | 43.78 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More social development data for Cameroon
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 408,613 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 140,366 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0047 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 140,366 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0137 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 Cameroon?
- Press freedom index in Cameroon was 43.78 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 43.78 in 2021.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.78 in 2013.
- How does Cameroon rank for press freedom index?
- Cameroon ranks 46th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon 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).