Press Freedom Index in Ecuador
Ecuador: Press Freedom Index was 32.83 in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
32.83
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
85th
of 177 countries
All-time high
34.69
in 2013
All-time low
30.56
in 2018
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Ecuador, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Ecuador stood at 32.83.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Ecuador peaked at 34.69 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 30.56, in 2018.
Ecuador ranks 85th of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 34.69 | — |
| 2014 | 31.16 | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 33.65 | +8.0% |
| 2016 | 33.21 | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 33.64 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 30.56 | -9.2% |
| 2019 | 31.88 | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 32.62 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 32.83 | +0.6% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 32.83 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.52, 98% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 32.83 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 31.12, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 32.68 | 30.56 | 34.69 | 7 |
| 2020s | 32.72 | 32.62 | 32.83 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More social development data for Ecuador
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 26,428 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5,723 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5,723 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0014 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 Ecuador?
- Press freedom index in Ecuador was 32.83 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 34.69 in 2013.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.56 in 2018.
- How does Ecuador rank for press freedom index?
- Ecuador ranks 85th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ecuador 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).