Press Freedom Index in Eswatini
Eswatini: Press Freedom Index was 46.34 in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
46.34
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
40th
of 177 countries
All-time high
52.37
in 2016
All-time low
45.15
in 2020
Years of data
8
2014–2021
Press Freedom Index in Eswatini, 2014–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for press freedom index in Eswatini is 46.34, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Eswatini ranks 40th of 177 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Eswatini, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 46.76 | — |
| 2015 | 47.28 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 52.37 | +10.8% |
| 2017 | 51.27 | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 51.46 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 49.09 | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 45.15 | -8.0% |
| 2021 | 46.34 | +2.6% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 46.34 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.21, 1.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 46.34 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 49.71 | 46.76 | 52.37 | 6 |
| 2020s | 45.75 | 45.15 | 46.34 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More social development data for Eswatini
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,414 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (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 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 220 (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 Eswatini?
- Press freedom index in Eswatini was 46.34 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 52.37 in 2016.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.15 in 2020.
- How does Eswatini rank for press freedom index?
- Eswatini ranks 40th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Eswatini 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 — 8 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).