Press Freedom Index in Finland
Finland: Press Freedom Index was 6.99 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
6.99
Change on year
down 11.9%
World rank
176th
of 177 countries
All-time high
10.26
in 2018
All-time low
6.38
in 2013
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Finland, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Finland stood at 6.99.
The figure is down 11.9% on the previous year and up 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Finland peaked at 10.26 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 6.38, in 2013.
That places Finland 176th out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Finland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 6.38 | — |
| 2014 | 6.4 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 7.52 | +17.5% |
| 2016 | 8.59 | +14.2% |
| 2017 | 8.92 | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 10.26 | +15.0% |
| 2019 | 7.9 | -23.0% |
| 2020 | 7.93 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 6.99 | -11.9% |
Finland compared with similar countries
- Finland's 6.99 is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.1, 30% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Finland's 6.99 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23.38, 30% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8 | 6.38 | 10.26 | 7 |
| 2020s | 7.46 | 6.99 | 7.93 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Finland
More social development data for Finland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 102,544 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 5 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0182 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 Finland?
- Press freedom index in Finland was 6.99 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Finland?
- The highest recorded value was 10.26 in 2018.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Finland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.38 in 2013.
- How does Finland rank for press freedom index?
- Finland ranks 176th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Finland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Finland 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).