Press Freedom Index in Ghana
Ghana: Press Freedom Index was 21.33 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
21.33
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
148th
of 177 countries
All-time high
22.26
in 2020
All-time low
15.5
in 2015
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Ghana, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Ghana stood at 21.33.
That represents a change of down 4.2% on the previous year and up 23.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Ghana peaked at 22.26 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.5, in 2015.
That places Ghana 148th out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 17.27 | — |
| 2014 | 16.29 | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 15.5 | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 17.95 | +15.8% |
| 2017 | 17.95 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 18.41 | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 20.81 | +13.0% |
| 2020 | 22.26 | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 21.33 | -4.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 21.33 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.21, 56% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 21.33 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 17.74 | 15.5 | 20.81 | 7 |
| 2020s | 21.8 | 21.33 | 22.26 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 145 South Africa 21.59 compare
- 145 United Kingdom 21.59 compare
- 147 Trinidad and Tobago 21.55 compare
- 149 Spain 20.44 compare
- 150 Lithuania 20.15 compare
- 151 Cape Verde 20.09 compare
More social development data for Ghana
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 21,050 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 16,030 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0005 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 16,030 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0006 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 Ghana?
- Press freedom index in Ghana was 21.33 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 22.26 in 2020.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.5 in 2015.
- How does Ghana rank for press freedom index?
- Ghana ranks 148th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana 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).