Press Freedom Index in Guatemala
Guatemala: Press Freedom Index was 38.45 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
38.45
Change on year
up 7.6%
World rank
65th
of 177 countries
All-time high
39.33
in 2017
All-time low
29.39
in 2013
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Guatemala, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Guatemala recorded 38.45 for press freedom index in 2021.
The figure is up 7.6% on the previous year and up 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Guatemala peaked at 39.33 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 29.39, in 2013.
Guatemala ranks 65th of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Guatemala, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 29.39 | — |
| 2014 | 36.61 | +24.6% |
| 2015 | 37.92 | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 38.03 | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 39.33 | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 36.17 | -8.0% |
| 2019 | 35.94 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 35.74 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 38.45 | +7.6% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 38.45 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.52, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 38.45 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 31.12, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 36.2 | 29.39 | 39.33 | 7 |
| 2020s | 37.09 | 35.74 | 38.45 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More social development data for Guatemala
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,586 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 34,994 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0019 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 34,994 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 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 Guatemala?
- Press freedom index in Guatemala was 38.45 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 39.33 in 2017.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.39 in 2013.
- How does Guatemala rank for press freedom index?
- Guatemala ranks 65th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Guatemala 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).