Press Freedom Index in Iceland
Iceland: Press Freedom Index was 15.37 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Press Freedom Index in Iceland, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 15.37 for press freedom index in 2021. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 81.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Iceland peaked at 15.37 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.49, in 2013.
Iceland ranks 162nd of 177 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 8.49 | — |
| 2014 | 8.5 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 13.87 | +63.2% |
| 2016 | 15.3 | +10.3% |
| 2017 | 13.03 | -14.8% |
| 2018 | 14.1 | +8.2% |
| 2019 | 14.71 | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 15.12 | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 15.37 | +1.7% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 15.37 is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.1, 67% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 15.37 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23.38, 66% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12.57 | 8.49 | 15.3 | 7 |
| 2020s | 15.24 | 15.12 | 15.37 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More social development data for Iceland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,459 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (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 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0216 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 Iceland?
- Press freedom index in Iceland was 15.37 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 15.37 in 2021.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.49 in 2013.
- How does Iceland rank for press freedom index?
- Iceland ranks 162nd out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland 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).