Press Freedom Index in Ireland
Ireland: Press Freedom Index was 11.91 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
11.91
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
166th
of 177 countries
All-time high
15
in 2019
All-time low
10.06
in 2013
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Ireland, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 11.91 for press freedom index in 2021.
The figure is down 5.5% on the previous year and up 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Ireland peaked at 15 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 10.06, in 2013.
Ireland ranks 166th of 177 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 10.06 | — |
| 2014 | 10.87 | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 11.2 | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 12.4 | +10.7% |
| 2017 | 14.08 | +13.5% |
| 2018 | 14.59 | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 15 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 12.6 | -16.0% |
| 2021 | 11.91 | -5.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 11.91 is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.1, 52% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 11.91 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23.38, 51% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12.6 | 10.06 | 15 | 7 |
| 2020s | 12.25 | 11.91 | 12.6 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More social development data for Ireland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 137,869 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 69 (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 69 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0251 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 Ireland?
- Press freedom index in Ireland was 11.91 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 15 in 2019.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.06 in 2013.
- How does Ireland rank for press freedom index?
- Ireland ranks 166th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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).