Press Freedom Index in Japan
Japan: Press Freedom Index was 28.88 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
28.88
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
112th
of 177 countries
All-time high
29.44
in 2017
All-time low
25.17
in 2013
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Japan, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Japan recorded 28.88 for press freedom index in 2021.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Japan peaked at 29.44 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 25.17, in 2013.
Japan ranks 112th of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 25.17 | — |
| 2014 | 26.02 | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 26.95 | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 28.67 | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 29.44 | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 28.64 | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 29.36 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 28.86 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 28.88 | +0.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 28.88 is above the median for high income countries, which is 23.1, 1.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Japan's 28.88 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 37.4, 77% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 27.75 | 25.17 | 29.44 | 7 |
| 2020s | 28.87 | 28.86 | 28.88 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More social development data for Japan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,450 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 56 (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 56 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 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 Japan?
- Press freedom index in Japan was 28.88 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 29.44 in 2017.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.17 in 2013.
- How does Japan rank for press freedom index?
- Japan ranks 112th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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).