Press Freedom Index in Libya
Libya: Press Freedom Index was 55.73 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
55.73
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
16th
of 177 countries
All-time high
57.89
in 2016
All-time low
37.86
in 2013
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Libya, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Libya stood at 55.73.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 47.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Libya peaked at 57.89 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 37.86, in 2013.
Libya ranks 16th of 177 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Press Freedom Index in Libya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 37.86 | — |
| 2014 | 39.84 | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 45.99 | +15.4% |
| 2016 | 57.89 | +25.9% |
| 2017 | 56.81 | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 56.79 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 55.77 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 55.77 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 55.73 | -0.1% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 55.73 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.52, 1.7× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Libya's 55.73 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 43.94, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 50.14 | 37.86 | 57.89 | 7 |
| 2020s | 55.75 | 55.73 | 55.77 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 13 Bahrain 61.1 compare
- 14 Azerbaijan 58.77 compare
- 15 Egypt 56.17 compare
- 17 Equatorial Guinea 55.67 compare
- 18 Iraq 55.57 compare
- 19 Tajikistan 55.52 compare
More social development data for Libya
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 552,523 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17,161 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0023 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 17,161 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0741 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 Libya?
- Press freedom index in Libya was 55.73 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 57.89 in 2016.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.86 in 2013.
- How does Libya rank for press freedom index?
- Libya ranks 16th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya 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).