Press Freedom Index in Malaysia
Malaysia: Press Freedom Index was 39.47 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Press Freedom Index in Malaysia, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 39.47 for press freedom index in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 19.2% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Malaysia peaked at 47.41 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 33.12, in 2020.
That places Malaysia 62nd out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 42.73 | — |
| 2014 | 42.73 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 43.29 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 46.57 | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 46.89 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 47.41 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 36.74 | -22.5% |
| 2020 | 33.12 | -9.9% |
| 2021 | 39.47 | +19.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 39.47 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.52, 1.2× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 39.47 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 37.4, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 43.77 | 36.74 | 47.41 | 7 |
| 2020s | 36.3 | 33.12 | 39.47 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More social development data for Malaysia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 150,164 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,477 (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 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,477 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0042 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 Malaysia?
- Press freedom index in Malaysia was 39.47 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 47.41 in 2018.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.12 in 2020.
- How does Malaysia rank for press freedom index?
- Malaysia ranks 62nd out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia 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).