Press Freedom Index in Maldives
Maldives: Press Freedom Index was 29.13 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Press Freedom Index in Maldives, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for press freedom index in Maldives is 29.13, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Maldives peaked at 39.3 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 29.13, in 2021.
That places Maldives 107th out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Maldives, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 31.1 | — |
| 2014 | 33.11 | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 34.32 | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 34.17 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 39.3 | +15.0% |
| 2018 | 37.95 | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 32.16 | -15.3% |
| 2020 | 29.93 | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 29.13 | -2.7% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 29.13 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 33.52, 87% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 29.13 is below the median for South Asia, which is 38.41, 76% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 34.59 | 31.1 | 39.3 | 7 |
| 2020s | 29.53 | 29.13 | 29.93 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
More social development data for Maldives
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 62 (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 62 (2025)
- Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -18.42 % change on previous year (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 Maldives?
- Press freedom index in Maldives was 29.13 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 39.3 in 2017.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.13 in 2021.
- How does Maldives rank for press freedom index?
- Maldives ranks 107th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Maldives 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).