Press Freedom Index in Namibia
Namibia: Press Freedom Index was 19.72 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
19.72
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
154th
of 177 countries
All-time high
20.24
in 2018
All-time low
12.5
in 2013
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Namibia, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Namibia stood at 19.72.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 57.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Namibia peaked at 20.24 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 12.5, in 2013.
That places Namibia 154th out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Namibia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 12.5 | — |
| 2014 | 12.5 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12.5 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 15.15 | +21.2% |
| 2017 | 17.08 | +12.7% |
| 2018 | 20.24 | +18.5% |
| 2019 | 18.95 | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 19.25 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 19.72 | +2.4% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 19.72 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.21, 52% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 19.72 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 59% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 15.56 | 12.5 | 20.24 | 7 |
| 2020s | 19.48 | 19.25 | 19.72 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More social development data for Namibia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5,470 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 685 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 685 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0018 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 Namibia?
- Press freedom index in Namibia was 19.72 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.24 in 2018.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.5 in 2013.
- How does Namibia rank for press freedom index?
- Namibia ranks 154th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Namibia 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).