Press Freedom Index in Netherlands
Netherlands: Press Freedom Index was 9.67 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
9.67
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
172nd
of 177 countries
All-time high
11.28
in 2017
All-time low
6.46
in 2014
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Netherlands, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 9.67 for press freedom index in 2021.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and up 49.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Netherlands peaked at 11.28 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 6.46, in 2014.
Netherlands ranks 172nd of 177 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 6.48 | — |
| 2014 | 6.46 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 9.22 | +42.7% |
| 2016 | 8.76 | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 11.28 | +28.8% |
| 2018 | 10.01 | -11.3% |
| 2019 | 8.63 | -13.8% |
| 2020 | 9.96 | +15.4% |
| 2021 | 9.67 | -2.9% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 9.67 is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.1, 42% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 9.67 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23.38, 41% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 8.69 | 6.46 | 11.28 | 7 |
| 2020s | 9.82 | 9.67 | 9.96 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More social development data for Netherlands
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 283,935 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 159 (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 159 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0157 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 Netherlands?
- Press freedom index in Netherlands was 9.67 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 11.28 in 2017.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.46 in 2014.
- How does Netherlands rank for press freedom index?
- Netherlands ranks 172nd out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Netherlands 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).