Press Freedom Index in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Press Freedom Index was 39.98 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Press Freedom Index in Nicaragua, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Nicaragua recorded 39.98 for press freedom index in 2021. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 11.6% on the previous year and up 41.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Nicaragua peaked at 39.98 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 27.7, in 2014.
That places Nicaragua 60th out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 28.31 | — |
| 2014 | 27.7 | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 27.94 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 28.82 | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 31.01 | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 30.41 | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 35.53 | +16.8% |
| 2020 | 35.81 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 39.98 | +11.6% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 39.98 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.21, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 39.98 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 31.12, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 29.96 | 27.7 | 35.53 | 7 |
| 2020s | 37.89 | 35.81 | 39.98 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More social development data for Nicaragua
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 311 (2023)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 35,341 (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 0.005 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 35,341 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2023)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is press freedom index in Nicaragua?
- Press freedom index in Nicaragua was 39.98 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 39.98 in 2021.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.7 in 2014.
- How does Nicaragua rank for press freedom index?
- Nicaragua ranks 60th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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).