Press Freedom Index in Nigeria
Nigeria: Press Freedom Index was 39.69 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Press Freedom Index in Nigeria, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 39.69 for press freedom index in 2021. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.4% on the previous year and up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Nigeria peaked at 39.69 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 34.09, in 2015.
Nigeria ranks 61st of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 34.11 | — |
| 2014 | 34.24 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 34.09 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 35.9 | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 39.69 | +10.6% |
| 2018 | 37.41 | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 36.5 | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 35.63 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 39.69 | +11.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 39.69 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.21, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 39.69 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 35.99 | 34.09 | 39.69 | 7 |
| 2020s | 37.66 | 35.63 | 39.69 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More social development data for Nigeria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 123,848 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (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 0.002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0005 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 Nigeria?
- Press freedom index in Nigeria was 39.69 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 39.69 in 2017.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.09 in 2015.
- How does Nigeria rank for press freedom index?
- Nigeria ranks 61st out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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).