Press Freedom Index in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Press Freedom Index was 62.73 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Press Freedom Index in Saudi Arabia, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for press freedom index in Saudi Arabia is 62.73, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Saudi Arabia peaked at 66.02 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 56.88, in 2013.
That places Saudi Arabia 11th out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 61.33 | 56.88 | 66.02 | 7 |
| 2020s | 62.44 | 62.14 | 62.73 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More social development data for Saudi Arabia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 448 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 2,368 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.026 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.047 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Human Rights Index 0.178 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.026 (2025)
- Key features of human rights 0.178 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is press freedom index in Saudi Arabia?
- Press freedom index in Saudi Arabia was 62.73 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 66.02 in 2017.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.88 in 2013.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for press freedom index?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 11th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.
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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).