Press Freedom Index in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Press Freedom Index was 29.61 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
29.61
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
104th
of 177 countries
All-time high
30.73
in 2017
All-time low
26.35
in 2013
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in Sierra Leone, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Sierra Leone stood at 29.61.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Sierra Leone peaked at 30.73 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 26.35, in 2013.
Sierra Leone ranks 104th of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 26.35 | — |
| 2014 | 28.23 | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 28.47 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 29.94 | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 30.73 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 29.98 | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 30.36 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 30.28 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 29.61 | -2.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 29.61 is below the median for low income countries, which is 40.2, 74% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 29.61 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 88% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 29.15 | 26.35 | 30.73 | 7 |
| 2020s | 29.95 | 29.61 | 30.28 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More social development data for Sierra Leone
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,925 (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 0.001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,925 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is press freedom index in Sierra Leone?
- Press freedom index in Sierra Leone was 29.61 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 30.73 in 2017.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.35 in 2013.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for press freedom index?
- Sierra Leone ranks 104th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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).