Press Freedom Index in Sudan
Sudan: Press Freedom Index was 52.93 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Press Freedom Index in Sudan, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2021, press freedom index in Sudan stood at 52.93. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.3% on the previous year and down 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Sudan peaked at 73.56 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 52.93, in 2021.
That places Sudan 22nd out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Sudan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 70.06 | — |
| 2014 | 71.88 | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 72.34 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 72.53 | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 73.56 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 71.13 | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 72.45 | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 55.33 | -23.6% |
| 2021 | 52.93 | -4.3% |
Sudan compared with similar countries
- Sudan's 52.93 is above the median for low income countries, which is 40.2, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sudan's 52.93 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 71.99 | 70.06 | 73.56 | 7 |
| 2020s | 54.13 | 52.93 | 55.33 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
More social development data for Sudan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 809,816 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.82 million (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 0.0546 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2.82 million (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 Sudan?
- Press freedom index in Sudan was 52.93 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 73.56 in 2017.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.93 in 2021.
- How does Sudan rank for press freedom index?
- Sudan ranks 22nd out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sudan 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).