Press Freedom Index in Sweden
Sweden: Press Freedom Index was 7.24 in 2021. ▼ Falling
Press Freedom Index in Sweden, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 7.24 for press freedom index in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.7% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Sweden peaked at 12.33 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 7.24, in 2021.
Sweden ranks 175th of 177 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Press Freedom Index in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 9.23 | — |
| 2014 | 8.98 | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 9.47 | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 12.33 | +30.2% |
| 2017 | 8.27 | -32.9% |
| 2018 | 8.31 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 8.31 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 9.25 | +11.3% |
| 2021 | 7.24 | -21.7% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 7.24 is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.1, 31% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 7.24 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23.38, 31% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 9.27 | 8.27 | 12.33 | 7 |
| 2020s | 8.25 | 7.24 | 9.25 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 172 Netherlands 9.67 compare
- 173 Costa Rica 8.76 compare
- 174 Denmark 8.57 compare
- 176 Finland 6.99 compare
- 177 Norway 6.72 compare
More social development data for Sweden
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 144,116 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 128 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 128 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0136 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 Sweden?
- Press freedom index in Sweden was 7.24 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 12.33 in 2016.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.24 in 2021.
- How does Sweden rank for press freedom index?
- Sweden ranks 175th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden 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).