Press Freedom Index in East Timor
East Timor: Press Freedom Index was 29.11 in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
29.11
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
108th
of 177 countries
All-time high
32.82
in 2017
All-time low
28.72
in 2013
Years of data
9
2013–2021
Press Freedom Index in East Timor, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for press freedom index in East Timor is 29.11, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in East Timor peaked at 32.82 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 28.72, in 2013.
East Timor ranks 108th of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in East Timor, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 28.72 | — |
| 2014 | 29.04 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 32.63 | +12.4% |
| 2016 | 32.02 | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 32.82 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 30.81 | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 29.93 | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 29.9 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 29.11 | -2.6% |
East Timor compared with similar countries
- East Timor's 29.11 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 38.21, 76% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- East Timor's 29.11 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 37.4, 78% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 30.85 | 28.72 | 32.82 | 7 |
| 2020s | 29.5 | 29.11 | 29.9 | 2 |
Countries ranked near East Timor
More social development data for East Timor
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (2015)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 15 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (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 15 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2015)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2015)
Frequently asked questions
- What is press freedom index in East Timor?
- Press freedom index in East Timor was 29.11 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in East Timor?
- The highest recorded value was 32.82 in 2017.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in East Timor?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.72 in 2013.
- How does East Timor rank for press freedom index?
- East Timor ranks 108th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in East Timor?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this East Timor 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).