Press Freedom Index in Uganda
Uganda: Press Freedom Index was 41.19 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Press Freedom Index in Uganda, 2013–2021
Source: Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Uganda recorded 41.19 for press freedom index in 2021. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 30.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, press freedom index in Uganda peaked at 41.19 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 31.65, in 2015.
That places Uganda 56th out of 177 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Press Freedom Index in Uganda, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 31.69 | — |
| 2014 | 33.29 | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 31.65 | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 32.58 | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 35.94 | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 36.77 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 39.42 | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 40.95 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 41.19 | +0.6% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 41.19 is above the median for low income countries, which is 40.2, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 41.19 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.65, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 34.48 | 31.65 | 39.42 | 7 |
| 2020s | 41.07 | 40.95 | 41.19 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More social development data for Uganda
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.94 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 12,792 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 12,792 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0377 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 Uganda?
- Press freedom index in Uganda was 41.19 in 2021, according to Reporters sans Frontieres (2022) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest press freedom index recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 41.19 in 2021.
- What is the lowest press freedom index recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.65 in 2015.
- How does Uganda rank for press freedom index?
- Uganda ranks 56th out of 177 countries with data for 2021.
- Is press freedom index rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uganda 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).