Country rankings

Countries with Freedom of Speech

Norway has the highest Free Speech Index (FoFS) in 2021 (80), followed by Denmark (79) and United States (78). Pakistan has the lowest (38).

Law187 countries · 4 metricsUpdated Jan 19, 2025Original page
6 sources
Year 202133 of 235 countries
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Free Speech Index (FoFS), 2021

Darker green is better (higher is better). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 33 ranked

Best first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one country; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
66
Middle half 48 – 71
Average
61.24
33 countries
Highest
80
Norway
Lowest
38
Pakistan

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

37 countries · # = rank by Free Speech Index (FoFS)
#
1Norway80—
2Denmark79—
3United States7873.0%
3Sweden7880.0%
5Hungary7549.0%
6United Kingdom7467.0%
6Venezuela74—
8Spain7348.0%
9Japan7162.0%
10Argentina7044.0%
11Australia6974.0%
12South Korea6871.0%
12Czechia68—
14Germany6677.0%
14France6671.0%
14Poland6657.0%
14Taiwan66—
18Mexico6551.0%
19Israel6368.0%
20Brazil6142.0%
21South Africa5854.0%
22Philippines5680.0%
23Lebanon54—
24Russia5057.0%
25India4858.0%
26Turkey47—
27Indonesia4586.0%
27Nigeria4551.0%
29Malaysia44—
30Tunisia4370.0%
31Kenya4258.0%
32Egypt41—
33Pakistan38—
—Italy—43.0%
—Canada—79.0%
—Netherlands—84.0%
—Greece—59.0%

What correlates with Free Speech Index (FoFS) (2021)?

Pearson r against 1,950 other country metrics sharing at least 20 countries. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Free Speech Index (FoFS) tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. GPI - Premarital Sex Acceptable PctMost Promiscuous Countries
    r = +0.87 · very strong · n = 20
    Plot
  2. Inclusive SocietySocial Progress Index by Country
    r = +0.87 · very strong · n = 31
    Plot
  3. Immigration IndexEasiest Countries to Immigrate To
    r = +0.86 · very strong · n = 25
    Plot
  4. Secularism Score 2024Secular Countries
    r = +0.85 · very strong · n = 33
    Plot
  5. Quality of Life Rank (US News)Standard of Living by CountryA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.85 · very strong · n = 31
    Plot
  6. Homophobic Climate Index Rank (UN)Most Homophobic CountriesA rank: rank 1 is the worst
    r = +0.84 · very strong · n = 32
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Free Speech Index (FoFS) tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. Teetotalers FemaleTeetotalism by Country
    r = −0.90 · very strong · n = 31
    Plot
  2. TeetotalersTeetotalism by Country
    r = −0.89 · very strong · n = 31
    Plot
  3. Teetotalers MaleTeetotalism by Country
    r = −0.88 · very strong · n = 31
    Plot
  4. G6PD DeficiencyBirth Defect Rates by Country
    r = −0.84 · very strong · n = 23
    Plot
  5. Mismanaged Waste IndexPlastic Pollution by Country
    r = −0.83 · very strong · n = 33
    Plot
  6. WDI Legal DiscriminationMost Dangerous Countries for Women
    r = −0.83 · very strong · n = 26
    Plot

Quick answers

Which country has the highest Free Speech Index (FoFS)?
Norway has the highest Free Speech Index (FoFS) in 2021, at 80, followed by Denmark (79) and United States (78).
Which country has the lowest Free Speech Index (FoFS)?
Pakistan has the lowest Free Speech Index (FoFS) in 2021, at 38.
What is the median Free Speech Index (FoFS) across countries?
The median is 66 across the 33 countries with data in 2021.
Where does this countries with freedom of speech data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Freedom of Expression - Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance; 2023 World Press Freedom Index - RSF; Global Support for Principle of Free Expression, but Opposition to Some Forms of Speech - Pew Research; Who Cares About Free Speech? - Justitia/Colombia University/Aarhus University.

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