Global Voices: A Journey Through the Freedom of Speech Rankings

In a world where the power of words can shape societies, the freedom to express oneself remains a cornerstone of democracy. The latest rankings on freedom of speech reveal a diverse landscape, where some nations shine as beacons of liberty while others struggle under the weight of censorship.

Top Performers: Champions of Expression

Leading the charge in 2024 are the Nordic countries, with Finland securing the top spot. Known for its robust democratic institutions and minimal media censorship, Finland exemplifies a society where voices are heard and respected. Close behind are the Netherlands and Norway, both of which have consistently ranked high due to their strong legal frameworks protecting free speech.

Rising Stars: New Zealand and Ireland

New Zealand and Ireland have made significant strides, climbing the ranks to join the top ten. New Zealand’s commitment to transparency and Ireland’s progressive media policies have fostered environments where public discourse thrives. These nations demonstrate that with the right policies, freedom of speech can flourish even in smaller democracies.

Challenges and Setbacks: The Struggle Continues

However, not all countries share this optimistic outlook India, despite being the world’s largest democracy, has seen a decline in its ranking. Increasing incidents of media suppression and internet shutdowns have raised concerns about the erosion of free speech. Similarly, Bangladesh has faced criticism for its restrictive laws and actions against journalists.

The Bottom of the List: A Call for Change

At the other end of the spectrum, countries like North Korea and Eritrea remain at the bottom. In these nations, free speech is virtually non-existent, with severe penalties for dissent. The international community continues to call for reforms and greater respect for human rights in these regions.

Rankings and scores by country or places

Countries are ranked on a scale from 0–100 points.

Country	2024
Norway	(001) 91.89
Denmark	(002) 89.60
Sweden	(003) 88.32
Netherlands	(004) 87.73
Finland	(005) 86.55
Estonia	(006) 86.44
Portugal	(007) 85.90
Ireland	(008) 85.59
Switzerland	(009) 84.01
Germany	(010) 83.84
Luxembourg	(011) 83.80
Latvia	(012) 82.90
Lithuania	(013) 81.73
Canada	(014) 81.70
Liechtenstein	(015) 81.52
Belgium	(016) 81.49
Czech Republic	(017) 80.14
Iceland	(018) 80.13
New Zealand	(019) 79.72
East Timor	(020) 78.92
France	(021) 78.65
Samoa	(022) 78.41
United Kingdom	(023) 77.51
Jamaica	(024) 77.30
Trinidad and Tobago	(025) 76.69
Costa Rica	(026) 76.13
Taiwan	(027) 76.13
Suriname	(028) 76.11
Slovakia	(029) 76.03
Spain	(030) 76.01
Moldova	(031) 74.86
Austria	(032) 74.69
Mauritania	(033) 74.20
Namibia	(034) 74.16
Dominican Republic	(035) 73.89
North Macedonia	(036) 73.78
Seychelles	(037) 73.75
South Africa	(038) 73.73
Australia	(039) 73.42
Montenegro	(040) 73.21
Cape Verde	(041) 72.77
Slovenia	(042) 72.60
Armenia	(043) 71.60
Fiji	(044) 71.23
Tonga	(045) 70.11
Italy	(046) 69.80
Poland	(047) 69.17
Croatia	(048) 68.79
Romania	(049) 68.45
Ghana	(050) 67.71
Uruguay	(051) 67.70
Chile	(052) 67.32
Ivory Coast	(053) 66.89
Belize	(054) 66.85
United States	(055) 66.59
Gabon	(056) 65.83
Mauritius	(057) 65.55
Gambia	(058) 65.53
Bulgaria	(059) 65.32
Liberia	(060) 65.13
Ukraine	(061) 65.00
South Korea	(062) 64.87
Malawi	(063) 64.46
Sierra Leone	(064) 64.27
Cyprus	(065) 63.14
Argentina	(066) 63.13
Hungary	(067) 62.98
Congo	(069) 62.57
Japan	(070) 62.12
Comoros	(071) 61.47
Andorra	(072) 61.44
Malta	(073) 60.96
Nepal	(074) 60.52
Kosovo	(075) 60.19
Central African Republic	(076) 60.12
Guyana	(077) 60.10
Guinea	(078) 59.97
Botswana	(079) 59.78
Niger	(080) 59.71
Bosnia and Herzegovina	(081) 58.85
Brazil	(082) 58.59
Panama	(083) 58.55
Qatar	(084) 58.48
Eswatini	(085) 58.31
Burkina Faso	(086) 58.24
Thailand	(087) 58.12
Greece	(088) 57.15
Benin	(089) 56.73
Northern Cyprus	(090) 56.72
Papua New Guinea	(091) 56.02
Guinea-Bissau	(092) 55.95
Haiti	(093) 55.92
Senegal	(094) 55.44
Zambia	(095) 55.38
Chad	(096) 54.81
Tanzania	(097) 54.80
Serbia	(098) 54.48
Albania	(099) 54.10
Madagascar	(100) 54.07
Israel	(101) 53.23
Kenya	(102) 53.22
Georgia	(103) 53.05
Angola	(104) 52.44
Mozambique	(105) 52.42
Maldives	(106) 52.36
Malaysia	(107) 52.07
Burundi	(108) 51.78
Mongolia	(109) 51.34
Ecuador	(110) 51.30
Indonesia	(111) 51.15
Nigeria	(112) 51.03
Togo	(113) 50.89
Mali	(114) 50.56
Paraguay	(115) 50.48
Zimbabwe	(116) 50.31
Brunei	(117) 50.09
Tunisia	(118) 49.97
Colombia	(119) 49.63
Kyrgyzstan	(120) 49.11
Mexico	(121) 49.01
Lesotho	(122) 48.92
DR Congo	(123) 48.91
Bolivia	(124) 48.88
Peru	(125) 47.76
Singapore	(126) 47.19
Equatorial Guinea	(127) 46.49
Uganda	(128) 46.00
Morocco	(129) 45.97
Cameroon	(130) 44.95
Kuwait	(131) 44.66
Jordan	(132) 44.30
El Salvador	(133) 44.01
Philippines	(134) 43.36
Hong Kong	(135) 43.06
South Sudan	(136) 42.57
Oman	(137) 42.52
Guatemala	(138) 42.28
Algeria	(139) 41.98
Lebanon	(140) 41.91
Ethiopia	(141) 41.37
Kazakhstan	(142) 41.11
Libya	(143) 40.59
Rwanda	(144) 40.54
Somalia	(145) 39.40
Honduras	(146) 38.18
Bhutan	(147) 37.29
Uzbekistan	(148) 37.27
Sudan	(149) 35.73
Sri Lanka	(150) 35.21
Cambodia	(151) 34.28
Pakistan	(152) 33.90
Laos	(153) 33.76
Yemen	(154) 33.67
Tajikistan	(155) 33.31
Venezuela	(156) 33.06
Palestine	(157) 31.92
Turkey	(158) 31.60
India	(159) 31.28
United Arab Emirates	(160) 30.62
Djibouti	(161) 30.14
Russia	(162) 29.86
Nicaragua	(163) 29.20
Azerbaijan	(164) 27.99
Bangladesh	(165) 27.64
Saudi Arabia	(166) 27.14
Belarus	(167) 26.80
Cuba	(168) 25.63
Iraq	(169) 25.48
Egypt	(170) 25.10
Myanmar	(171) 24.41
China	(172) 23.36
Bahrain	(173) 23.21
Vietnam	(174) 22.31
Turkmenistan	(175) 22.01
Iran	(176) 21.30
North Korea	(177) 20.66
Afghanistan	(178) 19.09
Syria	(179) 17.41
Eritrea	(180) 16.64

A Global Perspective: The Path Forward

The freedom of speech rankings serve as a reminder of the ongoing battle for expression rights worldwide. While some nations celebrate their achievements, others must confront the challenges that hinder their progress. As global citizens, we are responsible for advocating for and protecting the fundamental right to speak freely.

In conclusion, the journey through the freedom of speech rankings is a testament to the varied experiences of nations worldwide. It highlights the triumphs and tribulations in the quest for a society where every voice can be heard.

What are your thoughts on the current state of freedom of speech globally?

Source:

• The ranking | RSF
• Countries with Freedom of Speech 2024 (worldpopulationreview.com)
• World Press Freedom Index – Wikipedia