What is press freedom in Benin?

Press freedom in Benin was 1 in 2016, according to Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest press freedom recorded in Benin?

The highest recorded value was 2 in 1991.

What is the lowest press freedom recorded in Benin?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1979.

How does Benin rank for press freedom?

Benin ranks 61st out of 194 countries with data for 2016.

Is press freedom rising or falling in Benin?

Over the last ten years it is down 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Benin data come from?

The figures come from Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Press freedom. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Press freedom in Benin

Name: Press freedom in Benin
Creator: Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Benin: Press freedom was 1 in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

61st

of 194 countries

All-time high

in 1991

All-time low

in 1979

Years of data

1979–2016

Press freedom in Benin, 1979–2016

Source: Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2016, press freedom in Benin stood at 1.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 50.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, press freedom in Benin peaked at 2 in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1979.

That places Benin 61st out of 194 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1970s	0	0	0	1
1980s	0	0	0	8
1990s	1.5	1	2	10
2000s	1.7	1	2	10
2010s	1	1	1	7

Countries ranked near Benin

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More social development data for Benin

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 16,974 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 1,279 (2025)
Physical Integrity Rights Score 0.9407 (2019)
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin 3,407 (2025)
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum 11,947 (2025)
Forcibly displaced people 54,921 (2025)
Self-reported life satisfaction 4.39 (2025)
Internally displaced people (IDP) by country or territory of asylum / 26,000 (2025)

All data for Benin →

Frequently asked questions

What is press freedom in Benin?: Press freedom in Benin was 1 in 2016, according to Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest press freedom recorded in Benin?: The highest recorded value was 2 in 1991.
What is the lowest press freedom recorded in Benin?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1979.
How does Benin rank for press freedom?: Benin ranks 61st out of 194 countries with data for 2016.
Is press freedom rising or falling in Benin?: Over the last ten years it is down 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Benin data come from?: The figures come from Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Press freedom. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Press freedom
Source: Freedom House (2017) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 194 places, 6,417 data points, 1979–2016
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

Based on the classification and data by Freedom House. It captures the legal, political, and economic environment of the press.