In Sub-Saharan Africa, declines in expression are outpacing advances

We have seen no Open countries in the region since 2018, when Ghana was the last country in the Open expression category. The largest proportion of the Sub-Saharan African population sits in the middle expression category (Restricted): more than one-third of the regional population live in these 9 countries. Freedom of expression in Sub-Saharan Africa is stagnant.

Every other region has seen a significant drop in expression over the last 10 years, but there has been no significant change in Sub-Saharan Africa over that timeframe.

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Declines in expression are outpacing advances in Sub-Saharan Africa

Despite freedom of expression remaining stagnant on a regional level, on a country level, the declines in Sub-Saharan Africa are outpacing the advances.

2022-2023

In the last year, 216 million people across 4 countries experienced a deterioration of their freedom of expression; no countries saw improvement.

The largest decline in the region took place in Burkina Faso (-24 points). This was also the largest decline globally.

2018-2023

In the last 5 years, 329 million people across 14 countries experienced a deterioration of their freedom of expression, while only 119 million people across 4 countries saw improvement.

The largest decline in the region between 2018 and 2023 took place in Burkina Faso (-31 points). Zambia saw a similar rise in score (+32 points) during the same period.

2013-2023

In the last decade, 558 million people across 18 countries experienced a deterioration of their freedom of expression, while only 108 million people across 4 countries saw improvement.
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Similar to the other timeframes, the largest decline over the last 10 years took place in Burkina Faso (-29 points).

The Gambia increased by 63 points between 2013 and 2023 – the biggest increase recorded over any timeframe.

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