China scores 23.0/100 on the 2023 RSF World Press Freedom Index, ranking #179 globally. Freedom House rates it Not Free (9/100). Context: pop 1.40 billion, GDP $19.91T.
2023 Press Freedom Scorecard
Overall score and global position
In the 2023 World Press Freedom Index, China scores 22.97 out of 100 and ranks #179 globally — one of the most restricted press environments in the world. Of the 25 Freedom House indicators, China earns 0 at the maximum 4/4 and 15 at 0/4; its strongest category is Personal Autonomy (6/16) and its weakest is Political Pluralism (0/16).
23.0 / 100
Composite index comparison
Press freedom score — higher is freer.
Elections, political pluralism, government functioning.
Freedom of expression, association, rule of law, personal autonomy.
Academic press-freedom index from the Varieties of Democracy project (0–1 rescaled to 0–100).
Five-year RSF trend
Over 2019–2023, China moved from 21.08 to 22.97 on the RSF scale (a gain of 1.89 points). The lowest recorded score was 21.08 and the highest was 25.17.
Year-over-year RSF movement
China's biggest single-year RSF movement in the 2019–2023 window was a gain of 3.89 points between 2021 (21.28) and 2022 (25.17).
| Years | From | To | Δ score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 → 2020 | 21.08 | 21.52 | ▲ 0.44 |
| 2020 → 2021 | 21.52 | 21.28 | ▼ -0.24 |
| 2021 → 2022 | 21.28 | 25.17 | ▲ 3.89 |
| 2022 → 2023 | 25.17 | 22.97 | ▼ -2.20 |
Full socio-economic dashboard
Demographics & geography
Economy & labour
Health
Education
Administration
All socio-economic indicators from the World Bank country dataset (2023 snapshot).
Democratic Rights & Civil Liberties
Freedom status explained
Freedom House classifies China as Not Free with a 2024 aggregate score of 9/100 — basic political rights and civil liberties are widely denied.
Within Freedom House's Asia region (43 countries), China ranks #39 on the latest aggregate score — the 10th percentile. The region leaders are New Zealand, Japan, Australia.
Political Rights vs Civil Liberties
Rating 7 of 7 (1 = best)
Rating 6 of 7 (1 = best)
Civil liberties are rated higher than political rights — everyday freedoms are better protected than the formal political framework (elections, pluralism, government functioning).
Twelve-year Freedom House trend
Between 2013 and 2024, Freedom House moved China from Not Free (Not Free, 17/100) to Not Free (Not Free, 9/100).
Indicator trajectory (A–G over 12 years)
Of the 25 Freedom House indicators tracked for China, 6 moved at least one point across the available Freedom House history. The eight with the largest absolute change appear below.
| Code | Indicator | Earliest | Latest | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B4 | Minority political rights | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| C3 | Government transparency | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| D1 | Free media | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| D3 | Academic freedom | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| D4 | Private discussion | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| E2 | NGO freedom | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
Latest A–G indicator scorecard
Electoral Process
PR
-
A1Free and fair head-of-government elections
0/4
-
A2Free and fair legislative elections
0/4
-
A3Electoral laws and framework
0/4
Political Pluralism & Participation
PR
-
B1Right to organise in political parties
0/4
-
B2Opposition can realistically gain power
0/4
-
B3Free political choice without domination
0/4
-
B4Political rights of minorities
0/4
Functioning of Government
PR
-
C1Elected officials determine government policy
0/4
-
C2Safeguards against corruption
1/4
-
C3Transparency of government
0/4
Freedom of Expression & Belief
CL
-
D1Free and independent media
0/4
-
D2Freedom of religious expression
0/4
-
D3Academic freedom
0/4
-
D4Free private discussion
1/4
Associational & Organisational Rights
CL
-
E1Freedom of assembly
1/4
-
E2Freedom for NGOs
0/4
-
E3Free trade unions
1/4
Rule of Law
CL
-
F1Independent judiciary
1/4
-
F2Due process in civil and criminal matters
1/4
-
F3Protection from illegitimate force
0/4
-
F4Equal treatment under the law
0/4
Personal Autonomy & Individual Rights
CL
-
G1Freedom of movement
1/4
-
G2Property rights
1/4
-
G3Personal social freedoms
2/4
-
G4Equality of opportunity
2/4
Each indicator is scored 0–4 by Freedom House analysts; category subtotals combine into the Political Rights (A + B + C = 0–40) and Civil Liberties (D + E + F + G = 0–60) aggregates shown above. 2024 edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did China see its biggest RSF press-freedom change?
The sharpest single-year shift was an improvement of 3.89 points between 2021 (21.28) and 2022 (25.17) on the RSF index.
Which Freedom House indicator moved most in China?
Indicator B4 (Minority political rights) changed by -1 points, moving from 1/4 to 0/4 across the available history — the biggest indicator-level movement of the 25 Freedom House sub-scores for China.
How does China rank within its Freedom House region?
China holds position #39 of 43 in the Asia region on the latest Freedom House aggregate score. The region's top country is New Zealand (99/100).
What is China's economic context for its press freedom score?
China has a GDP of $19.91T across a population of 1.40 billion, giving a per-capita GDP of about $14,245. Its capital is Beijing; the official language is Standard Chinese.