Gaza Strip is not rated by the RSF index; Freedom House classifies it as Not Free with a total score of 8/100.
2023 Press Freedom Scorecard
Overall score and global position
Gaza Strip is not currently rated by Reporters Without Borders. The closest available press-freedom indicator is the V-Dem Freedom of Expression index, which scores Gaza Strip at 0.23 out of 1.0 for 2025 — a comparative signal drawn from the Varieties of Democracy academic dataset. Of the 25 Freedom House indicators, Gaza Strip earns 0 at the maximum 4/4 and 18 at 0/4; its strongest category is Freedom of Expression (3/16) and its weakest is Rule of Law (0/16).
Composite index comparison
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).
Democratic Rights & Civil Liberties
Freedom status explained
Freedom House classifies Gaza Strip as Not Free with a 2024 aggregate score of 8/100 — basic political rights and civil liberties are widely denied.
Within Freedom House's Middle East region (15 countries), Gaza Strip ranks #14 on the latest aggregate score — the 7th percentile. The region leaders are Israel, Lebanon, Kuwait.
Political Rights vs Civil Liberties
Rating 7 of 7 (1 = best)
Rating 7 of 7 (1 = best)
Political rights and civil liberties are rated in similar territory, a sign that formal political channels and everyday personal freedoms move together in this country.
Twelve-year Freedom House trend
Between 2013 and 2024, Freedom House moved Gaza Strip from Not Free (Not Free, 19/100) to Not Free (Not Free, 8/100).
Indicator trajectory (A–G over 12 years)
Of the 25 Freedom House indicators tracked for Gaza Strip, 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A2 | Free and fair legislative elections | 2/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| A3 | Electoral framework | 2/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| A1 | Free and fair head-of-government elections | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| C1 | Elected officials govern | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| D1 | Free media | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| D2 | Religious expression | 0/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▲ +1 |
| D3 | Academic freedom | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| E1 | Freedom of assembly | 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
1/4
-
B2Opposition can realistically gain power
0/4
-
B3Free political choice without domination
0/4
-
B4Political rights of minorities
1/4
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
1/4
-
D3Academic freedom
0/4
-
D4Free private discussion
2/4
Associational & Organisational Rights
CL
-
E1Freedom of assembly
0/4
-
E2Freedom for NGOs
0/4
-
E3Free trade unions
1/4
Rule of Law
CL
-
F1Independent judiciary
0/4
-
F2Due process in civil and criminal matters
0/4
-
F3Protection from illegitimate force
0/4
-
F4Equal treatment under the law
0/4
Personal Autonomy & Individual Rights
CL
-
G1Freedom of movement
0/4
-
G2Property rights
0/4
-
G3Personal social freedoms
1/4
-
G4Equality of opportunity
0/4
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
Which Freedom House indicator moved most in Gaza Strip?
Indicator A2 (Free and fair legislative elections) changed by -2 points, moving from 2/4 to 0/4 across the available history — the biggest indicator-level movement of the 25 Freedom House sub-scores for Gaza Strip.
How does Gaza Strip rank within its Freedom House region?
Gaza Strip holds position #14 of 15 in the Middle East region on the latest Freedom House aggregate score. The region's top country is Israel (74/100).