West Bank is not rated by the RSF index; Freedom House classifies it as Not Free with a total score of 22/100.
2023 Press Freedom Scorecard
Overall score and global position
West Bank is not currently rated by Reporters Without Borders. The closest available press-freedom indicator is the V-Dem Freedom of Expression index, which scores West Bank at 0.35 out of 1.0 for 2025 — a comparative signal drawn from the Varieties of Democracy academic dataset. Of the 25 Freedom House indicators, West Bank earns 0 at the maximum 4/4 and 5 at 0/4; its strongest category is Freedom of Expression (6/16) and its weakest is Electoral Process (1/12).
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 West Bank as Not Free with a 2024 aggregate score of 22/100 — basic political rights and civil liberties are widely denied.
Within Freedom House's Middle East region (15 countries), West Bank ranks #8 on the latest aggregate score — the 50th percentile. The region leaders are Israel, Lebanon, Kuwait.
Political Rights vs Civil Liberties
Rating 7 of 7 (1 = best)
Rating 5 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 West Bank from Not Free (Not Free, 30/100) to Not Free (Not Free, 22/100).
Indicator trajectory (A–G over 12 years)
Of the 25 Freedom House indicators tracked for West Bank, 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D4 | Private discussion | 3/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -2 |
| A3 | Electoral framework | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| B2 | Opposition can gain power | 1/4 (2013) | 0/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| E1 | Freedom of assembly | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| E2 | NGO freedom | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| F1 | Independent judiciary | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| F2 | Due process | 2/4 (2013) | 1/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| D2 | Religious expression | 2/4 (2013) | 2/4 (2024) | • 0 |
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
1/4
Political Pluralism & Participation
PR
-
B1Right to organise in political parties
1/4
-
B2Opposition can realistically gain power
0/4
-
B3Free political choice without domination
1/4
-
B4Political rights of minorities
2/4
Functioning of Government
PR
-
C1Elected officials determine government policy
0/4
-
C2Safeguards against corruption
1/4
-
C3Transparency of government
1/4
Freedom of Expression & Belief
CL
-
D1Free and independent media
1/4
-
D2Freedom of religious expression
2/4
-
D3Academic freedom
2/4
-
D4Free private discussion
1/4
Associational & Organisational Rights
CL
-
E1Freedom of assembly
1/4
-
E2Freedom for NGOs
1/4
-
E3Free trade unions
2/4
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
1/4
Personal Autonomy & Individual Rights
CL
-
G1Freedom of movement
1/4
-
G2Property rights
1/4
-
G3Personal social freedoms
2/4
-
G4Equality of opportunity
1/4
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 West Bank?
Indicator D4 (Private discussion) changed by -2 points, moving from 3/4 to 1/4 across the available history — the biggest indicator-level movement of the 25 Freedom House sub-scores for West Bank.
How does West Bank rank within its Freedom House region?
West Bank holds position #8 of 15 in the Middle East region on the latest Freedom House aggregate score. The region's top country is Israel (74/100).