China vs Saudi Arabia: Civil liberties rating
China
6
in 2025
Saudi Arabia
6
in 2025
China rank
16th
Saudi Arabia rank
16th
Civil liberties rating over time
- China
- Saudi Arabia
How they compare
China currently reports 6 against 6 in Saudi Arabia, a difference of 0.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 53 shared years of data; in 1972 it was China ahead.
China ranks 16th and Saudi Arabia ranks 16th of 199 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 1 and Saudi Arabia in 4.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Saudi Arabia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.62 | 6 | 0.625 | China |
| 1980s | 6.11 | 6.67 | 0.5556 | Saudi Arabia |
| 1990s | 6.8 | 6.8 | 0 | — |
| 2000s | 6 | 6.5 | 0.5 | Saudi Arabia |
| 2010s | 6 | 6.9 | 0.9 | Saudi Arabia |
| 2020s | 6 | 6.67 | 0.6667 | Saudi Arabia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher civil liberties rating, China or Saudi Arabia?
- China, at 6 against 6 in Saudi Arabia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in civil liberties rating between China and Saudi Arabia?
- 0, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Saudi Arabia?
- 53 years are reported by both, from 1972 to 2025.
- How do China and Saudi Arabia rank globally for civil liberties rating?
- China ranks 16th and Saudi Arabia ranks 16th of 199 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Civil liberties rating. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Identifies the extent of freedom of expression and association, the rule of law, and personal autonomy. Lower ratings indicate more liberties.