Laos vs Vietnam: Key media freedoms
Laos
-1.48
in 2025
Vietnam
-1.48
in 2025
Laos rank
148th
Vietnam rank
147th
Key media freedoms over time
- Laos
- Vietnam
How they compare
Vietnam currently reports -1.48 against -1.48 in Laos, a difference of 0.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 50 shared years of data; in 1976 it was Vietnam ahead.
Laos ranks 148th and Vietnam ranks 147th of 175 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, Laos averaged higher in 1 and Vietnam in 5.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Laos | Vietnam | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -2.25 | -1.26 | 0.994 | Vietnam |
| 1980s | -2.25 | -1.21 | 1.04 | Vietnam |
| 1990s | -2.25 | -1.03 | 1.23 | Vietnam |
| 2000s | -2.25 | -1.03 | 1.23 | Vietnam |
| 2010s | -2.38 | -1.18 | 1.2 | Vietnam |
| 2020s | -1.48 | -1.49 | 0.0043 | Laos |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher key media freedoms, Laos or Vietnam?
- Vietnam, at -1.48 against -1.48 in Laos as of 2025.
- What is the difference in key media freedoms between Laos and Vietnam?
- 0, with Vietnam ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Laos and Vietnam?
- 50 years are reported by both, from 1976 to 2025.
- How do Laos and Vietnam rank globally for key media freedoms?
- Laos ranks 148th and Vietnam ranks 147th of 175 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Key media freedoms. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which the government directly or indirectly attempts to censor political content in print and broadcast media, through formal restrictions or indirect pressures such as financial control, licensing, or access to distribution channels.