Saudi Arabia vs Somalia: Key media freedoms
Saudi Arabia
-1.32
in 2025
Somalia
-1.2
in 2025
Saudi Arabia rank
145th
Somalia rank
143rd
Key media freedoms over time
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
How they compare
Somalia currently reports -1.2 against -1.32 in Saudi Arabia, a difference of 0.12.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 94 shared years of data; in 1932 it was Somalia ahead.
Saudi Arabia ranks 145th and Somalia ranks 143rd of 175 countries.
Across the 10 decades both report, Saudi Arabia averaged higher in 1 and Somalia in 9.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Saudi Arabia | Somalia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | -2.35 | 0.195 | 2.55 | Somalia |
| 1940s | -2.35 | -0.8435 | 1.51 | Somalia |
| 1950s | -1.94 | -0.425 | 1.52 | Somalia |
| 1960s | -1.67 | 1.51 | 3.18 | Somalia |
| 1970s | -2.01 | -2.29 | 0.2765 | Saudi Arabia |
| 1980s | -2.36 | -1.91 | 0.4478 | Somalia |
| 1990s | -2.36 | -1.44 | 0.9269 | Somalia |
| 2000s | -2.29 | -1.09 | 1.2 | Somalia |
| 2010s | -2.11 | -0.8889 | 1.22 | Somalia |
| 2020s | -1.64 | -1.27 | 0.3723 | Somalia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher key media freedoms, Saudi Arabia or Somalia?
- Somalia, at -1.2 against -1.32 in Saudi Arabia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in key media freedoms between Saudi Arabia and Somalia?
- 0.12, with Somalia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and Somalia?
- 94 years are reported by both, from 1932 to 2025.
- How do Saudi Arabia and Somalia rank globally for key media freedoms?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 145th and Somalia ranks 143rd 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.