What is key media freedoms in Belgium?

Key media freedoms in Belgium was 3.49 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Belgium?

The highest recorded value was 3.49 in 1990.

What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Belgium?

The lowest recorded value was -0.435 in 1942.

How does Belgium rank for key media freedoms?

Belgium ranks 1st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Belgium?

Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Belgium data come from?

The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key media freedoms. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Key media freedoms in Belgium

Name: Key media freedoms in Belgium
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Belgium: Key media freedoms was 3.49 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

3.49

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 175 countries

All-time high

3.49

in 1990

All-time low

-0.435

in 1942

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Key media freedoms in Belgium, 1900–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 3.49 for key media freedoms in 2025. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Belgium peaked at 3.49 in 1990 and was at its lowest, -0.435, in 1942.

Belgium ranks 1st of 175 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	2.22	2.22	2.22	10
1910s	1.32	0.412	2.22	10
1920s	2.22	2.22	2.22	10
1930s	2.22	2.22	2.22	10
1940s	0.959	-0.435	2.32	10
1950s	2.32	2.32	2.32	10
1960s	2.32	2.32	2.32	10
1970s	2.32	2.32	2.32	10
1980s	2.32	2.32	2.32	10
1990s	3.49	3.49	3.49	10
2000s	3.49	3.49	3.49	10
2010s	3.49	3.49	3.49	10
2020s	3.49	3.49	3.49	6

Countries ranked near Belgium

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Belgium

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 186,393 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 113 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.889 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.969 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.896 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.889 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.633 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.794 (2025)

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is key media freedoms in Belgium?: Key media freedoms in Belgium was 3.49 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Belgium?: The highest recorded value was 3.49 in 1990.
What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Belgium?: The lowest recorded value was -0.435 in 1942.
How does Belgium rank for key media freedoms?: Belgium ranks 1st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Belgium?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Belgium data come from?: The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key media freedoms. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Key media freedoms
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 21,793 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.