Key media freedoms in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Key media freedoms was -0.42 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.42
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
121st
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.543
in 1998
All-time low
-2.43
in 1920
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Key media freedoms in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded -0.42 for key media freedoms in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 0.543 in 1998 and was at its lowest, -2.43, in 1920.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 121st out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Key media freedoms in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -2.32 | — |
| 1901 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -2.32 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -2.43 | +4.5% |
| 1921 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -1.66 | -31.8% |
| 1959 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -0.366 | -77.9% |
| 1961 | -0.366 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -0.366 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -0.366 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -0.366 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -0.366 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -1.96 | +436.1% |
| 1967 | -1.96 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -1.96 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -1.96 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -1.96 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -2.15 | +9.5% |
| 1972 | -2.15 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -2.15 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -2.15 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -2.15 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -2.15 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -2.15 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -2.15 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -2.15 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -1.26 | -41.2% |
| 1981 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -0.891 | -29.5% |
| 1991 | -0.401 | -55.0% |
| 1992 | -0.401 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.401 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.401 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.401 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.401 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -0.581 | +44.9% |
| 1998 | 0.543 | -193.5% |
| 1999 | 0.543 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.368 | -167.8% |
| 2001 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -0.368 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -0.431 | +17.1% |
| 2018 | -0.431 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -0.435 | +0.9% |
| 2020 | -0.374 | -14.0% |
| 2021 | -0.374 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -0.374 | -0.0% |
| 2023 | -0.374 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -0.42 | +12.3% |
| 2025 | -0.42 | -0.0% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -0.42 is above the median for low income countries, which is -0.42, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's -0.42 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.123. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -2.32 | -2.32 | -2.32 | 10 |
| 1910s | -2.32 | -2.32 | -2.32 | 10 |
| 1920s | -2.43 | -2.43 | -2.43 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.43 | -2.43 | -2.43 | 10 |
| 1940s | -2.43 | -2.43 | -2.43 | 10 |
| 1950s | -2.27 | -2.43 | -1.66 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1 | -1.96 | -0.366 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.13 | -2.15 | -1.96 | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.26 | -1.26 | -1.26 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.2792 | -0.891 | 0.543 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.368 | -0.368 | -0.368 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.3873 | -0.435 | -0.368 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.3893 | -0.42 | -0.374 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 118 Mozambique -0.346 compare
- 119 Kyrgyzstan -0.388 compare
- 120 Ethiopia -0.394 compare
- 122 Moldova -0.434 compare
- 123 Albania -0.454 compare
- 124 Burkina Faso -0.468 compare
More social development data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 503,732 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.18 million (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0104 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.18 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0045 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Key media freedoms in Democratic Republic of Congo was -0.42 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 0.543 in 1998.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.43 in 1920.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for key media freedoms?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 121st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.
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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.