What is key media freedoms in Costa Rica?

Key media freedoms in Costa Rica was 0.934 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Costa Rica?

The highest recorded value was 2.6 in 1950.

What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Costa Rica?

The lowest recorded value was -0.973 in 1948.

How does Costa Rica rank for key media freedoms?

Costa Rica ranks 67th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Costa Rica?

Over the last ten years it is down 49.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica

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

Costa Rica: Key media freedoms was 0.934 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

0.934

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

67th

of 175 countries

All-time high

2.6

in 1950

All-time low

-0.973

in 1948

Years of data

146

1880–2025

Key media freedoms in Costa Rica, 1880–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Costa Rica is 0.934, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 49.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Costa Rica peaked at 2.6 in 1950 and was at its lowest, -0.973, in 1948.

That places Costa Rica 67th 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 Costa Rica, year by year

Annual values for Key media freedoms in Costa Rica, 1880 to 2025.
Year	Value	Change
1880	0.388	—
1881	0.388	+0.0%
1882	0.388	+0.0%
1883	0.388	+0.0%
1884	0.388	+0.0%
1885	0.388	+0.0%
1886	0.388	+0.0%
1887	0.388	+0.0%
1888	0.388	+0.0%
1889	0.388	+0.0%
1890	0.388	+0.0%
1891	0.388	+0.0%
1892	0.388	+0.0%
1893	0.388	+0.0%
1894	0.388	+0.0%
1895	0.388	+0.0%
1896	0.388	+0.0%
1897	0.388	+0.0%
1898	0.388	+0.0%
1899	0.388	+0.0%
1900	0.388	+0.0%
1901	0.388	+0.0%
1902	0.388	+0.0%
1903	0.388	+0.0%
1904	0.388	+0.0%
1905	0.388	+0.0%
1906	0.388	+0.0%
1907	0.388	+0.0%
1908	0.388	+0.0%
1909	0.388	+0.0%
1910	0.388	+0.0%
1911	0.388	+0.0%
1912	0.388	+0.0%
1913	0.388	+0.0%
1914	0.388	+0.0%
1915	0.388	+0.0%
1916	0.388	+0.0%
1917	-0.438	-212.9%
1918	-0.438	-0.0%
1919	-0.438	-0.0%
1920	-0.102	-76.7%
1921	-0.102	-0.0%
1922	-0.102	-0.0%
1923	-0.102	-0.0%
1924	-0.102	-0.0%
1925	-0.102	-0.0%
1926	-0.102	-0.0%
1927	-0.102	-0.0%
1928	-0.102	-0.0%
1929	-0.102	-0.0%
1930	-0.102	-0.0%
1931	-0.102	-0.0%
1932	-0.102	-0.0%
1933	-0.102	-0.0%
1934	-0.102	-0.0%
1935	-0.102	-0.0%
1936	-0.102	-0.0%
1937	-0.102	-0.0%
1938	-0.102	-0.0%
1939	-0.102	-0.0%
1940	-0.31	+203.9%
1941	-0.31	-0.0%
1942	-0.31	-0.0%
1943	-0.31	-0.0%
1944	-0.31	-0.0%
1945	-0.31	-0.0%
1946	-0.31	-0.0%
1947	-0.31	-0.0%
1948	-0.973	+213.9%
1949	-0.973	-0.0%
1950	2.6	-367.3%
1951	2.6	+0.0%
1952	2.6	+0.0%
1953	2.6	+0.0%
1954	2.6	+0.0%
1955	2.6	+0.0%
1956	2.6	+0.0%
1957	2.6	+0.0%
1958	2.6	+0.0%
1959	2.6	+0.0%
1960	2.6	+0.0%
1961	2.6	+0.0%
1962	2.6	+0.0%
1963	2.6	+0.0%
1964	2.6	+0.0%
1965	2.6	+0.0%
1966	2.6	+0.0%
1967	2.6	+0.0%
1968	2.6	+0.0%
1969	2.6	+0.0%
1970	2.6	+0.0%
1971	2.6	+0.0%
1972	2.6	+0.0%
1973	2.6	+0.0%
1974	2.6	+0.0%
1975	2.6	+0.0%
1976	2.6	+0.0%
1977	2.6	+0.0%
1978	2.6	+0.0%
1979	2.6	+0.0%
1980	2.6	+0.0%
1981	2.6	+0.0%
1982	2.6	+0.0%
1983	2.6	+0.0%
1984	2.6	+0.0%
1985	2.6	+0.0%
1986	2.6	+0.0%
1987	2.6	+0.0%
1988	2.6	+0.0%
1989	2.6	+0.0%
1990	2.6	+0.0%
1991	2.6	+0.0%
1992	2.6	+0.0%
1993	2.6	+0.0%
1994	2.6	+0.0%
1995	2.6	+0.0%
1996	2.6	+0.0%
1997	2.6	+0.0%
1998	2.6	+0.0%
1999	2.6	+0.0%
2000	2.6	+0.0%
2001	2.6	+0.0%
2002	2.6	+0.0%
2003	2.6	+0.0%
2004	2.6	+0.0%
2005	2.6	+0.0%
2006	2.6	+0.0%
2007	2.6	+0.0%
2008	2.6	+0.0%
2009	2.6	+0.0%
2010	2.6	+0.0%
2011	2.6	+0.0%
2012	2.42	-7.0%
2013	2.37	-2.3%
2014	1.83	-22.5%
2015	1.83	+0.0%
2016	2.17	+18.4%
2017	2.02	-7.0%
2018	2.02	+0.0%
2019	2.23	+10.7%
2020	1.99	-11.0%
2021	1.99	+0.0%
2022	1.27	-35.9%
2023	0.934	-26.7%
2024	0.934	+0.0%
2025	0.934	+0.0%

Costa Rica compared with similar countries

Costa Rica's 0.934 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.28, 73% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Costa Rica's 0.934 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.25, 75% of the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1880s	0.388	0.388	0.388	10
1890s	0.388	0.388	0.388	10
1900s	0.388	0.388	0.388	10
1910s	0.1402	-0.438	0.388	10
1920s	-0.102	-0.102	-0.102	10
1930s	-0.102	-0.102	-0.102	10
1940s	-0.4426	-0.973	-0.31	10
1950s	2.6	2.6	2.6	10
1960s	2.6	2.6	2.6	10
1970s	2.6	2.6	2.6	10
1980s	2.6	2.6	2.6	10
1990s	2.6	2.6	2.6	10
2000s	2.6	2.6	2.6	10
2010s	2.21	1.83	2.6	10
2020s	1.34	0.934	1.99	6

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Costa Rica

Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 36,395 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 367 (2025)
Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 367 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0071 units per person (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is key media freedoms in Costa Rica?: Key media freedoms in Costa Rica was 0.934 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Costa Rica?: The highest recorded value was 2.6 in 1950.
What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Costa Rica?: The lowest recorded value was -0.973 in 1948.
How does Costa Rica rank for key media freedoms?: Costa Rica ranks 67th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Costa Rica?: Over the last ten years it is down 49.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Costa Rica 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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Key media freedoms in Costa Rica. Statizoid, drawing on V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 November 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/key-media-freedoms/costa-rica/

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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: 30 October 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.