Key media freedoms in Cuba
Cuba: Key media freedoms was -2.05 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key media freedoms in Cuba, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Cuba recorded -2.05 for key media freedoms in 2025.
That represents a change of down 164.9% on the previous year and up 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Cuba peaked at 1.67 in 1940 and was at its lowest, -2.26, in 1961.
That places Cuba 161st out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 1 |
| 1790s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1800s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1810s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1820s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1830s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1840s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1850s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1860s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1870s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1880s | -2.06 | -2.06 | -2.06 | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.42 | 1.42 | 1.42 | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.42 | 1.42 | 1.42 | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.42 | 1.42 | 1.42 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.35 | 0.71 | 1.42 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.71 | 0.71 | 0.71 | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.743 | -0.115 | 1.67 | 10 |
| 1960s | -2.07 | -2.26 | -0.415 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.26 | -2.26 | -2.26 | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.26 | -2.26 | -2.26 | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.26 | -2.26 | -2.26 | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.26 | -2.26 | -2.26 | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.1 | -2.26 | -1.09 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.83 | -2.05 | -0.773 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
More social development data for Cuba
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 115 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 29,395 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.176 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.074 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.022 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.176 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.054 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.057 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Cuba?
- Key media freedoms in Cuba was -2.05 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 1.67 in 1940.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.26 in 1961.
- How does Cuba rank for key media freedoms?
- Cuba ranks 161st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cuba 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 — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.