Key media freedoms in Estonia
Estonia: Key media freedoms was 3.2 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key media freedoms in Estonia, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Estonia recorded 3.2 for key media freedoms in 2025. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Estonia peaked at 3.2 in 2010 and was at its lowest, -2.55, in 1940.
Estonia ranks 3rd of 175 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.912 | -0.912 | -0.912 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.9151 | -1.58 | -0.459 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.53 | 0.675 | 2.02 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.2938 | -0.603 | 2.02 | 10 |
| 1940s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1950s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1960s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.19 | -2.55 | -1.19 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.67 | 1.65 | 2.86 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.81 | 2.36 | 2.86 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More social development data for Estonia
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 41,299 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 86 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.887 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.969 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.908 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.887 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.621 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.837 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Estonia?
- Key media freedoms in Estonia was 3.2 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2 in 2010.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.55 in 1940.
- How does Estonia rank for key media freedoms?
- Estonia ranks 3rd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Estonia 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
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.