Key media freedoms in Eswatini
Eswatini: Key media freedoms was -1.78 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key media freedoms in Eswatini, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Eswatini is -1.78, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 126 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 89.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Eswatini peaked at -0.297 in 1900 and was at its lowest, -1.78, in 2021.
Eswatini ranks 153rd of 175 countries on this measure, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.297 | -0.297 | -0.297 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.297 | -0.297 | -0.297 | 10 |
| 1920s | -0.297 | -0.297 | -0.297 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.297 | -0.297 | -0.297 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.297 | -0.297 | -0.297 | 10 |
| 1950s | -0.297 | -0.297 | -0.297 | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.3672 | -0.999 | -0.297 | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.9808 | -0.999 | -0.973 | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.973 | -0.973 | -0.973 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.973 | -0.973 | -0.973 | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.01 | -1.17 | -0.973 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.06 | -1.19 | -0.943 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.68 | -1.78 | -1.19 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More social development data for Eswatini
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 1,414 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 220 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.128 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.113 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.023 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.128 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.11 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.097 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Eswatini?
- Key media freedoms in Eswatini was -1.78 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was -0.297 in 1900.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.78 in 2021.
- How does Eswatini rank for key media freedoms?
- Eswatini ranks 153rd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is down 89.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.