Key media freedoms in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Key media freedoms was -0.394 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key media freedoms in Ethiopia, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Ethiopia is -0.394, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 68.6% on the previous year and up 66.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Ethiopia peaked at 1.72 in 2019 and was at its lowest, -2.4, in 1976.
That places Ethiopia 120th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -1.14 | -1.14 | -1.14 | 10 |
| 1910s | -1.14 | -1.14 | -1.14 | 10 |
| 1920s | -1.14 | -1.14 | -1.14 | 10 |
| 1930s | -1.14 | -1.14 | -1.14 | 10 |
| 1940s | -1.14 | -1.14 | -1.14 | 10 |
| 1950s | -1.14 | -1.14 | -1.14 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.14 | -1.14 | -1.14 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.8 | -2.4 | -1.14 | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.4 | -2.4 | -2.4 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.6805 | -2.4 | -0.218 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.792 | -1.19 | -0.526 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.807 | -1.19 | 1.72 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.3213 | -1.25 | 1.6 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 117 Mali -0.315 compare
- 118 Mozambique -0.346 compare
- 119 Kyrgyzstan -0.388 compare
- 121 Democratic Republic of Congo -0.42 compare
- 122 Moldova -0.434 compare
- 123 Albania -0.454 compare
More social development data for Ethiopia
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 1.01 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 164,215 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.257 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.285 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.342 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.257 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.128 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Ethiopia?
- Key media freedoms in Ethiopia was -0.394 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.72 in 2019.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.4 in 1976.
- How does Ethiopia rank for key media freedoms?
- Ethiopia ranks 120th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.