Key media freedoms in Gabon
Gabon: Key media freedoms was 0.07 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.07
Change on year
up 155.1%
World rank
104th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.51
in 2002
All-time low
-2.9
in 1910
Years of data
116
1910–2025
Key media freedoms in Gabon, 1910–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Gabon recorded 0.07 for key media freedoms in 2025.
That represents a change of up 155.1% on the previous year and down 81.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Gabon peaked at 0.51 in 2002 and was at its lowest, -2.9, in 1910.
Gabon ranks 104th of 175 countries on this measure, 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 Gabon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | -2.9 | — |
| 1911 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -2.9 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -2.28 | -21.2% |
| 1947 | -2.28 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -2.28 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -2.28 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -1.66 | -27.4% |
| 1951 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -1.66 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -0.997 | -39.8% |
| 1971 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -0.997 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -0.853 | -14.4% |
| 1991 | -0.085 | -90.0% |
| 1992 | -0.085 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -0.085 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -0.085 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -0.085 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.085 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.164 | -292.9% |
| 1998 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.164 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.51 | +211.0% |
| 2003 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.51 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.354 | -30.6% |
| 2013 | 0.387 | +9.3% |
| 2014 | 0.387 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.387 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.387 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.14 | -63.8% |
| 2018 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | -0.471 | -436.4% |
| 2023 | -0.127 | -73.0% |
| 2024 | -0.127 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.07 | -155.1% |
Gabon compared with similar countries
- Gabon's 0.07 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.209, 33% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Gabon's 0.07 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.123, 57% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | -2.9 | -2.9 | -2.9 | 10 |
| 1920s | -2.9 | -2.9 | -2.9 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.9 | -2.9 | -2.9 | 10 |
| 1940s | -2.65 | -2.9 | -2.28 | 10 |
| 1950s | -1.66 | -1.66 | -1.66 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.66 | -1.66 | -1.66 | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.997 | -0.997 | -0.997 | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.997 | -0.997 | -0.997 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.0871 | -0.853 | 0.164 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4408 | 0.164 | 0.51 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3342 | 0.14 | 0.51 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.0625 | -0.471 | 0.14 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Gabon
More social development data for Gabon
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 166 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 984 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0004 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 984 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Gabon?
- Key media freedoms in Gabon was 0.07 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Gabon?
- The highest recorded value was 0.51 in 2002.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Gabon?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.9 in 1910.
- How does Gabon rank for key media freedoms?
- Gabon ranks 104th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Gabon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gabon 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 — 116 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.