Key media freedoms in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Key media freedoms was -0.024 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.024
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
108th
of 175 countries
All-time high
2.12
in 1998
All-time low
-1.54
in 1941
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Key media freedoms in Hong Kong, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Hong Kong recorded -0.024 for key media freedoms in 2025.
The figure is down 101.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Hong Kong peaked at 2.12 in 1998 and was at its lowest, -1.54, in 1941.
That places Hong Kong 108th 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.
Key media freedoms in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -0.851 | — |
| 1901 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -0.851 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -1.54 | +80.7% |
| 1942 | -1.54 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -1.54 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -1.54 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -1.54 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -0.683 | -55.6% |
| 1947 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -0.683 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -0.615 | -10.0% |
| 1971 | -0.615 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -0.615 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -0.615 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -0.615 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -0.615 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -0.615 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.288 | -146.8% |
| 1978 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.288 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1.04 | +260.4% |
| 1981 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 2 | +92.5% |
| 1992 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.75 | -12.3% |
| 1998 | 2.12 | +20.9% |
| 1999 | 2.12 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 2.12 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.12 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2.12 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 2.12 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.12 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 2.12 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.12 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2.12 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2.03 | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 1.93 | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 1.93 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.93 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.72 | -11.1% |
| 2013 | 1.72 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.68 | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 1.73 | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 1.73 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.73 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.73 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.368 | -78.7% |
| 2020 | 0.167 | -54.6% |
| 2021 | -0.11 | -165.9% |
| 2022 | -0.11 | -0.0% |
| 2023 | -0.024 | -78.2% |
| 2024 | -0.024 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -0.024 | -0.0% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's -0.024 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.28. (55 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's -0.024 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.3835. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.851 | -0.851 | -0.851 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.851 | -0.851 | -0.851 | 10 |
| 1920s | -0.851 | -0.851 | -0.851 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.851 | -0.851 | -0.851 | 10 |
| 1940s | -1.13 | -1.54 | -0.683 | 10 |
| 1950s | -0.683 | -0.683 | -0.683 | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.683 | -0.683 | -0.683 | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.3441 | -0.615 | 0.288 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.04 | 1.04 | 1.04 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.9 | 1.04 | 2.12 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.09 | 1.93 | 2.12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.63 | 0.368 | 1.93 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.0208 | -0.11 | 0.167 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More social development data for Hong Kong
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 236 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 245 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 245 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -9.23 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Hong Kong?
- Key media freedoms in Hong Kong was -0.024 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 2.12 in 1998.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.54 in 1941.
- How does Hong Kong rank for key media freedoms?
- Hong Kong ranks 108th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 101.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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.