Key media freedoms in Hungary
Hungary: Key media freedoms was 0.043 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.043
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
106th
of 175 countries
All-time high
2.46
in 2002
All-time low
-2.54
in 1950
Years of data
237
1789–2025
Key media freedoms in Hungary, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, key media freedoms in Hungary stood at 0.043.
The figure is down 91.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Hungary peaked at 2.46 in 2002 and was at its lowest, -2.54, in 1950.
That places Hungary 106th 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 Hungary, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | -2.05 | — |
| 1790 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1791 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1792 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1793 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1794 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1795 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1796 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1797 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1798 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1799 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1800 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1801 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1802 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1803 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1804 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1805 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1806 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1807 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1808 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1809 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1810 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1811 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1812 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1813 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1814 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1815 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1816 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1817 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1818 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1819 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1820 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1821 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1822 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1823 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1824 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1825 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1826 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1827 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1828 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1829 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1830 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1831 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1832 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1833 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1834 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1835 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1836 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1837 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1838 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1839 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1840 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1841 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1842 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1843 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1844 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1845 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1846 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1847 | -2.05 | -0.0% |
| 1848 | 1.84 | -189.8% |
| 1849 | 1.84 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | -2.09 | -213.5% |
| 1851 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1852 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1853 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1854 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1855 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1856 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1857 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1858 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1859 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1860 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1861 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1862 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1863 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1864 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1865 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1866 | -2.09 | -0.0% |
| 1867 | -0.13 | -93.8% |
| 1868 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1869 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1870 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1871 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1872 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1873 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1874 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1875 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1876 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1877 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1878 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1879 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1880 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1881 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1882 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1883 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1884 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1885 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1886 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1887 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1888 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1889 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1890 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1891 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1892 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1893 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1894 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1895 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1896 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1897 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1898 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1899 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1900 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1901 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.13 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -1.13 | +770.0% |
| 1920 | -0.028 | -97.5% |
| 1921 | -0.028 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.173 | -717.9% |
| 1923 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.173 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | -0.017 | -109.8% |
| 1939 | -0.017 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -0.017 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -0.646 | +3700.0% |
| 1942 | -0.821 | +27.1% |
| 1943 | -0.821 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -1.39 | +69.2% |
| 1945 | -0.857 | -38.3% |
| 1946 | 0.278 | -132.4% |
| 1947 | 0.278 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.278 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | -1.42 | -609.0% |
| 1950 | -2.54 | +79.7% |
| 1951 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -1.79 | -29.8% |
| 1958 | -1.79 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -1.79 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -1.79 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -1.79 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -1.27 | -28.6% |
| 1963 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -1.04 | -18.1% |
| 1969 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -0.709 | -32.1% |
| 1981 | -0.709 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -0.709 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -0.709 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -0.709 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -0.709 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -0.709 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -0.709 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -0.709 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -0.102 | -85.6% |
| 1990 | 2.38 | -2432.4% |
| 1991 | 2.06 | -13.6% |
| 1992 | 2.06 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.06 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2.06 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2.36 | +14.9% |
| 1996 | 2.36 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2.36 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.73 | -26.9% |
| 1999 | 1.73 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.73 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.73 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2.46 | +42.7% |
| 2003 | 2.46 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.46 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 2.46 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.46 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2.46 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2.46 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2.46 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.34 | -45.5% |
| 2011 | 1.08 | -19.3% |
| 2012 | 1.07 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 1.06 | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 1.04 | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 0.485 | -53.3% |
| 2016 | 0.471 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 0.333 | -29.3% |
| 2018 | 0.205 | -38.4% |
| 2019 | 0.15 | -26.8% |
| 2020 | 0.05 | -66.7% |
| 2021 | 0.085 | +70.0% |
| 2022 | 0.139 | +63.5% |
| 2023 | 0.043 | -69.1% |
| 2024 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.043 | +0.0% |
Hungary compared with similar countries
- Hungary's 0.043 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.28, 3% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Hungary's 0.043 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.973, 4% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | -2.05 | -2.05 | -2.05 | 1 |
| 1790s | -2.05 | -2.05 | -2.05 | 10 |
| 1800s | -2.05 | -2.05 | -2.05 | 10 |
| 1810s | -2.05 | -2.05 | -2.05 | 10 |
| 1820s | -2.05 | -2.05 | -2.05 | 10 |
| 1830s | -2.05 | -2.05 | -2.05 | 10 |
| 1840s | -1.27 | -2.05 | 1.84 | 10 |
| 1850s | -2.09 | -2.09 | -2.09 | 10 |
| 1860s | -1.5 | -2.09 | -0.13 | 10 |
| 1870s | -0.13 | -0.13 | -0.13 | 10 |
| 1880s | -0.13 | -0.13 | -0.13 | 10 |
| 1890s | -0.13 | -0.13 | -0.13 | 10 |
| 1900s | -0.13 | -0.13 | -0.13 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.2301 | -1.13 | -0.13 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.1328 | -0.028 | 0.173 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.135 | -0.017 | 0.173 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.5132 | -1.42 | 0.278 | 10 |
| 1950s | -2.32 | -2.54 | -1.79 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.33 | -1.79 | -1.04 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.04 | -1.04 | -1.04 | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.6483 | -0.709 | -0.102 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.11 | 1.73 | 2.38 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.31 | 1.73 | 2.46 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7233 | 0.15 | 1.34 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0672 | 0.043 | 0.139 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hungary
More social development data for Hungary
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 71,332 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,055 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,055 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0075 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 Hungary?
- Key media freedoms in Hungary was 0.043 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Hungary?
- The highest recorded value was 2.46 in 2002.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Hungary?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.54 in 1950.
- How does Hungary rank for key media freedoms?
- Hungary ranks 106th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Hungary?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hungary 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
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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.