Key media freedoms in India
India: Key media freedoms was -0.258 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.258
Change on year
down 306.4%
World rank
114th
of 175 countries
All-time high
1.77
in 2003
All-time low
-2
in 1975
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Key media freedoms in India, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in India is -0.258, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 306.4% on the previous year and down 313.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in India peaked at 1.77 in 2003 and was at its lowest, -2, in 1975.
India ranks 114th 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 India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -0.629 | — |
| 1901 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -0.629 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -0.603 | -4.1% |
| 1936 | -0.603 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -0.603 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -0.603 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -0.603 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -0.645 | +7.0% |
| 1941 | -0.645 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -0.645 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -0.645 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -0.645 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.388 | -160.2% |
| 1946 | 0.388 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.166 | -57.2% |
| 1948 | 1 | +505.4% |
| 1949 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 1.33 | +32.2% |
| 1951 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.33 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | -0.309 | -123.3% |
| 1975 | -2 | +546.3% |
| 1976 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -0.021 | -98.9% |
| 1978 | 1.76 | -8495.2% |
| 1979 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1.76 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.35 | -23.5% |
| 2000 | 1.35 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.35 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.35 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.77 | +31.4% |
| 2004 | 1.36 | -23.4% |
| 2005 | 1.41 | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 1.41 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.41 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.41 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.41 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.74 | +23.3% |
| 2011 | 1.74 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.64 | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 1.64 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.41 | -14.0% |
| 2015 | 0.121 | -91.4% |
| 2016 | 0.121 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | -0.105 | -186.8% |
| 2018 | -0.105 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -0.249 | +137.1% |
| 2020 | -0.524 | +110.4% |
| 2021 | -0.487 | -7.1% |
| 2022 | -0.36 | -26.1% |
| 2023 | -0.188 | -47.8% |
| 2024 | 0.125 | -166.5% |
| 2025 | -0.258 | -306.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's -0.258 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.292. (46 countries reporting)
- India's -0.258 is below the median for South Asia, which is 1.23. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.629 | -0.629 | -0.629 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.629 | -0.629 | -0.629 | 10 |
| 1920s | -0.629 | -0.629 | -0.629 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.616 | -0.629 | -0.603 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.0273 | -0.645 | 1 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.33 | 1.33 | 1.33 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.33 | 1.33 | 1.33 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4518 | -2 | 1.76 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.76 | 1.76 | 1.76 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.72 | 1.35 | 1.76 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.42 | 1.35 | 1.77 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7943 | -0.249 | 1.74 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.282 | -0.524 | 0.125 | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More social development data for India
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 238,643 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,610 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (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 42,610 (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 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in India?
- Key media freedoms in India was -0.258 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 1.77 in 2003.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was -2 in 1975.
- How does India rank for key media freedoms?
- India ranks 114th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 313.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.