Key media freedoms in Iran
Iran: Key media freedoms was -1.49 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-1.49
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
149th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.372
in 1950
All-time low
-2.58
in 1934
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Key media freedoms in Iran, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Iran is -1.49, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Iran peaked at 0.372 in 1950 and was at its lowest, -2.58, in 1934.
Iran ranks 149th of 175 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Key media freedoms in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -2.02 | — |
| 1901 | -2.02 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -2.02 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -2.02 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -2.02 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -2.02 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.135 | -93.3% |
| 1907 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.135 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -1.17 | +763.7% |
| 1922 | -1.17 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -1.17 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -1.17 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -1.17 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -1.37 | +17.7% |
| 1927 | -1.37 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -1.37 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -1.37 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -1.37 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -1.37 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -1.37 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -1.37 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -2.58 | +88.0% |
| 1935 | -2.58 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -2.58 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -2.58 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -2.58 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -2.58 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -2.58 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -2.58 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -0.339 | -86.9% |
| 1943 | -0.339 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -0.339 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -0.339 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -0.339 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -0.339 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -0.44 | +29.8% |
| 1949 | -0.44 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.372 | -184.5% |
| 1951 | 0.372 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.372 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | -0.587 | -257.8% |
| 1954 | -2.27 | +286.0% |
| 1955 | -2.27 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -2.27 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -2.27 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -2.27 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -2.27 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -1.99 | -12.3% |
| 1961 | -1.99 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -1.79 | -9.8% |
| 1963 | -2.04 | +13.7% |
| 1964 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -2.04 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.2 | -40.9% |
| 1979 | -1.03 | -14.2% |
| 1980 | -1.65 | +59.4% |
| 1981 | -2.25 | +36.5% |
| 1982 | -2.25 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -2.25 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -2.25 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -2.25 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -2.25 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -2.25 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -2.25 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -2.06 | -8.6% |
| 1990 | -1.59 | -22.8% |
| 1991 | -1.59 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -1.59 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -1.59 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -1.59 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -1.59 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -1.59 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -1.16 | -27.0% |
| 1998 | -1.32 | +14.3% |
| 1999 | -0.813 | -38.5% |
| 2000 | -0.813 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -1.34 | +65.4% |
| 2002 | -1.34 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -1.34 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -1.34 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -1.53 | +14.1% |
| 2006 | -1.53 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -1.53 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -1.53 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -1.53 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -2.13 | +38.6% |
| 2011 | -2.13 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -2.13 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -2.13 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -1.8 | -15.6% |
| 2015 | -1.8 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -1.36 | -24.5% |
| 2017 | -1.08 | -20.5% |
| 2018 | -1.49 | +37.8% |
| 2019 | -1.49 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -1.49 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -1.15 | -22.5% |
| 2022 | -1.49 | +29.7% |
| 2023 | -1.49 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -1.49 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -1.49 | -0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's -1.49 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.209. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's -1.49 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -0.982, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -1.27 | -2.02 | -0.135 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.135 | -0.135 | -0.135 | 10 |
| 1920s | -1.15 | -1.37 | -0.135 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.1 | -2.58 | -1.37 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.8072 | -2.58 | -0.339 | 10 |
| 1950s | -1.31 | -2.27 | 0.372 | 10 |
| 1960s | -2 | -2.04 | -1.79 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.85 | -2.04 | -1.03 | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.17 | -2.25 | -1.65 | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.44 | -1.59 | -0.813 | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.39 | -1.53 | -0.813 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.75 | -2.13 | -1.08 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.44 | -1.49 | -1.15 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More social development data for Iran
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 770,514 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 157,912 (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 0.0017 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 157,912 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0083 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 Iran?
- Key media freedoms in Iran was -1.49 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 0.372 in 1950.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.58 in 1934.
- How does Iran rank for key media freedoms?
- Iran ranks 149th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.