Key media freedoms in Iraq
Iraq: Key media freedoms was -0.159 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.159
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
111th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.794
in 2004
All-time low
-2.23
in 1991
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Key media freedoms in Iraq, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iraq recorded -0.159 for key media freedoms in 2025.
The figure is down 136.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Iraq peaked at 0.794 in 2004 and was at its lowest, -2.23, in 1991.
Iraq ranks 111th 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -1.89 | — |
| 1901 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -1.18 | -37.4% |
| 1909 | -0.28 | -76.3% |
| 1910 | -0.28 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.28 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.28 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -1.21 | +332.9% |
| 1914 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.61 | -49.7% |
| 1920 | 0.476 | -178.0% |
| 1921 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.476 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.252 | -47.1% |
| 1932 | 0.312 | +23.8% |
| 1933 | 0.312 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.312 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.312 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.312 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.312 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.312 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.206 | -34.0% |
| 1940 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1941 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.425 | +106.3% |
| 1951 | 0.425 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.425 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.425 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.425 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.425 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.425 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.425 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.646 | +52.0% |
| 1959 | 0.021 | -96.7% |
| 1960 | 0.021 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | -0.41 | -2052.4% |
| 1962 | -0.41 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -1.42 | +247.3% |
| 1964 | -1.42 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -1.42 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -1.04 | -26.8% |
| 1967 | -0.844 | -19.1% |
| 1968 | -1.15 | +36.0% |
| 1969 | -1.44 | +25.4% |
| 1970 | -1.77 | +22.6% |
| 1971 | -1.77 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -1.77 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -1.77 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -1.77 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -1.77 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -1.77 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -1.77 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.77 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -1.77 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -2.22 | +25.9% |
| 1981 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.79 | -19.6% |
| 1990 | -1.79 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | -2.23 | +24.8% |
| 1992 | -2.23 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -2.23 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -2.23 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -1.81 | -18.7% |
| 1996 | -2.22 | +22.3% |
| 1997 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.149 | -106.7% |
| 2004 | 0.794 | +432.9% |
| 2005 | 0.794 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.794 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.794 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.794 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.658 | -17.1% |
| 2010 | 0.63 | -4.3% |
| 2011 | 0.432 | -31.4% |
| 2012 | 0.432 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.432 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.432 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.432 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.052 | -88.0% |
| 2017 | 0.174 | +234.6% |
| 2018 | 0.063 | -63.8% |
| 2019 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.063 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | -0.037 | -158.7% |
| 2022 | 0.049 | -232.4% |
| 2023 | -0.159 | -424.5% |
| 2024 | -0.159 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -0.159 | -0.0% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's -0.159 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.209. (48 countries reporting)
- Iraq's -0.159 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -0.982, 16% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -1.66 | -1.89 | -0.28 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.8722 | -1.21 | -0.28 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.476 | 0.476 | 0.476 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.3118 | 0.206 | 0.476 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.206 | 0.206 | 0.206 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.4067 | 0.021 | 0.646 | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.9546 | -1.44 | 0.021 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.77 | -1.77 | -1.77 | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.18 | -2.22 | -1.79 | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.14 | -2.23 | -1.79 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.188 | -2.22 | 0.794 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3142 | 0.052 | 0.63 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.067 | -0.159 | 0.063 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More social development data for Iraq
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 322,345 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 270,671 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 5 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 5 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0058 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 270,671 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0069 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 Iraq?
- Key media freedoms in Iraq was -0.159 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 0.794 in 2004.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.23 in 1991.
- How does Iraq rank for key media freedoms?
- Iraq ranks 111th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 136.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.