What is key media freedoms in Ireland?

Key media freedoms in Ireland was 3.04 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Ireland?

The highest recorded value was 3.04 in 2020.

What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Ireland?

The lowest recorded value was -0.017 in 1919.

How does Ireland rank for key media freedoms?

Ireland ranks 6th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Ireland?

Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Ireland 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.

Key media freedoms in Ireland

Name: Key media freedoms in Ireland
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Ireland: Key media freedoms was 3.04 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

3.04

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

6th

of 175 countries

All-time high

3.04

in 2020

All-time low

-0.017

in 1919

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Key media freedoms in Ireland, 1900–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2025, key media freedoms in Ireland stood at 3.04. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Ireland peaked at 3.04 in 2020 and was at its lowest, -0.017, in 1919.

That places Ireland 6th out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	1.94	1.94	1.94	10
1910s	1.37	-0.017	1.94	10
1920s	0.3843	-0.017	0.619	10
1930s	0.6131	0.56	0.619	10
1940s	0.5872	0.56	0.628	10
1950s	0.6796	0.628	0.714	10
1960s	0.7729	0.714	0.853	10
1970s	0.853	0.853	0.853	10
1980s	1.12	0.853	1.39	10
1990s	2.58	2.31	2.99	10
2000s	2.99	2.99	2.99	10
2010s	2.93	2.37	2.99	10
2020s	3.04	3.04	3.04	6

Countries ranked near Ireland

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Ireland

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 137,869 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 69 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.887 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.97 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.912 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.887 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.619 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.822 (2025)

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is key media freedoms in Ireland?: Key media freedoms in Ireland was 3.04 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Ireland?: The highest recorded value was 3.04 in 2020.
What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Ireland?: The lowest recorded value was -0.017 in 1919.
How does Ireland rank for key media freedoms?: Ireland ranks 6th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Ireland?: Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland 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

Indicator: Key media freedoms
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 21,793 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.