Key media freedoms in Italy
Italy: Key media freedoms was 0.599 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.599
Change on year
down 33.7%
World rank
84th
of 175 countries
All-time high
2.86
in 2017
All-time low
-2.43
in 1925
Years of data
164
1862–2025
Key media freedoms in Italy, 1862–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Italy recorded 0.599 for key media freedoms in 2025.
The figure is down 33.7% on the previous year and down 76.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Italy peaked at 2.86 in 2017 and was at its lowest, -2.43, in 1925.
That places Italy 84th 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1862 | 0.411 | — |
| 1863 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.411 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.423 | +2.9% |
| 1914 | 0.245 | -42.1% |
| 1915 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.572 | +133.5% |
| 1920 | 0.572 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.572 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.572 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.287 | -49.8% |
| 1924 | 0.02 | -93.0% |
| 1925 | -2.43 | -12265.0% |
| 1926 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -2.43 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.411 | -116.9% |
| 1947 | 1 | +144.3% |
| 1948 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1.07 | +6.8% |
| 1964 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1.07 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.43 | +33.5% |
| 1971 | 1.43 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1.43 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.43 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.43 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.43 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1.43 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1.43 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1.43 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1.43 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 2.4 | +67.8% |
| 1981 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 2.4 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.2 | -8.5% |
| 2002 | 1.91 | -12.8% |
| 2003 | 1.91 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.91 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.91 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.34 | +22.1% |
| 2007 | 2.53 | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 1.77 | -30.0% |
| 2009 | 1.77 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.77 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.89 | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 2.51 | +33.0% |
| 2013 | 2.56 | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 2.56 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.56 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.56 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.86 | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 2.86 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.86 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.86 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.86 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.86 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.966 | -66.2% |
| 2024 | 0.903 | -6.5% |
| 2025 | 0.599 | -33.7% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 0.599 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.28, 47% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Italy's 0.599 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.973, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 0.411 | 0.411 | 0.411 | 8 |
| 1870s | 0.411 | 0.411 | 0.411 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.411 | 0.411 | 0.411 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.411 | 0.411 | 0.411 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.411 | 0.411 | 0.411 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.3453 | 0.245 | 0.572 | 10 |
| 1920s | -1.01 | -2.43 | 0.572 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.43 | -2.43 | -2.43 | 10 |
| 1940s | -1.12 | -2.43 | 1 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.05 | 1 | 1.07 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.43 | 1.43 | 1.43 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.07 | 1.77 | 2.53 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.5 | 1.77 | 2.86 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.84 | 0.599 | 2.86 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 81 Zambia 0.665 compare
- 82 Ecuador 0.653 compare
- 83 Bangladesh 0.614 compare
- 85 Bolivia 0.595 compare
- 86 Madagascar 0.589 compare
- 87 Seychelles 0.575 compare
More social development data for Italy
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 192,914 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 266 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 100 % 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 266 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0033 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 Italy?
- Key media freedoms in Italy was 0.599 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 2.86 in 2017.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.43 in 1925.
- How does Italy rank for key media freedoms?
- Italy ranks 84th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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 — 164 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.