What is key media freedoms in Jamaica?

Key media freedoms in Jamaica was 2.16 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Jamaica?

The highest recorded value was 2.16 in 2006.

What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Jamaica?

The lowest recorded value was -0.357 in 1939.

How does Jamaica rank for key media freedoms?

Jamaica ranks 21st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Jamaica?

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

Where does this Jamaica 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 Jamaica

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

Jamaica: Key media freedoms was 2.16 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

2.16

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

21st

of 175 countries

All-time high

2.16

in 2006

All-time low

-0.357

in 1939

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Key media freedoms in Jamaica, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, key media freedoms in Jamaica stood at 2.16. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Jamaica peaked at 2.16 in 2006 and was at its lowest, -0.357, in 1939.

Jamaica ranks 21st of 175 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

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	0.42	0.42	0.42	10
1910s	0.42	0.42	0.42	10
1920s	0.42	0.42	0.42	10
1930s	0.3147	-0.357	0.42	10
1940s	0.0224	-0.357	0.741	10
1950s	0.741	0.741	0.741	10
1960s	1.24	0.741	1.38	10
1970s	0.657	0.348	1.38	10
1980s	1.09	0.62	1.2	10
1990s	1.2	1.2	1.2	10
2000s	2	1.89	2.16	10
2010s	2.16	2.16	2.16	10
2020s	2.16	2.16	2.16	6

Countries ranked near Jamaica

18 Australia 2.22 compare
19 Germany 2.21 compare
20 Czechia 2.16 compare
22 Poland 2.14 compare
23 Suriname 2.11 compare
24 Barbados 2.06 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Jamaica

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 31 (2022)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 2,642 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.805 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.919 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.879 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.805 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.524 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.679 (2025)

All data for Jamaica →

Frequently asked questions

What is key media freedoms in Jamaica?: Key media freedoms in Jamaica was 2.16 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Jamaica?: The highest recorded value was 2.16 in 2006.
What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Jamaica?: The lowest recorded value was -0.357 in 1939.
How does Jamaica rank for key media freedoms?: Jamaica ranks 21st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Jamaica?: Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Jamaica 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.