Key media freedoms in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan: Key media freedoms was -0.388 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.388
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
119th
of 175 countries
All-time high
1.02
in 2012
All-time low
-2.55
in 1918
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Key media freedoms in Kyrgyzstan, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, key media freedoms in Kyrgyzstan stood at -0.388.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 147.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Kyrgyzstan peaked at 1.02 in 2012 and was at its lowest, -2.55, in 1918.
That places Kyrgyzstan 119th 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 Kyrgyzstan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -0.912 | — |
| 1901 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -1.58 | +73.2% |
| 1918 | -2.55 | +61.5% |
| 1919 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -1.42 | -44.4% |
| 1988 | -1.42 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.19 | -15.9% |
| 1990 | -0.068 | -94.3% |
| 1991 | 0.46 | -776.5% |
| 1992 | 0.669 | +45.4% |
| 1993 | 0.515 | -23.0% |
| 1994 | 0.181 | -64.9% |
| 1995 | 0.181 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | -0.203 | -212.2% |
| 1997 | -0.203 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -0.203 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -0.203 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -1.07 | +425.1% |
| 2001 | -1.07 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -0.915 | -14.2% |
| 2003 | -0.915 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.915 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.247 | -73.0% |
| 2006 | -0.175 | -29.1% |
| 2007 | -0.395 | +125.7% |
| 2008 | -0.556 | +40.8% |
| 2009 | -0.614 | +10.4% |
| 2010 | 0.209 | -134.0% |
| 2011 | 0.878 | +320.1% |
| 2012 | 1.02 | +16.7% |
| 2013 | 0.841 | -18.0% |
| 2014 | 0.667 | -20.7% |
| 2015 | 0.814 | +22.0% |
| 2016 | 0.814 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.793 | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 0.83 | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 0.578 | -30.4% |
| 2020 | 0.441 | -23.7% |
| 2021 | 0.466 | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 0.013 | -97.2% |
| 2023 | -0.524 | -4130.8% |
| 2024 | -0.388 | -26.0% |
| 2025 | -0.388 | -0.0% |
Kyrgyzstan compared with similar countries
- Kyrgyzstan's -0.388 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.292. (46 countries reporting)
- Kyrgyzstan's -0.388 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.973. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.912 | -0.912 | -0.912 | 10 |
| 1910s | -1.31 | -2.55 | -0.912 | 10 |
| 1920s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1940s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1950s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1960s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.19 | -2.55 | -1.19 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1126 | -0.203 | 0.669 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.6864 | -1.07 | -0.175 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7449 | 0.209 | 1.02 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.0633 | -0.524 | 0.466 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kyrgyzstan
- 116 Central African Republic -0.307 compare
- 117 Mali -0.315 compare
- 118 Mozambique -0.346 compare
- 120 Ethiopia -0.394 compare
- 121 Democratic Republic of Congo -0.42 compare
- 122 Moldova -0.434 compare
More social development data for Kyrgyzstan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,150 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,337 (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 0.0005 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,337 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0002 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 Kyrgyzstan?
- Key media freedoms in Kyrgyzstan was -0.388 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Kyrgyzstan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.02 in 2012.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Kyrgyzstan?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.55 in 1918.
- How does Kyrgyzstan rank for key media freedoms?
- Kyrgyzstan ranks 119th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Kyrgyzstan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 147.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kyrgyzstan 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.