What is key media freedoms in Malta?

Key media freedoms in Malta was 1.36 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Malta?

The highest recorded value was 2.15 in 2009.

What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Malta?

The lowest recorded value was 0.011 in 1965.

How does Malta rank for key media freedoms?

Malta ranks 46th out of 175 regions with data for 2025.

Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Malta?

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

Where does this Malta 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 Malta

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

Malta: Key media freedoms was 1.36 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

1.36

Change on year

unchanged

Rank

46th

of 175 regions

All-time high

2.15

in 2009

All-time low

0.011

in 1965

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Key media freedoms in Malta, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

Malta recorded 1.36 for key media freedoms in 2025.

That represents a change of down 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Malta peaked at 2.15 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.011, in 1965.

Malta ranks 46th of 175 regions 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.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	1.2	1.2	1.2	10
1910s	1.2	1.2	1.2	10
1920s	1.2	1.2	1.2	10
1930s	1.2	1.2	1.2	10
1940s	1.2	1.2	1.2	10
1950s	1.2	1.2	1.2	10
1960s	0.6055	0.011	1.2	10
1970s	0.011	0.011	0.011	10
1980s	0.6485	0.011	2.14	10
1990s	2.14	2.14	2.14	10
2000s	2.08	1.57	2.15	10
2010s	1.67	1.39	2.15	10
2020s	1.37	1.36	1.39	6

Countries ranked near Malta

43 Ghana 1.49 compare
44 Japan 1.43 compare
45 Cape Verde 1.37 compare
47 Gambia 1.36 compare
48 Haiti 1.33 compare
49 Mongolia 1.32 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Malta

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 8,306 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 11 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.783 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.829 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.902 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.783 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.529 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.621 (2025)

All data for Malta →

Frequently asked questions

What is key media freedoms in Malta?: Key media freedoms in Malta was 1.36 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Malta?: The highest recorded value was 2.15 in 2009.
What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Malta?: The lowest recorded value was 0.011 in 1965.
How does Malta rank for key media freedoms?: Malta ranks 46th out of 175 regions with data for 2025.
Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Malta?: Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malta 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.