Key media freedoms in Myanmar
Myanmar: Key media freedoms was -2.95 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key media freedoms in Myanmar, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, key media freedoms in Myanmar stood at -2.95. That is the lowest value across all 126 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 578.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Myanmar peaked at 1.02 in 2019 and was at its lowest, -2.95, in 2021.
That places Myanmar 173rd out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom 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 | -0.179 | -0.179 | -0.179 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.179 | -0.179 | -0.179 | 10 |
| 1920s | -0.179 | -0.179 | -0.179 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.179 | -0.179 | -0.179 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.4426 | -1.52 | 0.444 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.37 | 0.074 | 0.444 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.65 | -2.08 | 0.074 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.08 | -2.08 | -2.08 | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.08 | -2.08 | -2.08 | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.08 | -2.08 | -2.08 | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.08 | -2.08 | -2.08 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0568 | -2.08 | 1.02 | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.29 | -2.95 | 1.02 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Myanmar
- 170 Turkmenistan -2.72 compare
- 171 North Korea -2.77 compare
- 172 Belarus -2.82 compare
- 174 Eritrea -2.98 compare
- 175 South Sudan -3.02 compare
More social development data for Myanmar
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 1.52 million (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.08 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.026 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.105 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.08 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.041 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.015 (2025)
- Varieties of democracy 0.08 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Myanmar?
- Key media freedoms in Myanmar was -2.95 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Myanmar?
- The highest recorded value was 1.02 in 2019.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Myanmar?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.95 in 2021.
- How does Myanmar rank for key media freedoms?
- Myanmar ranks 173rd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Myanmar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 578.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Myanmar 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.