Key media freedoms in Namibia
Namibia: Key media freedoms was 1.31 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key media freedoms in Namibia, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Namibia is 1.31, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Namibia peaked at 1.34 in 2016 and was at its lowest, -2.65, in 1900.
Namibia ranks 50th of 175 countries 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 | -2.65 | -2.65 | -2.65 | 10 |
| 1910s | -2.65 | -2.65 | -2.65 | 10 |
| 1920s | -2.65 | -2.65 | -2.65 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.65 | -2.65 | -2.65 | 10 |
| 1940s | -2.65 | -2.65 | -2.65 | 10 |
| 1950s | -2.65 | -2.65 | -2.65 | 10 |
| 1960s | -2.65 | -2.65 | -2.65 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.65 | -2.65 | -2.65 | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.24 | -1.24 | -1.24 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.02 | 1.02 | 1.02 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.02 | 1.02 | 1.02 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.01 | 0.894 | 1.34 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.03 | 0.894 | 1.31 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More social development data for Namibia
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 5,470 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 685 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.633 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.859 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.87 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.633 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.349 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.519 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Namibia?
- Key media freedoms in Namibia was 1.31 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.34 in 2016.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.65 in 1900.
- How does Namibia rank for key media freedoms?
- Namibia ranks 50th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.