Key media freedoms in Nepal
Nepal: Key media freedoms was 1.56 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.56
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
40th
of 175 countries
All-time high
2.76
in 2008
All-time low
-1.67
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Key media freedoms in Nepal, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Nepal is 1.56, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Nepal peaked at 2.76 in 2008 and was at its lowest, -1.67, in 1900.
That places Nepal 40th out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Key media freedoms in Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -1.67 | — |
| 1901 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -1.67 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -0.091 | -94.6% |
| 1951 | 0.113 | -224.2% |
| 1952 | 0.113 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.113 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.113 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.113 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.113 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.113 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.113 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.113 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | -0.14 | -223.9% |
| 1961 | -1.12 | +702.9% |
| 1962 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 1.46 | -230.1% |
| 1991 | 2.15 | +47.2% |
| 1992 | 2.15 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.15 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2.15 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2.15 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 2.15 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2.15 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 2.15 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2.15 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.96 | -8.7% |
| 2001 | 2.18 | +11.0% |
| 2002 | 1.29 | -40.7% |
| 2003 | 0.499 | -61.4% |
| 2004 | 0.499 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.499 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.918 | +84.0% |
| 2007 | 2.62 | +185.4% |
| 2008 | 2.76 | +5.4% |
| 2009 | 2.5 | -9.6% |
| 2010 | 2.45 | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 2.45 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.26 | -7.9% |
| 2013 | 1.83 | -19.2% |
| 2014 | 1.83 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.83 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.25 | +23.2% |
| 2017 | 2.25 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.52 | -32.6% |
| 2019 | 1.42 | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 1.37 | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 1.36 | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 1.47 | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 1.37 | -6.6% |
| 2024 | 1.56 | +13.9% |
| 2025 | 1.56 | +0.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 1.56 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.292, 5.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 1.56 is above the median for South Asia, which is 1.23, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -1.67 | -1.67 | -1.67 | 10 |
| 1910s | -1.67 | -1.67 | -1.67 | 10 |
| 1920s | -1.67 | -1.67 | -1.67 | 10 |
| 1930s | -1.67 | -1.67 | -1.67 | 10 |
| 1940s | -1.67 | -1.67 | -1.67 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.0926 | -0.091 | 0.113 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.03 | -1.12 | -0.14 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.12 | -1.12 | -1.12 | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.12 | -1.12 | -1.12 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.08 | 1.46 | 2.15 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.57 | 0.499 | 2.76 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.01 | 1.42 | 2.45 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.45 | 1.36 | 1.56 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More social development data for Nepal
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 19,613 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,019 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 3 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 3 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,019 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0007 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 Nepal?
- Key media freedoms in Nepal was 1.56 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 2.76 in 2008.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.67 in 1900.
- How does Nepal rank for key media freedoms?
- Nepal ranks 40th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.