Key media freedoms in Netherlands
Netherlands: Key media freedoms was 1.25 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key media freedoms in Netherlands, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 1.25 for key media freedoms in 2025.
The figure is up 8.8% on the previous year and down 54.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Netherlands peaked at 3.25 in 1977 and was at its lowest, -1.12, in 1941.
That places Netherlands 54th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.986 | 0.986 | 0.986 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.8834 | 0.815 | 0.986 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.986 | 0.986 | 0.986 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.986 | 0.986 | 0.986 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.0383 | -1.12 | 0.784 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.784 | 0.784 | 0.784 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.9321 | 0.784 | 1.88 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.68 | 2.43 | 3.25 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.25 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.76 | 2.76 | 2.76 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.88 | 1.15 | 2.76 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More social development data for Netherlands
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 283,935 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 159 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.832 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.91 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.868 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.832 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.553 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.774 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Netherlands?
- Key media freedoms in Netherlands was 1.25 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 3.25 in 1977.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.12 in 1941.
- How does Netherlands rank for key media freedoms?
- Netherlands ranks 54th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.