Key media freedoms in Netherlands
Netherlands: Key media freedoms was 1.25 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.25
Change on year
up 8.8%
World rank
54th
of 175 countries
All-time high
3.25
in 1977
All-time low
-1.12
in 1941
Years of data
126
1900–2025
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.
Key media freedoms in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.986 | — |
| 1901 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.815 | -17.3% |
| 1914 | 0.815 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.815 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.815 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.815 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.815 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.986 | +21.0% |
| 1920 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.986 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.367 | -62.8% |
| 1941 | -1.12 | -406.3% |
| 1942 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.61 | -154.3% |
| 1946 | 0.784 | +28.5% |
| 1947 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.784 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.17 | +49.1% |
| 1969 | 1.88 | +60.8% |
| 1970 | 2.43 | +29.4% |
| 1971 | 2.43 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 2.43 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2.43 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2.43 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 2.43 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 2.43 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3.25 | +33.8% |
| 1978 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3.25 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.76 | -15.2% |
| 2011 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.76 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.86 | -32.7% |
| 2023 | 1.51 | -18.8% |
| 2024 | 1.15 | -23.6% |
| 2025 | 1.25 | +8.8% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 1.25 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.28, 98% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 1.25 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.973, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 283,935 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 159 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 159 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0157 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 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.