Key media freedoms in Russia
Russia: Key media freedoms was -2.22 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-2.22
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
165th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.451
in 1992
All-time low
-2.55
in 1918
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Key media freedoms in Russia, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Russia recorded -2.22 for key media freedoms in 2025.
The figure is down 63.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Russia peaked at 0.451 in 1992 and was at its lowest, -2.55, in 1918.
Russia ranks 165th of 175 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Key media freedoms in Russia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -0.912 | — |
| 1901 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.912 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -1.58 | +73.2% |
| 1918 | -2.55 | +61.5% |
| 1919 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -2.55 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -1.42 | -44.4% |
| 1988 | -1.42 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.19 | -15.9% |
| 1990 | -0.149 | -87.5% |
| 1991 | -0.149 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.451 | -402.7% |
| 1993 | 0.451 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.451 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.451 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.451 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.451 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.451 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.451 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.261 | -157.9% |
| 2001 | -0.409 | +56.7% |
| 2002 | -0.409 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.409 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.409 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.409 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.506 | +23.7% |
| 2007 | -0.506 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.587 | +16.0% |
| 2009 | -0.575 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | -0.693 | +20.5% |
| 2011 | -0.693 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.904 | +30.4% |
| 2013 | -0.952 | +5.3% |
| 2014 | -1.36 | +42.4% |
| 2015 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -1.76 | +30.0% |
| 2021 | -1.97 | +11.8% |
| 2022 | -2.22 | +12.7% |
| 2023 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -2.22 | -0.0% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's -2.22 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.28. (55 countries reporting)
- Russia's -2.22 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.973. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.912 | -0.912 | -0.912 | 10 |
| 1910s | -1.31 | -2.55 | -0.912 | 10 |
| 1920s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1940s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1950s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1960s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.19 | -2.55 | -1.19 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.331 | -0.149 | 0.451 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.448 | -0.587 | -0.261 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.14 | -1.36 | -0.693 | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.1 | -2.22 | -1.76 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More social development data for Russia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 11,811 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 99,360 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (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 99,360 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 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 Russia?
- Key media freedoms in Russia was -2.22 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.451 in 1992.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.55 in 1918.
- How does Russia rank for key media freedoms?
- Russia ranks 165th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 63.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia 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.