Key media freedoms in Serbia

Serbia: Key media freedoms was -1.94 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
-1.94
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
157th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.926
in 1889
All-time low
-2.62
in 1942
Years of data
191
1835–2025

Key media freedoms in Serbia, 1835–2025

-3-2-101183519302025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Serbia is -1.94, measured in 2025.

The figure is down 17.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Serbia peaked at 0.926 in 1889 and was at its lowest, -2.62, in 1942.

That places Serbia 157th out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1830s -1.29 -1.29 -1.29 5
1840s -1.29 -1.29 -1.29 10
1850s -1.29 -1.29 -1.29 10
1860s -1.29 -1.29 -1.29 10
1870s -1.29 -1.29 -1.29 10
1880s -1.07 -1.29 0.926 10
1890s 0.926 0.926 0.926 10
1900s -0.9507 -1.2 -0.797 10
1910s -1.06 -1.48 -0.797 10
1920s -1.48 -2.43 -1.35 10
1930s -2.01 -2.43 -1.9 10
1940s -2.1 -2.62 -1.75 10
1950s -1.75 -1.75 -1.75 10
1960s -1.75 -1.75 -1.75 10
1970s -1.75 -1.75 -1.75 10
1980s -1.75 -1.75 -1.75 10
1990s -1.62 -1.76 -1.05 10
2000s -0.0676 -0.322 0.274 10
2010s -1.03 -1.65 -0.193 10
2020s -1.8 -1.94 -1.1 6

Countries ranked near Serbia

  1. 154 Chad -1.81 compare
  2. 155 Equatorial Guinea -1.89 compare
  3. 156 Egypt -1.94 compare
  4. 158 Palestine -1.96 compare
  5. 159 Turkey -2 compare
  6. 160 Venezuela -2.04 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Serbia

All data for Serbia →

Frequently asked questions

What is key media freedoms in Serbia?
Key media freedoms in Serbia was -1.94 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Serbia?
The highest recorded value was 0.926 in 1889.
What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Serbia?
The lowest recorded value was -2.62 in 1942.
How does Serbia rank for key media freedoms?
Serbia ranks 157th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Serbia?
Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Serbia 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 — 191 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Key media freedoms
Source
V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
175 places, 21,793 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed

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.