Key media freedoms in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Key media freedoms was 1.87 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key media freedoms in Sierra Leone, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Sierra Leone is 1.87, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Sierra Leone peaked at 2.09 in 2021 and was at its lowest, -0.959, in 1969.
Sierra Leone ranks 29th of 175 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 | -0.598 | -0.598 | -0.598 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.598 | -0.598 | -0.598 | 10 |
| 1920s | -0.598 | -0.598 | -0.598 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.598 | -0.598 | -0.598 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.598 | -0.598 | -0.598 | 10 |
| 1950s | -0.4279 | -0.598 | -0.409 | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.1946 | -0.959 | 0.036 | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.5334 | -0.959 | -0.196 | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.3914 | -0.462 | -0.196 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1097 | -0.496 | 1.2 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.35 | 1.2 | 1.55 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.43 | 1 | 1.51 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.88 | 1.51 | 2.09 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 26 Sri Lanka 1.96 compare
- 27 Uruguay 1.9 compare
- 28 Montenegro 1.9 compare
- 29 South Korea 1.87 compare
- 31 Trinidad and Tobago 1.85 compare
- 32 Dominican Republic 1.84 compare
More social development data for Sierra Leone
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 8,925 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.471 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.823 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.837 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.471 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.307 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.348 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Sierra Leone?
- Key media freedoms in Sierra Leone was 1.87 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 2.09 in 2021.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.959 in 1969.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for key media freedoms?
- Sierra Leone ranks 29th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.