Key media freedoms in Syria
Syria: Key media freedoms was 0.164 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.164
Change on year
up 106.9%
World rank
103rd
of 175 countries
All-time high
1.24
in 1956
All-time low
-3.04
in 1973
Years of data
124
1900–2025
Key media freedoms in Syria, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Syria recorded 0.164 for key media freedoms in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 106.9% on the previous year and up 105.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Syria peaked at 1.24 in 1956 and was at its lowest, -3.04, in 1973.
Syria ranks 103rd of 175 countries on this measure, 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 Syria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -1.89 | — |
| 1901 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -1.89 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -1.18 | -37.4% |
| 1909 | -0.28 | -76.3% |
| 1910 | -0.28 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.28 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.28 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -1.21 | +332.9% |
| 1914 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -1.21 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.009 | -100.7% |
| 1919 | 0.009 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | -1.5 | -16733.3% |
| 1923 | -1.5 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -1.5 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -1.5 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -1.5 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -1.5 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -1.5 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -1.5 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -0.29 | -80.6% |
| 1931 | -0.008 | -97.2% |
| 1932 | 0.167 | -2187.5% |
| 1933 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.167 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | -0.7 | -519.2% |
| 1940 | -0.7 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -0.7 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -0.7 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -0.7 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -0.7 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -0.7 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.647 | -192.4% |
| 1947 | 0.702 | +8.5% |
| 1948 | 0.702 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | -0.108 | -115.4% |
| 1950 | -0.444 | +311.1% |
| 1951 | -0.444 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -0.16 | -64.0% |
| 1953 | -0.16 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.779 | -586.9% |
| 1955 | 0.978 | +25.5% |
| 1956 | 1.24 | +27.0% |
| 1957 | 1.24 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | -0.944 | -176.0% |
| 1959 | -1.46 | +54.2% |
| 1960 | -1.46 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -1.65 | +13.0% |
| 1962 | 0.427 | -125.9% |
| 1963 | -1.26 | -395.1% |
| 1964 | -1.04 | -17.4% |
| 1965 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -1.04 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -1.52 | +46.3% |
| 1971 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -3.04 | +99.9% |
| 1974 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -3.04 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -2.98 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | -2.98 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -2.77 | -7.1% |
| 2023 | -1.85 | -33.2% |
| 2024 | -2.36 | +27.8% |
| 2025 | 0.164 | -106.9% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 0.164 is above the median for low income countries, which is -0.42. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 0.164 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -0.982. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -1.66 | -1.89 | -0.28 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.6882 | -1.21 | 0.009 | 10 |
| 1920s | -1.5 | -1.5 | -1.5 | 8 |
| 1930s | 0.0171 | -0.7 | 0.167 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.2257 | -0.7 | 0.702 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.0633 | -1.46 | 1.24 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.02 | -1.65 | 0.427 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.59 | -3.04 | -1.52 | 10 |
| 1980s | -3.04 | -3.04 | -3.04 | 10 |
| 1990s | -3.04 | -3.04 | -3.04 | 10 |
| 2000s | -3.04 | -3.04 | -3.04 | 10 |
| 2010s | -3.04 | -3.04 | -3.04 | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.13 | -2.98 | 0.164 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More social development data for Syria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 9,885 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4.87 million (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 0.1899 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4.87 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0004 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Syria?
- Key media freedoms in Syria was 0.164 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.24 in 1956.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.04 in 1973.
- How does Syria rank for key media freedoms?
- Syria ranks 103rd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 105.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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 — 124 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.