Key media freedoms in Ukraine
Ukraine: Key media freedoms was -0.51 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-0.51
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
126th
of 175 countries
All-time high
1.12
in 2009
All-time low
-2.55
in 1946
Years of data
80
1946–2025
Key media freedoms in Ukraine, 1946–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Ukraine is -0.51, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 208.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Ukraine peaked at 1.12 in 2009 and was at its lowest, -2.55, in 1946.
Ukraine ranks 126th 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 Ukraine, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | -2.55 | — |
| 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 | 0.311 | -126.1% |
| 1991 | 0.589 | +89.4% |
| 1992 | 0.675 | +14.6% |
| 1993 | 0.675 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.769 | +13.9% |
| 1995 | 0.68 | -11.6% |
| 1996 | 0.498 | -26.8% |
| 1997 | 0.079 | -84.1% |
| 1998 | 0.079 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.079 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | -0.048 | -160.8% |
| 2001 | -0.323 | +572.9% |
| 2002 | -0.323 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.323 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.323 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.866 | -368.1% |
| 2006 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.866 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1.12 | +29.6% |
| 2010 | 0.322 | -71.3% |
| 2011 | 0.357 | +10.9% |
| 2012 | 0.448 | +25.5% |
| 2013 | -0.014 | -103.1% |
| 2014 | 0.423 | -3121.4% |
| 2015 | 0.469 | +10.9% |
| 2016 | -0.046 | -109.8% |
| 2017 | 0.015 | -132.6% |
| 2018 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.04 | +6853.3% |
| 2020 | 1.12 | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 0.733 | -34.4% |
| 2022 | -0.234 | -131.9% |
| 2023 | -0.392 | +67.5% |
| 2024 | -0.51 | +30.1% |
| 2025 | -0.51 | -0.0% |
Ukraine compared with similar countries
- Ukraine's -0.51 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.209. (48 countries reporting)
- Ukraine's -0.51 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.973. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -2.55 | -2.55 | -2.55 | 4 |
| 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 | 0.4434 | 0.079 | 0.769 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3246 | -0.323 | 1.12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3032 | -0.046 | 1.04 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.034 | -0.51 | 1.12 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ukraine
More social development data for Ukraine
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 2,370 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5.22 million (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.134 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 5.22 million (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 Ukraine?
- Key media freedoms in Ukraine was -0.51 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Ukraine?
- The highest recorded value was 1.12 in 2009.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Ukraine?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.55 in 1946.
- How does Ukraine rank for key media freedoms?
- Ukraine ranks 126th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Ukraine?
- Over the last ten years it is down 208.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ukraine 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 — 80 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.