What is key media freedoms in United States?

Key media freedoms in United States was 0.875 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in United States?

The highest recorded value was 3.04 in 2023.

What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in United States?

The lowest recorded value was 0.22 in 1941.

How does United States rank for key media freedoms?

United States ranks 72nd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is key media freedoms rising or falling in United States?

Over the last ten years it is down 68.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this United States 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.

Key media freedoms in United States

Name: Key media freedoms in United States
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

United States: Key media freedoms was 0.875 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

0.875

Change on year

down 64.8%

World rank

72nd

of 175 countries

All-time high

3.04

in 2023

All-time low

0.22

in 1941

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Key media freedoms in United States, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

United States recorded 0.875 for key media freedoms in 2025.

That represents a change of down 64.8% on the previous year and down 68.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, key media freedoms in United States peaked at 3.04 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.22, in 1941.

That places United States 72nd out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	0.929	0.929	0.929	10
1910s	0.7313	0.344	0.877	10
1920s	0.877	0.877	0.877	10
1930s	1.33	0.713	1.46	10
1940s	0.5827	0.22	1.24	10
1950s	1.12	0.76	1.83	10
1960s	1.83	1.83	1.83	10
1970s	1.87	1.04	2.17	10
1980s	2.45	2.17	2.57	10
1990s	2.49	1.58	2.6	10
2000s	2.66	1.93	2.94	10
2010s	2.52	1.76	2.99	10
2020s	2.22	0.875	3.04	6

Countries ranked near United States

69 Nigeria 0.916 compare
70 Peru 0.909 compare
71 Slovakia 0.881 compare
73 Panama 0.827 compare
74 Niger 0.79 compare
75 Georgia 0.789 compare
75 Guyana 0.789 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for United States

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 457,647 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 3,667 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.735 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.729 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.913 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.735 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.51 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.571 (2025)

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is key media freedoms in United States?: Key media freedoms in United States was 0.875 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in United States?: The highest recorded value was 3.04 in 2023.
What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in United States?: The lowest recorded value was 0.22 in 1941.
How does United States rank for key media freedoms?: United States ranks 72nd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is key media freedoms rising or falling in United States?: Over the last ten years it is down 68.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United States 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

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: 07 August 2026

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.