Key media freedoms in Uruguay
Uruguay: Key media freedoms was 1.9 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key media freedoms in Uruguay, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Uruguay recorded 1.9 for key media freedoms in 2025.
The figure is up 23.9% on the previous year and down 36.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Uruguay peaked at 3 in 2005 and was at its lowest, -2.54, in 1973.
Uruguay ranks 27th 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 | 1.12 | 0.897 | 1.35 | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.35 | 1.35 | 1.35 | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.35 | 1.35 | 1.35 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.4711 | -1.82 | 1.35 | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.52 | 0.695 | 1.88 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.88 | 1.88 | 1.88 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.58 | 0.401 | 1.88 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.96 | -2.54 | 0.401 | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.7455 | -2.54 | 1.12 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4 | 1.12 | 1.73 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.52 | 2.03 | 3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.91 | 2.66 | 3 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.8 | 1.12 | 2.58 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
- 24 Barbados 2.06 compare
- 25 Switzerland 2.01 compare
- 26 Sri Lanka 1.96 compare
- 28 Montenegro 1.9 compare
- 29 Sierra Leone 1.87 compare
- 29 South Korea 1.87 compare
More social development data for Uruguay
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 3,195 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 126 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.862 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.931 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.902 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.862 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.716 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.79 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key media freedoms in Uruguay?
- Key media freedoms in Uruguay was 1.9 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 3 in 2005.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.54 in 1973.
- How does Uruguay rank for key media freedoms?
- Uruguay ranks 27th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.