Key media freedoms in Vietnam
Vietnam: Key media freedoms was -1.48 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Key media freedoms in Vietnam, 1976–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Vietnam is -1.48, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 43.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Vietnam peaked at -1.03 in 1988 and was at its lowest, -1.53, in 2022.
That places Vietnam 147th out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Key media freedoms in Vietnam, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | -1.26 | — |
| 1977 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -1.26 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -1.03 | -18.5% |
| 1989 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -1.03 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -1.52 | +48.1% |
| 2018 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -1.52 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -1.44 | -5.2% |
| 2022 | -1.53 | +6.3% |
| 2023 | -1.48 | -3.7% |
| 2024 | -1.48 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -1.48 | -0.0% |
Vietnam compared with similar countries
- Vietnam's -1.48 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.209. (48 countries reporting)
- Vietnam's -1.48 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.3835. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -1.26 | -1.26 | -1.26 | 4 |
| 1980s | -1.21 | -1.26 | -1.03 | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.03 | -1.03 | -1.03 | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.03 | -1.03 | -1.03 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.18 | -1.52 | -1.03 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.49 | -1.53 | -1.44 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Vietnam
- 144 El Salvador -1.23 compare
- 145 Saudi Arabia -1.32 compare
- 146 Algeria -1.33 compare
- 148 Laos -1.48 compare
- 149 Iran -1.49 compare
- 150 United Arab Emirates -1.69 compare
More social development data for Vietnam
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 13 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,636 (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 0.0002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 20,636 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 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 Vietnam?
- Key media freedoms in Vietnam was -1.48 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Vietnam?
- The highest recorded value was -1.03 in 1988.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Vietnam?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.53 in 2022.
- How does Vietnam rank for key media freedoms?
- Vietnam ranks 147th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Vietnam?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Vietnam 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
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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.