Key media freedoms in Zambia
Zambia: Key media freedoms was 0.665 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.665
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
81st
of 175 countries
All-time high
1.42
in 2022
All-time low
-1.94
in 2016
Years of data
115
1911–2025
Key media freedoms in Zambia, 1911–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key media freedoms in Zambia is 0.665, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 160.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key media freedoms in Zambia peaked at 1.42 in 2022 and was at its lowest, -1.94, in 2016.
Zambia ranks 81st 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | -0.172 | — |
| 1912 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1926 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -0.172 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -0.398 | +131.4% |
| 1942 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1945 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1951 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1953 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1955 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -0.398 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -0.293 | -26.4% |
| 1964 | -0.389 | +32.8% |
| 1965 | 0.077 | -119.8% |
| 1966 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.077 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | -1.11 | -1545.5% |
| 1974 | -1.27 | +14.1% |
| 1975 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | -0.985 | -22.4% |
| 1992 | 0.293 | -129.7% |
| 1993 | 0.469 | +60.1% |
| 1994 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.469 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.221 | -52.9% |
| 2009 | 0.221 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.342 | +54.8% |
| 2011 | -0.409 | -219.6% |
| 2012 | 0.171 | -141.8% |
| 2013 | -0.419 | -345.0% |
| 2014 | -0.78 | +86.2% |
| 2015 | -1.09 | +40.4% |
| 2016 | -1.94 | +77.1% |
| 2017 | -0.893 | -53.9% |
| 2018 | -0.799 | -10.5% |
| 2019 | -1.12 | +40.7% |
| 2020 | -1.12 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -0.002 | -99.8% |
| 2022 | 1.42 | -70950.0% |
| 2023 | 1.12 | -20.7% |
| 2024 | 0.665 | -40.8% |
| 2025 | 0.665 | +0.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 0.665 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.292, 2.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 0.665 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.123, 5.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | -0.172 | -0.172 | -0.172 | 9 |
| 1920s | -0.172 | -0.172 | -0.172 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.172 | -0.172 | -0.172 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.3754 | -0.398 | -0.172 | 10 |
| 1950s | -0.398 | -0.398 | -0.398 | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.1491 | -0.398 | 0.077 | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.8502 | -1.27 | 0.077 | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.27 | -1.27 | -1.27 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1321 | -1.27 | 0.469 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4194 | 0.221 | 0.469 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.6945 | -1.94 | 0.342 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4575 | -1.12 | 1.42 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 78 Croatia 0.722 compare
- 79 Philippines 0.712 compare
- 80 Mauritania 0.683 compare
- 82 Ecuador 0.653 compare
- 83 Bangladesh 0.614 compare
- 84 Italy 0.599 compare
More social development data for Zambia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 83,225 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 346 (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 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 346 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0038 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 Zambia?
- Key media freedoms in Zambia was 0.665 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key media freedoms recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.42 in 2022.
- What is the lowest key media freedoms recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.94 in 2016.
- How does Zambia rank for key media freedoms?
- Zambia ranks 81st out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key media freedoms rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 160.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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 — 115 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.