Media Corruption Score in Iran
Iran: Media Corruption Score was -1.46 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-1.46
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
158th
of 175 countries
All-time high
0.884
in 1997
All-time low
-2.54
in 1925
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Media Corruption Score in Iran, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iran recorded -1.46 for media corruption score in 2025.
The figure is down 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, media corruption score in Iran peaked at 0.884 in 1997 and was at its lowest, -2.54, in 1925.
That places Iran 158th out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Media Corruption Score in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -1.71 | — |
| 1901 | -1.71 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -1.71 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -1.71 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -1.71 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -1.71 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.735 | -57.1% |
| 1907 | -0.735 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.735 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.013 | -98.2% |
| 1910 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.013 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -1.82 | +13938.5% |
| 1922 | -1.82 | -0.0% |
| 1923 | -2.33 | +27.5% |
| 1924 | -2.33 | -0.0% |
| 1925 | -2.54 | +9.2% |
| 1926 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -2.54 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -2.1 | -17.5% |
| 1941 | -0.937 | -55.3% |
| 1942 | 0.005 | -100.5% |
| 1943 | 0.005 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | -0.74 | -14900.0% |
| 1945 | -0.74 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -0.74 | -0.0% |
| 1947 | -0.74 | -0.0% |
| 1948 | -0.74 | -0.0% |
| 1949 | -0.74 | -0.0% |
| 1950 | -0.411 | -44.5% |
| 1951 | -0.411 | -0.0% |
| 1952 | -1.55 | +278.3% |
| 1953 | -1.55 | -0.0% |
| 1954 | -1.36 | -12.3% |
| 1955 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1958 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1959 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1960 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1961 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1962 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1963 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1964 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1965 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1966 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1967 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -1.36 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -0.716 | -47.5% |
| 1980 | -0.987 | +37.8% |
| 1981 | -2 | +103.1% |
| 1982 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -2 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1.42 | -29.4% |
| 1990 | 0.272 | -119.2% |
| 1991 | 0.395 | +45.2% |
| 1992 | 0.395 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.395 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.395 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.395 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.395 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.884 | +123.8% |
| 1998 | 0.884 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.884 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.884 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.884 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.884 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.446 | -49.5% |
| 2004 | -0.015 | -103.4% |
| 2005 | -0.015 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -1.32 | +8713.3% |
| 2007 | -1.32 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -1.32 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -1.32 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -1.31 | -0.8% |
| 2011 | -1.31 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -1.31 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -1.2 | -8.4% |
| 2014 | -1.17 | -2.8% |
| 2015 | -1.17 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -1.17 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -1.09 | -6.8% |
| 2018 | -1.31 | +20.1% |
| 2019 | -1.31 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -1.53 | +17.4% |
| 2021 | -1.47 | -4.2% |
| 2022 | -1.73 | +17.5% |
| 2023 | -1.83 | +5.9% |
| 2024 | -1.46 | -20.4% |
| 2025 | -1.46 | -0.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's -1.46 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.2855. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's -1.46 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -0.307, 4.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -1.25 | -1.71 | -0.013 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.013 | -0.013 | -0.013 | 10 |
| 1920s | -2.1 | -2.54 | -0.013 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.54 | -2.54 | -2.54 | 10 |
| 1940s | -0.7463 | -2.1 | 0.005 | 10 |
| 1950s | -1.21 | -1.55 | -0.411 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.36 | -1.36 | -1.36 | 10 |
| 1970s | -1.3 | -1.36 | -0.716 | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.84 | -2 | -0.987 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5294 | 0.272 | 0.884 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.222 | -1.32 | 0.884 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.23 | -1.31 | -1.09 | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.58 | -1.83 | -1.46 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More social development data for Iran
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 770,514 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 157,912 (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 0.0017 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 157,912 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0083 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 media corruption score in Iran?
- Media corruption score in Iran was -1.46 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest media corruption score recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 0.884 in 1997.
- What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.54 in 1925.
- How does Iran rank for media corruption score?
- Iran ranks 158th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is media corruption score rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Media Corruption Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Gauges the frequency with which journalists, publishers, or broadcasters accept payments to modify news content, indicating the integrity (or corruption) of the media sphere.