Media Corruption Score in Italy
Italy: Media Corruption Score was 1.36 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.36
Change on year
down 39.4%
World rank
50th
of 175 countries
All-time high
2.25
in 1997
All-time low
-2.77
in 1925
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Media Corruption Score in Italy, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for media corruption score in Italy is 1.36, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 39.4% on the previous year and down 39.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, media corruption score in Italy peaked at 2.25 in 1997 and was at its lowest, -2.77, in 1925.
That places Italy 50th out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Media Corruption Score in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -0.166 | — |
| 1901 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -0.166 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -0.351 | +111.4% |
| 1923 | -1.06 | +202.8% |
| 1924 | -1.64 | +54.3% |
| 1925 | -2.77 | +68.8% |
| 1926 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1927 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1931 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1934 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1935 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1936 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1939 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1940 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1941 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1942 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1943 | -2.77 | -0.0% |
| 1944 | -1.4 | -49.5% |
| 1945 | -1.4 | -0.0% |
| 1946 | -0.359 | -74.3% |
| 1947 | 0.717 | -299.7% |
| 1948 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.717 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.896 | +25.0% |
| 1981 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.896 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.25 | +150.6% |
| 1994 | 1.64 | -27.2% |
| 1995 | 1.64 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.64 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2.25 | +37.7% |
| 1998 | 2.25 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2.25 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 2.25 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2.25 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.89 | -16.1% |
| 2003 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.89 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.01 | +6.5% |
| 2007 | 2.01 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.9 | -5.7% |
| 2009 | 2.24 | +18.1% |
| 2010 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2.24 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 1.36 | -39.4% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 1.36 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.96, 69% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Italy's 1.36 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.14, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.166 | -0.166 | -0.166 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.166 | -0.166 | -0.166 | 10 |
| 1920s | -1.72 | -2.77 | -0.166 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.77 | -2.77 | -2.77 | 10 |
| 1940s | -1.21 | -2.77 | 0.717 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.717 | 0.717 | 0.717 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.717 | 0.717 | 0.717 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.717 | 0.717 | 0.717 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.896 | 0.896 | 0.896 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.66 | 0.896 | 2.25 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.02 | 1.89 | 2.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.24 | 2.24 | 2.24 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.09 | 1.36 | 2.24 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More social development data for Italy
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 192,914 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 266 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 100 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (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 266 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0033 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 Italy?
- Media corruption score in Italy was 1.36 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest media corruption score recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 2.25 in 1997.
- What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.77 in 1925.
- How does Italy rank for media corruption score?
- Italy ranks 50th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is media corruption score rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.
Download this data
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.