What is media corruption score in Japan?

Media corruption score in Japan was 2.13 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest media corruption score recorded in Japan?

The highest recorded value was 2.71 in 1955.

What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in Japan?

The lowest recorded value was -0.772 in 1940.

How does Japan rank for media corruption score?

Japan ranks 23rd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is media corruption score rising or falling in Japan?

Over the last ten years it is down 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Japan 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.

Media Corruption Score in Japan

Name: Media Corruption Score in Japan
Creator: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Japan: Media Corruption Score was 2.13 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

2.13

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

23rd

of 175 countries

All-time high

2.71

in 1955

All-time low

-0.772

in 1940

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Media Corruption Score in Japan, 1900–2025

Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2025, media corruption score in Japan stood at 2.13.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, media corruption score in Japan peaked at 2.71 in 1955 and was at its lowest, -0.772, in 1940.

That places Japan 23rd out of 175 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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	0.349	0.349	0.349	10
1910s	0.349	0.349	0.349	10
1920s	0.349	0.349	0.349	10
1930s	0.3022	0.115	0.349	10
1940s	-0.0285	-0.772	1.35	10
1950s	2.09	1.35	2.71	10
1960s	2.71	2.71	2.71	10
1970s	2.71	2.71	2.71	10
1980s	2.71	2.71	2.71	10
1990s	2.71	2.71	2.71	10
2000s	2.71	2.71	2.71	10
2010s	2.71	2.71	2.71	10
2020s	2.52	2.13	2.71	6

Countries ranked near Japan

20 Mauritius 2.35 compare
21 Latvia 2.35 compare
22 South Korea 2.34 compare
24 Cyprus 2.12 compare
25 Czechia 2.11 compare
26 Barbados 2.06 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for Japan

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 42,450 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 56 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.819 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.847 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.924 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.819 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.526 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.734 (2025)

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is media corruption score in Japan?: Media corruption score in Japan was 2.13 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest media corruption score recorded in Japan?: The highest recorded value was 2.71 in 1955.
What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in Japan?: The lowest recorded value was -0.772 in 1940.
How does Japan rank for media corruption score?: Japan ranks 23rd out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is media corruption score rising or falling in Japan?: Over the last ten years it is down 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan 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

Indicator: Media Corruption Score
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 175 places, 18,887 data points, 1900–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Gauges the frequency with which journalists, publishers, or broadcasters accept payments to modify news content, indicating the integrity (or corruption) of the media sphere.