Media Corruption Score in Kenya
Kenya: Media Corruption Score was 1.8 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Media Corruption Score in Kenya, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, media corruption score in Kenya stood at 1.8.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and up 18.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, media corruption score in Kenya peaked at 1.85 in 2024 and was at its lowest, -3.16, in 1900.
That places Kenya 37th 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 | -3.16 | -3.16 | -3.16 | 10 |
| 1910s | -3.16 | -3.16 | -3.16 | 10 |
| 1920s | -2.98 | -3.16 | -2.27 | 10 |
| 1930s | -2.27 | -2.27 | -2.27 | 10 |
| 1940s | -2.05 | -2.27 | -1.83 | 10 |
| 1950s | -1.83 | -1.83 | -1.83 | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.98 | -2.12 | -1.83 | 10 |
| 1970s | -2.15 | -2.26 | -2.12 | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.26 | -2.26 | -2.26 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.0547 | -1.66 | 0.641 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.19 | 0.866 | 1.29 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.28 | 1.1 | 1.52 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.42 | 1.17 | 1.85 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More social development data for Kenya
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 617,125 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 13,325 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Key features of democracy 0.563 (2025)
- Freedom of Expression Index 0.9 (2025)
- Freedom of Association Index 0.793 (2025)
- Electoral Democracy Index 0.563 (2025)
- Participatory Democracy Index 0.335 (2025)
- Liberal Democracy Index 0.446 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is media corruption score in Kenya?
- Media corruption score in Kenya was 1.8 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest media corruption score recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 1.85 in 2024.
- What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.16 in 1900.
- How does Kenya rank for media corruption score?
- Kenya ranks 37th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is media corruption score rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.