What is media corruption score in New Zealand?

Media corruption score in New Zealand was 1.99 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest media corruption score recorded in New Zealand?

The highest recorded value was 2.73 in 1960.

What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in New Zealand?

The lowest recorded value was 1.83 in 2013.

How does New Zealand rank for media corruption score?

New Zealand ranks 30th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is media corruption score rising or falling in New Zealand?

Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this New Zealand 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 New Zealand

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

New Zealand: Media Corruption Score was 1.99 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)

1.99

Change on year

down 22.4%

World rank

30th

of 175 countries

All-time high

2.73

in 1960

All-time low

1.83

in 2013

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Media Corruption Score in New Zealand, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

In 2025, media corruption score in New Zealand stood at 1.99.

The figure is down 22.4% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, media corruption score in New Zealand peaked at 2.73 in 1960 and was at its lowest, 1.83, in 2013.

New Zealand ranks 30th of 175 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 126 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1900s	2.07	2.07	2.07	10
1910s	2.07	2.07	2.07	10
1920s	2.07	2.07	2.07	10
1930s	2.07	2.07	2.07	10
1940s	2.07	2.07	2.07	10
1950s	2.07	2.07	2.07	10
1960s	2.73	2.73	2.73	10
1970s	2.73	2.73	2.73	10
1980s	2.73	2.73	2.73	10
1990s	2.73	2.73	2.73	10
2000s	2.73	2.73	2.73	10
2010s	2.25	1.83	2.73	10
2020s	2.47	1.99	2.56	6

Countries ranked near New Zealand

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for New Zealand

Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 2,148 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 58 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.849 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.927 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.885 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.849 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.581 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.787 (2025)

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is media corruption score in New Zealand?: Media corruption score in New Zealand was 1.99 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest media corruption score recorded in New Zealand?: The highest recorded value was 2.73 in 1960.
What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in New Zealand?: The lowest recorded value was 1.83 in 2013.
How does New Zealand rank for media corruption score?: New Zealand ranks 30th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is media corruption score rising or falling in New Zealand?: Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this New Zealand 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.