What is media corruption score in South Africa?

Media corruption score in South Africa was 1.72 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest media corruption score recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 1.73 in 2020.

What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 0.462 in 1900.

How does South Africa rank for media corruption score?

South Africa ranks 40th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.

Is media corruption score rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this South Africa 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 South Africa

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

South Africa: Media Corruption Score was 1.72 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

1.72

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

40th

of 175 countries

All-time high

1.73

in 2020

All-time low

0.462

in 1900

Years of data

126

1900–2025

Media Corruption Score in South Africa, 1900–2025

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for media corruption score in South Africa is 1.72, measured in 2025.

That represents a change of up 9.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, media corruption score in South Africa peaked at 1.73 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.462, in 1900.

South Africa ranks 40th of 175 countries on this measure, 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	0.462	0.462	0.462	10
1910s	0.462	0.462	0.462	10
1920s	0.462	0.462	0.462	10
1930s	0.462	0.462	0.462	10
1940s	0.462	0.462	0.462	10
1950s	0.462	0.462	0.462	10
1960s	0.462	0.462	0.462	10
1970s	0.462	0.462	0.462	10
1980s	0.462	0.462	0.462	10
1990s	1.2	0.462	1.66	10
2000s	1.66	1.66	1.66	10
2010s	1.52	1.14	1.56	10
2020s	1.71	1.68	1.73	6

Countries ranked near South Africa

37 Kenya 1.8 compare
38 Portugal 1.74 compare
39 Australia 1.72 compare
41 Senegal 1.69 compare
42 Poland 1.68 compare
43 Namibia 1.6 compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for South Africa

Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of asy 55,177 (2025)
Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of ori 1,319 (2025)
Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
Key features of democracy 0.743 (2025)
Freedom of Expression Index 0.837 (2025)
Freedom of Association Index 0.87 (2025)
Electoral Democracy Index 0.743 (2025)
Participatory Democracy Index 0.47 (2025)
Liberal Democracy Index 0.633 (2025)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is media corruption score in South Africa?: Media corruption score in South Africa was 1.72 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest media corruption score recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 1.73 in 2020.
What is the lowest media corruption score recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 0.462 in 1900.
How does South Africa rank for media corruption score?: South Africa ranks 40th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
Is media corruption score rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is up 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa 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.