Key points
- More than half of the world’s countries are now classified as having “difficult” or “very serious” conditions for journalism.
- Fewer than 1% of people worldwide live in countries with “good” press freedom, down sharply from 20% in 2002.
- The United States and several Latin American nations recorded notable declines, reflecting rising political pressure and violence.
According to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders, press freedom worldwide has reached its lowest point since the index began 25 years ago. For the first time, over half of all countries fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories. The findings highlight a steady erosion of the right to information, with fewer than 1% of people now living in countries classified as having “good” press freedom.
Conflict zones continue to pose extreme risks. In places like Gaza Strip, Sudan, and Yemen, ongoing violence has devastated media environments and put journalists’ lives at constant risk. Meanwhile, tightly controlled states such as Eritrea and North Korea remain at the bottom of the rankings.
Legal pressure replaces overt censorship
The report identifies the legal environment as the fastest deteriorating factor. Governments are increasingly using national security laws and anti-terror legislation to silence journalists. Countries including India, Egypt, and Russia exemplify this trend, where reporting is often criminalised.
Even democratic nations are not immune. The United States dropped in the rankings amid growing hostility toward the media during the presidency of Donald Trump. Across Latin America, countries such as Ecuador and Peru have seen sharp declines linked to violence and political pressure.
Despite a few improvements—such as Norway retaining the top position—the overall trend points to a more constrained and legally hostile environment for journalism worldwide.
