Press freedom globally has reached its lowest point in a quarter-century, according to the latest World Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders (RSF). For the first time since the index began in 2002, over half of the 180 countries and territories assessed fall into the 'difficult' or 'very serious' categories, RSF announced on Thursday.
The average global score has never been lower, with press freedom declining in 100 countries. The share of the world's population living in a country where press freedom is considered 'good' has plummeted from 20% in 2002 to less than 1% today. Only seven nations—all in northern Europe, led by Norway—retain that status.
European Union: Mixed Results Despite New Media Law
EU member states continue to dominate the top ranks of the index, partly due to the European Media Freedom Act, which came into force in August 2025. However, RSF notes that several EU countries are already in breach of the act. Germany, for instance, has national security laws that 'do not meet the act’s strict requirements regarding the protection of journalists and their sources,' the report states.
In eastern Europe, Ukraine improved seven places to 55th, standing out among its neighbours despite the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion. The country's resilience in maintaining press freedom under wartime conditions is noteworthy.
Meanwhile, Russia, ranked 172nd, is described by RSF as 'a specialist in using laws designed to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism to restrict press freedom.' As of April, 48 journalists were behind bars in Russia.
United States and Global Trends
The United States dropped seven places to 64th globally, driven by what RSF calls a 'systematic policy' of 'repeated attacks on the press and journalists' under President Donald Trump. The report also highlights apparent targeting of journalists and drastic cuts to funding for US international broadcasting.
The Middle East and North Africa remain the most catastrophic region for journalism, with RSF citing 220 Palestinian journalists killed during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, including at least 70 'slain due to their work.' Eighteen of 19 countries in the region are classified as 'very serious' or 'difficult.'
Syria showed a historic improvement, rising from 177th in 2025 to 141st after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, though the situation remains 'very serious.'
The steepest decline in 2026 was in Niger, which fell 37 places to 120th under its ruling junta, reflecting a broader deterioration in press freedom across the Sahel region as armed groups and military regimes suppress free reporting.
For a deeper look at how global conflicts affect media and culture, see our coverage of the World Press Photo of the Year and the European response to the Washington shooting.
