RSF says global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years
The Facts
- Reporters Without Borders said global press freedom is at its lowest level in the 25-year history of its annual index.
- RSF’s 2026 index assessed 180 countries and territories, and the average score was the lowest recorded by the index.
- For the first time in the index’s history, more than half of countries were placed in the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom.
- Multiple reports citing the index said the share of the world’s population living in a country rated “good” for press freedom has fallen from about 20% to less than 1%.
- Reports on the index said legal conditions for journalism worsened this year, with increasingly restrictive laws and national-security policies identified as a major factor in the decline.
- Several reports said only seven countries in Northern Europe were rated “good” for press freedom, showing that the strongest ratings were concentrated in a small group of countries.
- Coverage of the index cited armed conflict and political repression in some regions as additional factors contributing to weaker conditions for journalists.
- The index documents a broad global trend, but country-level movement varied, with some countries falling in the rankings while others, including Ukraine, improved their positions.
Context
What is RSF measuring in this report?
RSF’s World Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking that evaluates press-freedom conditions across 180 countries and territories. The 2026 edition, cited across multiple reports, says the global average score is the lowest in the index’s 25-year history Franceinfo,europa press,Hindu.
Why does RSF say conditions are worsening?
Reports citing the index say one major reason is the spread of more restrictive legal frameworks, particularly laws linked to national security. Other cited pressures include armed conflict and tougher political environments that make reporting more difficult or risky Franceinfo,RTBF,BBC.
Does the report show the same trend in every country?
No. The overall global picture is one of decline, but country rankings still moved in different directions. For example, Germany fell to 14th in several reports, while Ukraine rose from 62nd to 55th and Finland slipped to sixth while remaining among the higher-ranked countries Корреспонде…,Express.de,Yle.fi.
How left and right read it
Left says
What stands out is how broadly the protections around journalism are eroding. RSF says global press freedom is at its lowest point in the index’s 25-year history, more than half of countries now fall into the worst categories, and restrictive laws and national-security policies are a major part of the decline. That points to a shrinking space for public accountability, especially outside the small group of countries still rated “good.”
Is this how the left would actually put it?
Right says
The warning here is about how easily governments can narrow basic freedoms through law and state power. Reports on the index say increasingly restrictive laws and national-security policies were a major factor in the decline, even as country results varied and some, including Ukraine, improved. That makes the core issue less a single global narrative than whether institutions are setting clear limits on political repression and emergency-style justifications.
Is this how the right would actually put it?
The receipts — 100 sources
Wire services (2)
Independent coverage (98)
France 24L'actu en dessin : la liberté de la presse en situation "trè...
France 24En todo el mundo la libertad de prensa se encuentra amenazad...
Montevideo Portal / Montevideo COMMUruguay subió 11 puestos en libertad de prensa y quedó prime...
Ars TechnicaUS falls below Ukraine in press freedom as global autocracy ...
eldiario.esReporteros Sin Fronteras denuncia las acciones "intimidatori...
OBOZREVATELРейтинг свободи медіа: Україна за рік піднялась на сім позиц...
OBOZREVATELРейтинг свободы медиа: Украина за год поднялась на семь пози...
news24Press freedom 'has never been so low' and 'impunity is rife'...
vaticannews.vaRSF: iberdade de imprensa no mundo nunca esteve tão mal como...
La Silla RotaLa libertad de prensa alcanza su peor nivel en 25 años por l...
Deutsche WelleLibertad de prensa amenazada mientras crece el autoritarismo
El Comercio PerúRSF alerta del "deterioro sistémico" de la libertad de prens...
The GuardianPress freedom at lowest level in 25 years amid growing autho...
El Mercurio de SantiagoLibertad de prensa en el mundo llega a su nivel más bajo en ...
MediaiteTrump's 'Attacks' on Media Blamed for US Slide Down Press Fr...
RFIСамая тяжелая ситуация за 25 лет: "Репортеры без границ" опу...
Корреспондент.netУкраина значительно поднялась в рейтинге свободы СМИ
Neue Zürcher ZeitungReporter ohne Grenzen: Schweiz verbessert sich, Deutschland ...
ClarinArgentina retrocede en el ranking de libertad de prensa mund...
France 24Global press freedom falls to lowest level in 25 years, RSF ...
El Comercio PerúLa libertad de prensa en el mundo, en su nivel más bajo en 2...
MeduzaРоссия еще ниже опустилась в рейтинге свободы прессы -- на...
Ladepeche.frLiberté de la presse : le classement RSF 2026 alerte sur un ...
ObservadorLiberdade de imprensa no mundo no nível mais baixo dos últim...
Mitteldeutscher RundfunkKolumne: Das Altpapier am 30. April 2026 - Weitgehend frei v...
Le Huffington PostLa liberté de la presse n'avait jamais été aussi menacée dep...
RFIViolencia y presiones políticas deterioran la libertad de la...
Deutsche WelleУкраїна покращила позиції: рейтинг свободи преси
France 24La libertad de prensa en el mundo, en su nivel más bajo en 2...
TAG24Pressefreiheit ist bedroht wie noch nie: Deutschland nur noc...
AolPress freedom worldwide is at lowest level in 25 years, watc...
Deutsche WelleGuerra e autoritarismo fazem recuar a liberdade de imprensa
FranceinfoLiberté de la presse aux Etats-Unis : RSF dénonce "l'ampleur...
Notícias ao MinutoMaioria dos países da CPLP sobe no índice de liberdade de im...
FocusTag der Pressefreiheit 2026: Deutschland rutscht im Ranking ...
Norddeutscher RundfunkTag der Pressefreiheit 2026: Deutschland rutscht in Ranking ...
eldiario.esLa libertad de prensa en el mundo, en su mínimo en 25 años, ...
Euronews EnglishPress freedom at lowest level in 25 years, RSF report shows
France 24La libertad de prensa mundial cae a su nivel más bajo en 25 ...
Ouest FranceLa liberté de la presse a atteint son niveau le plus bas en ...
CBS NewsPress freedom worldwide is at lowest level in 25 years, watc...
Yahoo NewsPress freedom at lowest level in 25 years: RSF
Sözcü GazetesiTürkiye basın özgürlüğünde 180 ülke içinde 4 sıra geriledi! ...
El ConfidencialRSF alerta del peor momento para la libertad de prensa en 25...
Yle.fiФинляндия на рекордно низком месте в рейтинге свободы прессы
N-tvPressefreiheit unter Druck: Reporter ohne Grenzen: Lage für ...
CumhuriyetRSF raporu ortaya koydu: Türkiye basın özgürlüğünde 163'üncü...
20minutesLa liberté de la presse au plus bas depuis 25 ans dans le mo...
Deutsche WelleGuerra e autoritarismo minam liberdade de imprensa no mundo
LaVanguardiaEspaña baja seis posiciones en libertad de prensa por un "de...
Le Monde.frRSF alerte sur la dégradation de la liberté de la presse dan...
Yle.fiFinland drops to sixth in global press freedom ranking
Público.esEspaña cae seis puestos en la Clasificación Mundial de Liber...
cnbctv18.comPress Freedom Index tanks across the world, check where Indi...
RTVE.esGuerra de Irán, última hora en directo: Trump dice que ha pe...
LaVanguardiaRSF alerta del peor momento para la libertad de prensa en 25...
Berliner MorgenpostDeutschland rutscht aus Top Ten in Pressefreiheit-Rangliste
JNLiberdade de imprensa no nível mais baixo em 25 anos, Portug...
IndexHRSloboda medija u svijetu se jako srozala. SAD potonuo između...
The New Indian ExpressPress freedom at lowest level in 25 years: RSF
stern.deReporter ohne Grenzen: Pressefreiheit auf niedrigstem Stand ...
tportal.hrReporteri bez granica: Sloboda medija u svijetu na najnižoj ...
The Straits TimesPress freedom at lowest level in 25 years: Report
Economic TimesPress freedom hits its lowest level in 25 years
Lietuvos Radijas ir TelevizijaLithuania slips down one spot in global press freedom index
Le Telegramme" Les attaques contre les journalistes se transforment " : l...
taz.deLage der Pressefreiheit: Deutschland fällt um drei Plätze ab
wa.de"Öffentlich an den Pranger": Deutschland rutscht im Pressefr...
Berliner ZeitungPressefreiheits-Ranking: Deutschland rutscht erneut ab
The HinduPress freedom at lowest level in 25 years: RSF
Correio da ManhaLiberdade de imprensa no mundo no nível mais baixo dos últim...
France 24Global press freedom falls to lowest level in 25 years, RSF ...
SudOuest.fr" Les attaques contre les journalistes se transforment " : l...
Express.dePressefreiheit Alarmierende Entwicklung: Deutschland sackt i...
France 24La liberté de la presse dans la pire situation depuis 25 ans...
Der Tagesspiegel"Ausdruck eines aufgeheizten Klimas": Deutschland rutscht in...
ZEIT ONLINEReporter ohne Grenzen: Deutschland rutscht auf Rangliste der...
Frankfurter RundschauDeutschland rutscht auf Platz 14 ab - Angriffe auf Journalis...
RTBFLa liberté de la presse au plus bas depuis 25 ans, selon Rep...
stern.dePressefreiheit in Gefahr? Deutschland rutscht aus den Top 10
Süddeutsche ZeitungReporter ohne Grenzen: Lage der Pressefreiheit verschlechter...
Le SoirLa liberté de la presse au plus bas depuis 25 ans dans le mo...
ZEIT ONLINEReporter ohne Grenzen: Deutschland rutscht auf Rangliste der...
Deutsche WelleRSF: libertad de prensa en el mundo cae a su nivel más bajo
FranceinfoLa liberté de la presse au plus bas depuis 25 ans dans le mo...
Spiegel OnlinePressefreiheit weltweit: Deutschland nicht mehr in den Top T...
HaberlerTürkiye basın özgürlüğünde 163. sıraya geriledi
El HuffPost'Deterioro generalizado': España pierde seis puestos en libe...
RTVE.esLa libertad de prensa en el mundo cae a su peor nivel en 25 ...
BBCDünya basın özgürlüğü 'son 25 yılın en düşük seviyesinde': T...
watson.ch/Pressefreiheit in den USA auf historischem Tief - so ist die...
Deutsche WelleWorld press freedom declines as authoritarianism rises
N-tvWeltweite Lage schlecht wie nie: Deutschland rutscht in Pres...
europa pressRSF alerta del peor momento para la libertad de prensa en 25...
Frankfurter AllgemeineDeutschland rutscht auf Liste der Pressefreiheit auf Platz 1...
tagesschau.dePressefreiheit weltweit unter Druck - auch in Deutschland
Deutsche WelleРФ в худших, Украина и Молдова выше: рейтинг свободы прессы
U.S. News & World ReportGallup: Perceptions of Press Freedom Hold Steady Globally
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