In its newest publication, RSF has alerted that press freedom is at its lowest point in 25 years, with more than half the countries worldwide rated as “difficult” or “very serious,” and only a few considered “good.”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) announced on Thursday that the state of press freedom has reached its lowest level in a quarter-century.
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«For the first occasion in the 25-year history of the Index, over half of the world’s countries now fall under the categories ‘difficult’ or ‘very serious’ concerning press freedom,» RSF stated.
«Globally, the average score across all nations and territories has never been this low,» the organization added.
According to the Index, press freedom is deteriorating in 100 out of 180 countries and territories assessed.
Furthermore, the report classifies the press freedom climate as «difficult» or «very serious» in 52.2% of global territories, a significant increase from 13.7% recorded in 2002, the year RSF started publishing the Index.
Simultaneously, the proportion of people living in countries with a «good» press freedom rating has dropped sharply from 20% to below 1%.
Only seven northern European nations, led by Norway, fall under this category.
‘Systematic’ attacks on the press
RSF mentions that EU member states «maintain their top rankings» in the Index, partly due to the recent implementation of the European Media Freedom Act, effective since August 2025.
Nonetheless, the report highlights that numerous EU countries violate this law; for instance, Germany’s national security legislation «fails to satisfy the Act’s stringent requirements concerning the protection of journalists and their sources.»
In Eastern Europe, Ukraine distinguishes itself among neighboring states with an improved ranking, climbing seven places to 55th, despite ongoing war conditions following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
RSF’s Index has demoted the US by seven spots to 64th worldwide, citing US President Donald Trump’s «consistent policy» involving «frequent attacks on the press and journalists,» according to the report.
Aside from Trump’s repeated assaults on the media, the situation in the US has also featured apparent targeting of journalists and substantial budget cuts for US international broadcasting services, the document specified.
Meanwhile, Russia, ranked 172nd, was identified as «an expert at leveraging laws designed to fight terrorism, separatism, and extremism to limit press freedom,» RSF warned.
The report noted that 48 journalists remained imprisoned in Russia as of April.
RSF characterized the Middle East and North Africa as the regions with the «most catastrophic» conditions for journalism.
Additionally, Gaza and the West Bank were labeled «the most perilous areas globally» for journalists, referencing the deaths of 220 Palestinian journalists by Israel during the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, with at least 70 killed «due to their professional work.»
The report indicated that intimidation and other forms of pressure, including threats to journalists’ lives and security, have been almost constant; «the journalists resisting Hamas pressure in Gaza faced accusations from Israeli propaganda alleging collaboration with Hamas.»
Eighteen out of nineteen countries in the region are classified as “very serious” or “difficult.”
RSF acknowledged positive developments in Syria, noting the country’s ranking rose from 177th in 2025 to 141st. Although conditions are still «very serious,» this marks a historic 36-place improvement following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The sharpest decline in 2026 occurred in junta-controlled Niger, dropping 37 places to 120th, reflecting a broader deterioration in press freedom throughout the Sahel region over recent years, driven by attacks from armed groups and militaries suppressing free press rights.