Global press freedom hits lowest level in 25 years, RSF warns

Global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in a quarter of a century, with more than half of the world's countries now classified as having a "difficult" or "very serious" situation, according to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders.

RSF said the average score across 180 countries and territories has never been lower in the Index's 25-year history, reflecting a steady decline since 2001. The group warned that increasingly restrictive laws — particularly those tied to national security — are eroding the right to information, even in democratic countries.

The legal environment for journalism saw the sharpest deterioration over the past year, signalling what RSF described as a growing "criminalisation of journalism" worldwide.

In the Americas, press freedom also worsened, with the United States dropping seven places, while several Latin American countries, including Ecuador and Peru, saw significant declines amid rising violence and repression.

Norway retained its position as the world's top-ranked country for press freedom for the 10th consecutive year, while Eritrea remained last for the third year in a row. Syria recorded the biggest improvement, climbing 36 places following political changes after the Assad era.

RSF Editorial Director Anne Bocandé warned that attacks on journalism are becoming more visible and systematic, driven by authoritarian governments, weak political leadership, economic pressures and under-regulated online platforms.

She called for stronger protections for journalists, including an end to the misuse of national security laws and legal harassment such as SLAPPs, warning that inaction would amount to "an endorsement" of declining press freedom.

RSF added that only a tiny share of the global population now lives in countries with a "good" level of press freedom — down from 20% in 2002 to less than 1% today — underscoring what it described as a global crisis for journalism.