The state of press freedom worldwide is now classified as a ‘difficult situation’ for the first time since its records began, according to a recent report which highlights the growing repressive measures on the media and on journalists. The report, compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), showed that the average score for the 180 countries assessed by the World Press Freedom Index, was the lowest in the index’s 25-year history.
In 2002, one fifth of the global population lived in a country where press freedom was categorised as ‘good’. That level has now fallen significantly, leaving less than 1% of the world population’s press freedom defined as ‘good’. The decline is driven by increased government control, legal censorship, and violence against journalists, particularly in conflict zones.
More than half of all countries surveyed have now been placed in the ‘difficult’ or ‘very serious’ categories for press freedom.
How the UK and Republic of Ireland rank
The UK ranked at 18 overall: a rise of two places on last year’s report. Against this rise, safety concerns have been raised about Iranian journalists in exile who are working for the BBC. They have been warned that their movements are being closely monitored by the Iranian state, and fear that their families in Iran were being interrogated and persecuted in retribution for their reporting.
The report also noted a rise in online abuse in the UK, as well as growing concerns for the physical safety of journalists involved in covering public marches and demonstrations. It was also critical of the UK government for shelving a proposed crackdown on the use of lawfare against publishers, particularly the dropping of proposals to tighten laws against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) from the government’s immediate plans.
Meanwhile, across the Irish Sea, as last year, the Republic of Ireland ranks 7 of 180 countries, keeping its rating in the top ten, although concerns persist regarding the future funding of public media, and media ownership concentration.
A look at the league table
For the tenth year in a row, Norway topped the index, where it is followed by the Netherlands and Estonia. At the bottom of the table are Iran, China, North Korea and, for the third consecutive year, Eritrea brings up last place.
The country deemed ‘most improved’ is Syria (141), post-Assad, which has moved up 36 places. Turkey, though, has dropped from position 159 in 2025, to position 163 in 2026, with the report warning of a deepening of authoritarianism, and that media pluralism is increasingly under threat in the country.
There is some cautious optimism about the recent changes of government in both Poland (27) and Hungary (74).
In the United States, President Trump’s second term of office has brought about frequent attacks on the press and journalists, described as a “systematic policy”, which pushed the US down to 64 (from 57) in the index. Russia’s Vladimir Putin was described as “a specialist in using laws designed to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism to restrict press freedom” with a press dominated by either the state or Kremlin-linked oligarchs. Russia (172) was recorded as holding 48 journalists in prison as at April 2026.
The main causes of decline
In the report’s assessment, legal restrictions on the press have been the biggest cause of the decline in press freedom. Attempts to circumvent press laws, or the misuse of emergency legislation have been cited in the decline of media freedom in more than 60% of countries. These nations included Egypt (169), Georgia (135), India (157) and Israel (116).
The impact of wars has also had a significant effect. Since October 2023, more than 220 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, including at least 70 killed while carrying out their work. Many of those are widely believed to have been deliberately targeted.
All freedom depends on press freedom
In his 2026 World Press Freedom Day message, delivered on 3 May, shortly after the RSF report was published, UN Secretary General António Guterres stated that it serves as a reminder for governments, and local and international organisations to commit to and to preserve the rights of the men and women who dedicate themselves to a profession that can comes with many significant challenges.
Guterres also asserted: “All freedom depends on press freedom. And when journalism is undermined, crises become far more difficult to prevent and resolve. Without it, there can be no human rights, no sustainable development – and no peace”.
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