Press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years, according to RSF

Press freedom has dropped to its lowest level in 25 years, Reporters Without Borders warned on Thursday.

The media watchdog pointed to what it described as “systematic” attacks on journalists by US President Donald Trump, as well as the execution of a journalist in Saudi Arabia in 2025.

“For the first time in the index’s 25-year history, more than half of the world’s countries fall into the ‘difficult’ or ‘very serious’ categories for press freedom,” the organisation said, adding that the global average score has never been lower.

It also noted a sharp decline in the share of the world’s population living in countries where press freedom is rated “good,” dropping from 20 percent to under one percent. Only seven Northern European countries, led by Norway, fall into this category.

The United States, already downgraded to a “problematic” situation in 2024 during Trump’s re-election year, fell another seven places to 64th. RSF said the decline reflects not only political pressure on the media but also incidents such as the detention and deportation of Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara and major cuts to funding for US international broadcasting.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin has overseen increasing use of laws on terrorism, separatism and extremism to curb press freedom, with 48 journalists imprisoned as of April 2026, the report said.

The sharpest decline this year was recorded in Niger, which dropped 37 places to 120th, highlighting a broader deterioration across the Sahel as armed groups and military regimes restrict access to diverse and balanced information.

At the top of the rankings, Norway retained first place for the 10th consecutive year, while Eritrea remained last for the third year running.

The most notable improvement was seen in Syria following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. Although the country rose 36 places to 141st, RSF cautioned that conditions remain “very serious.”

RSF editorial director Anne Bocande said existing protections are insufficient, warning that international law is being eroded and impunity remains widespread.

“We need firm guarantees and meaningful sanctions,” she said.