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Press freedom has dropped to its lowest point in 25 years, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The agency warned of a global decline driven by political pressure, repression and worsening conditions for journalists.
In its latest report released on Thursday, the media watchdog said more than half of the world’s countries now fall into difficult or very serious categories for press freedom, the first time this has happened since the index was created.
“For the first time in the (RSF) Index’s 25-year history, more than half the world’s countries now fall into the ‘difficult’ or ‘very serious’ categories for press freedom.
“The average score for all countries and territories worldwide has never been so low,” it said.
RSF said the proportion of the global population living in countries where press freedom is considered “good” has fallen sharply, dropping from about 20 percent to less than one percent.
Only a handful of countries, mainly in Northern Europe and led by Norway, remain in this category.
The organisation pointed to growing pressure on journalists in several countries, including the United States, where it said conditions have worsened further. The US dropped seven places to 64th position after previously being rated as having a “problematic” environment.
According to the report, the situation in the US has been marked by sustained attacks on the media, as well as incidents such as the detention and deportation of Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara and cuts to funding for international broadcasting.
RSF also raised concerns about Russia, saying authorities have increasingly used laws related to terrorism, extremism and separatism to restrict press freedom. It noted that dozens of journalists were in detention as of April 2026.
“Vladimir Putin’s Russia (172nd) has become a specialist in using laws designed to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism to restrict press freedom,” RSF warned.
“As of April 2026, the country held 48 journalists behind bars”
The report identified Niger as recording the sharpest decline in the latest index, dropping 37 places, as deterioration in press freedom across the Sahel region heightens.
RSF said the trend reflects increasing restrictions by both armed groups and military-led governments, which have limited access to balanced and independent information.
