Press freedom hits 25-year low as RSF Index 2026 warns of global decline

Press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in 25 years, Reporters Without Borders warned on Thursday in its annual index. For the first time in the RSF Index's history, more than half the world's countries now fall into the "difficult" or "very serious" categories.

The report cited US President Donald Trump's "systematic" attacks on journalists and Saudi Arabia's execution of a journalist in 2025 among its key examples.

What does the RSF Press Freedom Index 2026 show?

The 2026 RSF Index finds that the average press freedom score across all countries has never been lower in the index's 25-year history.

The share of the world's population living in a country rated "good" for press freedom has collapsed from 20 percent to less than one percent. Only seven countries in Northern Europe, led by Norway, still qualify for that category.

Which country ranks first for press freedom in 2026?

Norway topped the RSF Press Freedom Index for the tenth consecutive year. Eritrea came last for the third straight year. The biggest improvement was recorded in Syria, which climbed 36 places to 141st following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, though RSF warned the situation there remained "very serious."

Where does the US rank on the 2026 press freedom index?

The United States dropped a further seven places to 64th in 2026, having already fallen from a "fairly good" to a "problematic" rating in 2024, the year of Donald Trump's re-election.

The report cited Trump's attacks on the press as "a systematic policy." It also pointed to the detention and expulsion of Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, who had reported on migrant arrests, and to drastic cuts to US international broadcasting funding.

What is happening to press freedom in Russia and the Sahel?

Russia ranked 172nd and has become what RSF called "a specialist in using laws designed to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism to restrict press freedom." As of April 2026, the country held 48 journalists behind bars. The steepest single decline in the 2026 index was in junta-led Niger, which fell 37 places to 120th.

RSF said Niger's drop reflected a broader deterioration across the Sahel region, where attacks by armed groups and ruling juntas have suppressed access to balanced information. The pattern of military governments restricting independent journalism has accelerated across multiple countries in the region in recent years.

What does RSF say needs to happen to protect journalists?

RSF editorial director Anne Bocande said current protection mechanisms were insufficient and that international law was being undermined. "Impunity is rife," she said, calling for "firm guarantees and meaningful sanctions" to reverse the trend.

The organization warned that without stronger enforcement, the decline in press freedom recorded over the past 25 years was likely to continue.