World Press Freedom Index 2026: Lowest Level in 25 years, US Dropped Seven Places to 64th

For the first time in the history of Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index, more than half of the world’s countries now fall into the  “difficult” or “very serious” category for press freedom.

Paris: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released its annual ranking of the World Press Freedom Index. Norway has consistently topped the list for 10 years, while Eritrea is at the bottom. Released on April 30, 2026, the report is considered a barometer of the health of global democracy. Its results are used to evaluate the policies and practices of governments, international institutions, and human rights organizations.

The United States also fares poorly in the index. The United States has dropped seven places to 64th, citing political interference, funding cuts to public broadcasters, and actions targeting journalists.

Continents like Europe top the list, but even there, conditions for journalists are becoming increasingly difficult. According to the report, many European Union member states are violating the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), which was designed to protect journalists' freedom.

India does not even make the top 150. India has slipped to 157th place out of 180 countries, down from 151st in 2025. India is behind its neighbor Pakistan (153rd). It also ranks below countries like Georgia, Cambodia, and Laos. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal also rank better than India in terms of press freedom. The list also includes Georgia (135), Israel (116), Cambodia (151), Myanmar (166), China (178), and Russia (172).

RSF concluded in its report that the working environment for journalists worldwide is continuously deteriorating. In particular, it expressed concern over the increasing misuse of criminal laws, such as defamation and national security, against journalists. The organization states that such legal provisions are being used as a weapon to intimidate journalists and suppress independent voices.

In its report, RSF clearly states that political pressure on the media is increasing globally. RSF warns that "the rule of law is collapsing, pointing to the increasing criminalization of journalism."

More than half of the countries surveyed are in the difficult or very serious category. This is the lowest level in 25 years for all 180 countries studied. This means that the state of press freedom has deteriorated in more than 100 countries worldwide compared to the previous year.

The World Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking published by the non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) since 2002. The index calculates the state of freedom for journalists and media organizations in 180 countries worldwide. It is calculated based on several factors, including political context, legal frameworks, editorial independence, violence and harassment against journalists.