Global press freedom has reached its worst level since Reporters Without Borders began measuring in 2001, with less than 1% of the world's population living in countries with good press freedom and 52% now in situations classified as difficult or very serious, according to the organisation.
The legal indicator in the RSF index is declining the most, with laws increasingly used as weapons against journalism, according to RSF. Journalism is being criminalized to an increasing extent, not only in dictatorships but also in former democracies, RSF stated. Which specific laws are being weaponized remains unclear.
When we started measuring, 20 percent of the world's population lived in a country with good press freedom, and today that figure is under one percent.
The United States has dropped seven places since Donald Trump was elected to a second term, now ranking 64th in the 'problematic' category, according to RSF. According to Erik Larsson, RSF spokesperson, President Trump's daily attacks on the media and a 'hostile media effect' where more radical people increasingly criticize the media have contributed to the decline.
Sweden has dropped one place for the second consecutive year and now ranks 5th in the index, according to RSF. Erik Larsson attributed Sweden's decline to laws restricting journalists' work, such as the ban on photographing police stations. The exact factors behind Sweden's continued decline are not fully understood.
In practice, journalism is being criminalized to an increasing extent, not only in dictatorships but also in countries that were previously seen as democracies.
Notable changes include Poland rising from 66th to 27th place since 2022, according to RSF. Syria has risen 36 places to 141st after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, though the situation remains 'very serious', according to RSF. Niger experienced the largest decline, dropping 37 places, and Georgia dropped 21 places, according to RSF.
India ranks 157th out of 180 countries in the 2025 RSF index, while China and Russia remain in the bottom tier, according to RSF. Eritrea is at the bottom for the third consecutive year, according to RSF. Deteriorations in press freedom are occurring in all parts of the world, according to RSF. The average score in the RSF index has worsened successively over 25 years, according to RSF.
It shows that positive changes are possible. The new government has a completely different attitude than the previous one and is trying to restore more independent public service. It makes me hope for a similar development in Hungary.
What worries me is how the principle of public access to information has increasingly been curtailed. Local newspaper reporters testify that it has become more difficult to obtain information and that politicians make themselves unavailable.
They use laws and legal opportunities as weapons against journalists. Journalism is being criminalized.
Trump goes on the attack against the media on a daily basis. He wants to portray himself as an outsider. The media is supposed to represent the elite that stands between him and the people.
Their previous government attacked and controlled the media. Now their new government has wanted to restore what was lost. So they have climbed about 40 places in just a few years and are now at 27th place.
If you think it's over, then you will definitely lose. History has repeatedly shown that even in the darkest times, there is a way forward.