By late 2025, the global state of press freedom has reached a critical tipping point. For the first time, the global average score in the World Press Freedom Index has fallen into the “difficult” category, driven by unprecedented economic fragility in the media sector and record-breaking violence against journalists.
The 2025 landscape is defined by two major crises: economic asphyxiation—where independent media are being starved of revenue by tech giants and ownership concentration—and physical obliteration, with 2024 and 2025 marking the deadliest years for journalists in decades, largely due to conflicts in the Middle East.
1. 2025 Global Press Freedom Rankings
The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2025 Index reveals a widening gap between the few safe havens and the rest of the world. Over 50% of the global population now lives in “red zones,” where the situation is classified as “very serious”.
Top Performers (The “Green Zone”)
Scandinavian and Northern European nations continue to lead, anchored by strong legal protections and public trust.
Bottom Performers (The “Red Zone”)
These regimes maintain near-total control over information, with little to no independent media existence.
- Eritrea (Bottom-most country)
- North Korea
- China (Rank 178, dropping from 172 in 2024)
- Vietnam (Rank 173)
- Iran and Russia remain near the bottom, with Russia ranked 171.
Notable Movers & Shakers
- India: Ranked 151, an improvement of 8 places from 159 in 2024. While the rank improved, the score remains low (32.96), and the environment remains hostile with high ownership concentration.
- United States: Ranked 57, dropping two points. The decline is attributed to economic indicators plummeting by over 14 points in two years and funding cuts to public media bodies like the USAGM.
- Hong Kong: Ranked 140, dropping from 135, continuing its slide into the “red zone” alongside China.
2. Key Trends & Drivers of Decline
A. Economic Fragility: The Silent Killer
The 2025 Index highlights “economic pressure” as the year’s most distinct threat. The global economic indicator score dropped by more than 2 points, a sharper decline than political or security indicators.
- Ad Revenue Monopoly: Tech giants (Google, Meta, X) have absorbed the vast majority of advertising revenue, leaving newsrooms bankrupt. In one-third of countries, media outlets are actively shutting down due to insolvency.
- Ownership Concentration: In 46 countries, media ownership is highly concentrated or state-controlled, allowing oligarchs and governments to stifle dissent through budget cuts rather than censorship.
B. Record Violence and Impunity
Physical safety for journalists has hit a historic low.
- Deadliest Years on Record: 2024 was the deadliest year in CPJ history with 124 journalists killed. By December 2025, the toll had already reached 126, equaling the record.
- Gaza & The Middle East: The conflict involving Israel remains the primary driver of these deaths. In 2025 alone, Israel was responsible for the deaths of at least 86 journalists.
- Imprisonment: China, Myanmar, Belarus, and Israel remain the world’s top jailers of journalists, with over 361 media workers imprisoned globally at the start of 2025.
3. Real-World Implications
The erosion of press freedom is not just an industry problem; it creates measurable fallout across society and the economy.
The data from 2024 and 2025 illustrates a shift in how press freedom is suppressed. While traditional methods like jailing and assassination are at record highs (particularly in conflict zones), economic strangulation has emerged as the preferred tool for silencing dissent in democracies and autocracies alike. The implications are clear: a less free press correlates directly with poorer economic performance, higher corruption, and a more violent society.