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Press Freedom Index 2026
Where journalists can report freely, and where they canโt. Global press freedom is at its lowest point in the 25 years it has been measured.
Each bar is one country, tall for high scores. Move across the bars (or drag on a phone, or use the arrow keys) to see each one.
What changed in 2026
of countries now fall into the โdifficultโ or โvery seriousโ categories. Itโs the first time thatโs been a majority; in 2002 it was 13.7%.
of the worldโs population lives in a country where press freedom is rated โgood,โ down from 20% in 2002.
countries saw their legal score worsen, the sharpest drop of the five indicators. National security laws and abusive lawsuits are the main drivers.
Biggest moves since 2025
Ranks change for many reasons: war, new governments, new laws, or the killing of journalists.
Climbed
- +36Syria, now 141st
The largest rise in the 2026 index, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the political transition. Still rated โvery serious.โ - +7Ukraine, now 55th
Now ranked above the United States despite the ongoing war. - +1Uzbekistan, now 147th
Up one place, though its overall score actually fell slightly, from 35.24 to 34.95.
Fell
- โ37Niger, now 120th
The steepest fall this year, part of a wider decline across the Sahel under military juntas and armed groups. - โ14Peru, now 144th
Four journalists were murdered in the country in 2025. - โ14Saudi Arabia, now 176th
Repeated violence against journalists in 2025, including the execution of journalist Turki al-Jasser. - โ11Argentina, now 98th
Growing government hostility and pressure on the press. - โ7United States, now 64th
Sustained attacks on the press from the White House and deep cuts to US-funded international broadcasters.
Country rankings
Rank out of 180 countries and territories, with each oneโs score out of 100. Higher scores mean freer press.
| Rank | Country | Region | Score | vs 2025 |
|---|
How the index works
Each year, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) assesses 180 countries and territories on how freely journalists can work. Every country gets a score from 0 to 100, where 100 is best, built from five indicators that count equally.
Scores place each country in one of five categories: good, satisfactory, problematic, difficult, or very serious.
- PoliticalGovernment pressure and interference
- LegalLaws that protect or punish reporting
- EconomicWhether independent media can survive
- SocioculturalSocial and cultural pressure on journalists
- SecurityPhysical danger, arrests and killings
Source: 2026 RSF World Press Freedom Index, published 30 April 2026. Rank 57 is missing from the published table this page draws on, so 179 countries are listed.