Independent reporting is facing a global retreat. In 2002, only 13.7% of countries and territories were classified as having a “difficult” or “very serious” situation. By 2026, that figure had nearly quadrupled to 52.2%, meaning most nations now face substantial obstacles to independent journalism. According to the latest World Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), this deterioration mirrors broader declines in global freedom, as governments increasingly restrict information and criminalize newsgathering.
The index ranks 180 countries and territories based on five indicators: political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and journalist safety. This gallery looks at the bottom 30 countries where reporting has become most perilous.
Click on for the full breakdown.