US drops to 64th in global press freedom rankings, slipping below Ukraine
For the first time in the Index's 25-year history, more than half of surveyed nations face difficult or very serious press freedom conditions.
Reporters Without Borders has released the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, revealing a historic downturn in global media liberty. The United States has fallen seven places to 64th globally, marking the lowest average score across all 180 surveyed countries and territories in the Index's quarter-century history.
In a significant shift, the US now ranks behind Ukraine, which has improved its standing by seven places to 55th. This marks the first time in the Index's history that the United States has dropped below the war-torn nation. The decline is attributed to President Donald Trump's systematic weaponisation of state institutions, a factor RSF identifies as central to the deterioration of press freedom in the country.
Specific actions cited in the report include funding cuts to public broadcasters such as NPR and PBS, political interference in media ownership, and politically motivated investigations targeting disfavoured journalists and outlets. Since the return to office, journalists have also faced new challenges on the ground during protests, reflecting a broader crisis described as one of the most severe for press freedom in modern US history.
Globally, the Nordic region remains the only area marked in green on the RSF map, with Norway retaining the top spot for the tenth consecutive year. Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia also occupy positions within the top 10, highlighting a stark contrast with the rest of the world where over half of nations are now classified as having difficult or very serious press freedom conditions.
The situation in Asia is described as one of the most repressive regions globally, with most countries coloured deep red on the map. China ranks 178th out of 180 and is identified as the world's largest jailer of journalists, with more than 100 currently detained. The report notes that independent journalists face broad legal definitions for offences and restrictions on legal representation.
North Korea and Eritrea remain the only countries ranked lower than China. As the Index highlights the slide toward autocracy, the data underscores a global environment where independent journalism faces unprecedented challenges across multiple regions.
