Half of the World’s Population Lives in Areas with Significant Restrictions on Media Freedom: Reporters Without Borders Report

In contrast to the global average, only a small percentage of the world population resides in areas with satisfactory press freedom. Unfortunately, more than half of the world’s population lives in regions with significant restrictions on media freedom, and journalists face potential risks to their safety and liberty.

A recent study by Reporters Without Borders reveals that 36 countries with significant populations are particularly dangerous for journalists. Among these nations, five of the world’s most populous countries – India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Russia – received poor rankings for press freedom. It is concerning that despite holding elections in these countries either in 2023 or early 2024, the situation did not improve but instead worsened. The continued placement of these countries in the lower portion of the World Press Freedom Index rankings highlights the need for greater attention to be paid to this issue globally.