Norway retained its position as the country with the most freedom of the press in 2025, according to the annual World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), but a broader trend of decline in global press freedom is reshaping perceptions of established democratic hubs.
The index, which assesses the environment for journalists in 180 countries and territories, placed Norway at the top with a score of 92.31. Estonia and the Netherlands followed in second and third place, respectively. The United States did not appear in the top ten, and several European nations experienced slight declines in their rankings.
While the Nordic countries consistently dominate the upper echelons of the index, the report highlights a concerning trend: a global deterioration in conditions for journalism. The methodology used by RSF evaluates countries across five categories: political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and safety. Changes to the methodology in 2022 have shifted the thresholds for categorization, but the overall trend remains downward.
Germany, ranked 11th, saw a slight decrease in its score, attributed in part to increasing concerns over online harassment of journalists and the economic pressures facing local news organizations. Switzerland, ranked ninth, faces challenges related to the concentration of media ownership. Czechia, at number 10, experienced a dip due to political polarization and increasing distrust in media.
The report notes that the index does not assess the quality of journalism itself, but rather the environment in which it is practiced. Reporters Without Borders emphasizes that the WPFI focuses solely on press freedom and does not measure broader human rights issues. However, the organization’s analysis suggests a correlation between declining press freedom and broader democratic backsliding.
UNESCO’s World Trends Report, covering the period from January 2022 to November 2025, documents a global decline in freedom of expression, a trend that mirrors the findings of the RSF index. This decline is fueled by a combination of factors, including increased government censorship, the use of surveillance technologies, and the spread of disinformation.
The Press Freedom Global Alliance has been honoring individuals who advocate for press freedom worldwide, but the Alliance’s efforts are occurring against a backdrop of increasing challenges. The Consortium for Press Freedom is also working to defend journalists and combat censorship in over 100 countries, but the scale of the problem is growing.
The 2025 index reveals a complex landscape, with some countries making progress while others experience significant setbacks. The overall trend, however, is clear: press freedom is under threat in many parts of the world, and the consequences for democracy and accountability are profound. RSF has not yet publicly responded to requests for comment regarding specific policy recommendations to address the identified trends.
