According to Reporters Without Borders, press freedom worldwide has reached an all-time low. The organization, on the other hand, rates the situation in Switzerland as “rather good”. The country moved up one place in the annual rankings – also because of Portugal’s decline.
“In 25 years, the average value of all countries examined has never been so low,” writes Reporters Without Borders in a press release on Wednesday. More than half of the states assessed are in the “difficult” to “very serious” categories. In 2002 it was only 13 percent.
A protest in Bogota, Colombia, in September 2025.Image: keystone
According to the international non-governmental organization, journalism is “stifled by a hostile political discourse.” The “fragile” economic situation is also weakening the industry. In addition, media professionals are exposed to increasing pressure, “increased by laws that are used as a weapon against the press.”
Of the five indicators measuring press freedom (economic, legal, security, political and social), the legal framework is deteriorating the most – “a sign of the increasing criminalization of journalism”. This value has worsened in over 60 percent of countries (110 out of 180).
“In view of the numerous risks for journalists, the political measures are not able to offer solutions,” criticizes the NGO.
USA worse than ever
The USA has lost seven more places compared to the previous year and now ranks at number 64 – the worst it has ever been since the ranking was introduced in 2001.
Switzerland is in eighth place. However, according to Reporters Without Borders, “legal problems, in particular the application of bank secrecy to journalists and civil law measures to block journalistic content” continue to place a heavy burden on the media.
For Denis Masmejan, Secretary General of Reporters Without Borders Switzerland, Switzerland has “all the prerequisites to become a role model for press freedom” in this global context.
Denis Masmejan, Secretary General of Reporters Without Borders Switzerland.Image: keystone
The organization also criticizes precautionary measures that “too many media outlets” are confronted with. The fact that courts can make such decisions without first hearing the media in question represents “a serious threat to freedom of the press”.
The organization also demands that the Federal Council give greater consideration to the role of the information media in the planned law to regulate digital platforms. The draft presented last fall does not go far enough. In addition, the economic situation of the media in Switzerland remains “worrying”.
Norway in first place
Norway takes top spot in the rankings for the tenth time in a row, ahead of the Netherlands and Estonia. Eritrea comes last, behind North Korea and China.
Syria recorded the largest rise compared to 2025 (+36 places) and is now in 141st place. According to Reporters Without Borders, this is linked to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The ranking is based on a point system from 0 to 100: the higher the value, the greater the freedom of the press. (hkl/sda)