India Ranks 151 Out Of 180 Countries In World Press Freedom Index; Improved From 161st Position In 2023—Reports

New Delhi: India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index 2025 has fallen to 151st among 180 nations, according to Reporters Without Borders (RWB). This highlights a concerning worldwide pattern in press freedom, worsened by financial strains on media companies. India's position has declined from 140 in 2019 to 161 in 2023, whereas Pakistan, experiencing comparable issues, is at 158 in 2025.

The RSF report indicates that indicators of press freedom have reached their historical lows, with more than half of the world's population facing "very serious" press freedom situations. Economic instability is significantly affecting media organizations, which are becoming more dependent on financing from politically affiliated sources. Countries ranked below India are China, North Korea, and Pakistan, with Eritrea, a country in East Africa at the lowest position and Norway at the highest.

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India's Declining Trend In Past 25 Years

India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has significantly worsened in the past 25 years, falling from 80th in 2002 to 159th by 2024. The decline started in 2017, and as of 2023, India was positioned 161st among 180 countries, with a small enhancement anticipated to 151st by 2025. To provide context, India's rankings have notably changed from 122 in 2010 to 140 in 2014, with variations in the following years: 136 in 2015, 133 in 2016, and a steady decline, falling to 142 in both 2020 and 2021, 150 in 2022, and further descending to 159 in 2024. Significantly, India's total score on the Press Freedom Index declined from 40.34 in 2014 to 31.28 in 2024, indicating a significant decrease in press freedom to merely 31%.

What Leads To Drastic Decline In Press Freedom?

Various factors contribute to this decline, as identified by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a growing concentration of media ownership among politically connected individuals that threatens media diversity, and increasing restrictions on press freedom, including legal challenges and safety risks for journalists.

World Press Freedom Decline In Other Nations

The concentration of media ownership poses a significant threat to diversity, with financial ties to political elites affecting outlets in Lebanon and Armenia. In China and Vietnam, state control severely restricts media activities. RSF's findings indicate financial struggles in 160 countries, resulting in high journalism unemployment rates and a notable 14-point drop in press freedom in the U.S. The Middle East-North Africa is especially perilous for journalists, while even South Africa and New Zealand face challenges, signaling a global press freedom crisis.