India’s position in the World Press Freedom Index 2025 by Reporters Without Borders (RWB) fell to 151 out of 180 countries demonstrating a worrying global trend of declining press freedom fueled by restrictions on media organizations because of financial turmoil. India’s declining position has fallen from 140 in 2019 to 161 in 2023 as Pakistan facing similar issues is at 158 in 2025.
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As noted in the RSF report, indicators of press freedom are at their lowest ever and more than half of the world population are Examples of “very serious” press freedom situations. Global economic instability is directly impacting media organizations which will increasingly rely upon financing provided by people with political ambitions. The countries ranked below India are China, North Korea and Pakistan.
India’s Declining Trend In 25 Last Years
In the past 25 years, India’s position in the World Press Freedom Index ratcheted down from 80 in 2002 to 159 by 2024. This downward trajectory began in 2017 and by 2023 India was number 161 out of 180, and actually increased by 10 to number 151 by 2025. By contrast, India’s movement can be seen from 122 in 2010 to then 140, in 2014, across subsequent years: 136 in 2015; 133, in 2016; drifting down from there: 142 in 2020 and 2021, 150 in 2022, and dropped to 159 in 2024. Most notably, India’s overall score on the Press Freedom Index reduced from 40.34, in 2014, to 31.28, in 2024, indicating a substantial fall in press freedom to just 31%.
What Causes Significant Decline In Press Freedom?
This decline is attributable to multiple factors, identified by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), including increased concentration of media ownership among those with political connections (which could diminish media diversity); and other restrictions on press freedom – so new legal liabilities and dangers for journalists.
Decline Of World Press Freedom In Other Places
Media ownership concentration is twisting the capacity for ownership diversity, with outlet owners’ financial connections to political elite affecting outlets in Lebanon and Armenia. In China and Vietnam, state control obstructs media activities to the state’s Will. RSF has verified the financial struggles of experienced journalists in 160 countries, with egregiously high journalism unemployment rates, and monitoring an alarming 14-point decrease in press freedom in the United States. All of the Middle East-North Africa region is dangerous for journalists, even South Africa and New Zealand have press freedom challenges, all pointing to a global press freedom crisis.
