Syria made progress in the 2026 Press Freedom Index issued by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), recording the world’s biggest advance after years of being ranked among the ten worst countries globally for press freedom.
Reporters Without Borders issued its annual Press Freedom Index for 2026, warning that media freedom has reached its lowest level in 25 years.
The index, released today, Thursday, April 30, said more than half of the world’s countries, 52.2%, now fall within the “difficult” or “very serious” zones, an unprecedented level since the ranking was launched in 2001, as the right to access information has eroded under pressure from national security legislation and the criminalization of journalistic work.
Syria Makes Biggest Global Advance
Syria achieved the largest rise in the ranking table in the 2026 edition, advancing 36 places to settle at 141st globally, after ranking 177th in the 2025 index.
The organization attributed this notable progress to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, noting that the country is currently going through a political transition that has moved it out of the “black zone,” meaning the very serious situation it remained in for many years as one of the world’s worst environments for journalistic work.
Major Powers Decline, Norway Leads
The report recorded a sharp decline in the rankings of democratic countries, with the United States losing seven places to rank 64th, while Niger recorded the world’s largest decline, falling 37 places as a result of armed attacks and military repression.
At the top of the ranking, Norway maintained first place for the tenth consecutive year, while Eritrea came last in 180th place, preceded by North Korea and China.
A Difficult Reality in the Arab Region
The report pointed to a severe deterioration in the Middle East, especially in Palestine, which ranked 156th, as a result of the Israeli war on Gaza, in which more than 220 journalists were killed. In other countries, including Iraq, which ranked 162nd, Sudan, 161st, and Yemen, 164th, the report described the situation as “very serious” because armed conflicts overlap with political repression, leaving journalists caught between repression by authorities and restrictions imposed by armed groups.
In Saudi Arabia, the report recorded a decline of 14 places due to the continued policies of a security grip, pointing to the execution of journalist Turki al-Jasser in 2025 as a milestone in intimidating free voices.
At the Bottom During the Assad Rule
Syria had risen two places in press freedom after ranking 179th in 2024, during the Assad regime rule, to rank 177th, according to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index issued by Reporters Without Borders.
“The fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad ended five decades of brutal and violent repression practiced by the Assad dynasty against the press,” according to the organization. Although journalists now have greater freedom, it remains fragile amid political instability and growing economic pressures.
According to Reporters Without Borders, political pressure on journalists has declined following the fall of the Syrian regime, while local media institutions are still working hard to create a sustainable framework for independent journalism. Calls continue from Syrian journalists and national media outlets, alongside local associations defending press freedom, for a new constitution that guarantees their right to access information.
Uneven Performance
Commenting on the results, rights defender Mansour al-Omari described the country’s rise from the bottom of the ranking as a restoration of Syria’s civilizational identity. Al-Omari explained that the detailed analysis of the five indicators shows uneven performance, as Syria achieved a qualitative leap in the political indicator by advancing 74 places, ranking 103rd globally. This indicator measures the degree of respect for the independence of media outlets in the face of political pressure. Syria also advanced in the economic indicator by 72 places, the social indicator by 39 places, and the legislative indicator by 38 places.
Despite this rise, al-Omari said the safety and security indicator remains the biggest and weakest challenge, despite advancing 26 places to rank 154th. This indicator concerns the ability to gather and publish information without fear of physical or psychological harm.
At the Arab level, al-Omari said Syria advanced 11 places, settling in tenth place among 22 Arab countries.
He credited this new position to the sacrifices of activists and journalists, the documentation efforts of rights organizations, and the role of state institutions in preparing a more open environment. He stressed that this advance is not the end of the road, but a cornerstone for a long path that requires drafting legal frameworks that guarantee the independence of journalistic work as one of the pillars of modern Syria.
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