Global press freedom has reached its lowest point in five decades, according to a sobering new report from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). The Stockholm-based think tank found that journalistic freedom has sharply deteriorated across all continents between 2019 and 2024.
Among the hardest-hit countries are Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, and Myanmar—nations already struggling with fragile democratic systems. South Korea also experienced a notable decline, with the report citing a surge in defamation cases filed by authorities and politically aligned figures, along with invasive raids on journalists’ homes.
IDEA Secretary General Kevin Casas-Zamora underscored the gravity of the findings, calling the state of global democracy “concerning.” He said the most disturbing trend is “the very acute deterioration in press freedom,” which the institute describes as the steepest drop since its records began.
“We’ve never seen such an acute deterioration in a key indicator of democratic health,” Casas-Zamora told AFP.
According to the report, press freedoms declined in 43 countries—15 in Africa and 15 in Europe—while over half of the world’s nations showed setbacks in at least one of five key democratic indicators.
Casas-Zamora pointed to a dangerous mix of heavy-handed government actions—some rooted in pandemic-era emergency powers—and the growing misuse of “disinformation” claims to suppress critical media voices.
He also highlighted the troubling decline of local media and the monopolization of traditional outlets, both of which threaten democratic discourse.
While the report only covers the period up to 2024, Casas-Zamora warned of disturbing trends seen during recent U.S. political events. “Since what happens in the US has this ability to go global, this does not bode well for democracy globally,” he cautioned.
