In dozens of countries around the world, journalists and media outlets serve as little more than government mouthpieces – and often not by choice. In these places, dissent in the press is often met with intimidation and violence.
Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia has jailed multiple journalists who are openly critical of the invasion. Earlier, in 2020, Iran executed a journalist who ran a popular anti-government website. These punitive actions impact more than just the journalists involved and have a chilling effect on all media outlets. (Here is a look at the most corrupt countries in the world.)
Using the 2022 World Press Freedom Index from the independent journalism advocacy group Reporters Without Borders, or RSF, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 26 countries with the least press freedom. We ranked countries by their index score, which RSF calculated using press survey data, reviewing 180 countries. We added GDP per capita and population data from the World Bank.
The index is broken down into five distinct subcategories: political context, which measures independence from political pressure; legal framework, a measure of journalistic censorship, discrimination, and legal protections; economic context, which accounts for the overall media business environment; sociocultural context, which includes the press’ ability to cover certain issues that may run counter to the prevailing culture; and finally, safety, a measure of the press’ ability to report without fear of mental, physical, or personal harm.
The countries with the least press freedom span the world from North America to Southeast Asia, and include both Russia and Iran. They are almost exclusively authoritarian and are generally poor. Though the countries on this list span the globe, the vast majority are located in Asia. (Here is a look at the countries the U.S. government doesn’t want you to go to.)
Click here to see the worst countries for press freedom, according to reporters without borders.
26. Russia
> Press freedom score in 2022: 38.8 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 51.3 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 27.0 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $12,195
> Population, 2021: 143,449,286
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25. Afghanistan
> Press freedom score in 2022: 38.3 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Political context; 44.6 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 17.0 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $369
> Population, 2021: 40,099,462
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24. Pakistan
> Press freedom score in 2022: 38.0 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Legal framework; 53.3 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 17.8 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $1,505
> Population, 2021: 231,402,117
23. Kuwait
> Press freedom score in 2022: 37.9 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Safety; 73.4 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Economic context; 19.4 out of 100
> 2020 GDP per capita: $24,300
> Population, 2021: 4,250,114
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22. Venezuela
> Press freedom score in 2022: 37.8 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 47.5 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 31.2 out of 100
> 2014 GDP per capita: $15,976
> Population, 2021: 28,199,867
21. Nicaragua
> Press freedom score in 2022: 37.1 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 49.8 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 27.7 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $2,046
> Population, 2021: 6,850,540
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20. Laos
> Press freedom score in 2022: 36.6 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Safety; 50.6 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Economic context; 20.9 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $2,536
> Population, 2021: 7,425,057
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19. Bangladesh
> Press freedom score in 2022: 36.6 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 48.5 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 15.9 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $2,458
> Population, 2021: 169,356,251
18. Oman
> Press freedom score in 2022: 36.0 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Safety; 59.8 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Legal framework; 18.4 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $19,509
> Population, 2021: 4,520,471
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17. Djibouti
> Press freedom score in 2022: 35.8 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Safety; 54.6 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Economic context; 16.1 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $3,150
> Population, 2021: 1,105,557
16. Honduras
> Press freedom score in 2022: 34.6 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Safety; 40.2 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 31.0 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $2,772
> Population, 2021: 10,278,345
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15. Saudi Arabia
> Press freedom score in 2022: 33.7 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Safety; 38.8 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Legal framework; 22.4 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $23,186
> Population, 2021: 35,950,396
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14. Bahrain
> Press freedom score in 2022: 31.0 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 39.7 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Economic context; 21.4 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $26,563
> Population, 2021: 1,463,265
13. Egypt
> Press freedom score in 2022: 30.2 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 44.3 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 17.6 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $3,699
> Population, 2021: 109,262,178
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12. Yemen
> Press freedom score in 2022: 29.1 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Legal framework; 38.6 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 11.5 out of 100
> 2018 GDP per capita: $702
> Population, 2021: 32,981,641
11. Palestine
> Press freedom score in 2022: 29.0 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 36.5 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Economic context; 15.8 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $3,664
> Population, 2021: 4,922,749
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10. Syria
> Press freedom score in 2022: 28.9 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 36.6 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 13.4 out of 100
> 2020 GDP per capita: $533
> Population, 2021: 21,324,367
9. Iraq
> Press freedom score in 2022: 28.6 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 40.7 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 18.3 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $4,775
> Population, 2021: 43,533,592
8. Cuba
> Press freedom score in 2022: 27.3 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Economic context; 39.8 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Legal framework; 15.8 out of 100
> 2020 GDP per capita: $9,500
> Population, 2021: 11,256,372
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7. Vietnam
> Press freedom score in 2022: 26.1 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 34.7 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 17.4 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $3,756
> Population, 2021: 97,468,029
6. China
> Press freedom score in 2022: 25.2 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Sociocultural context; 33.3 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 15.8 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $12,556
> Population, 2021: 1,412,360,000
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5. Myanmar
> Press freedom score in 2022: 25.0 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Political context; 40.4 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 4.6 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $1,210
> Population, 2021: 53,798,084
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4. Turkmenistan
> Press freedom score in 2022: 25.0 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Safety; 35.7 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Economic context; 11.7 out of 100
> 2019 GDP per capita: $7,345
> Population, 2021: 6,341,855
3. Iran
> Press freedom score in 2022: 23.2 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Political context; 30.7 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 13.6 out of 100
> 2021 GDP per capita: $4,091
> Population, 2021: 87,923,432
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2. Eritrea
> Press freedom score in 2022: 19.6 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Legal framework; 25.1 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Safety; 11.4 out of 100
> 2011 GDP per capita: $644
> Population, 2021: 3,620,312
1. North Korea
> Press freedom score in 2022: 13.9 out of 100
> Best area of press freedom: Legal framework; 22.8 out of 100
> Worst area of press freedom: Economic context; 0 out of 100
> GDP per capita: N/A
> Population, 2021: 25,971,909
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