It is deeply concerning that nearly half of the world’s population resides in areas where press freedom is severely compromised, putting journalists at risk of harm or imprisonment. Only a small fraction, less than 8%, are fortunate enough to live in regions where press freedom is considered good or satisfactory.
The 2024 World Press Freedom Index has revealed that over 36 countries, an increase from 31 in the previous year, are home to this at-risk population. Among these nations are some of the most densely populated in the world, with five of the top ten most populous nations colored red on the index map. These nations include India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Russia, each ranking poorly in terms of press freedom.
In these countries, elections held in 2023 or early 2024 further exacerbated press freedom violations and solidified their positions in the lower sixth of the Index. India is no exception as it currently goes through elections and its press freedom ranking reflects the challenges faced by journalists in the country.
