It is deeply concerning that over half of the global population resides in places 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 areas where press freedom is considered good or satisfactory.
The 2024 World Press Freedom Index reveals that 36 countries, an increase from 31 in the previous year, are home to this at-risk population. Among these countries 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 the early part of 2024 further exacerbated press freedom violations, solidifying their positions in the lower sixth of the Index. India, currently going through elections, is no exception, with its press freedom ranking also reflecting the challenges faced by journalists in the country.