Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, keeping the country among the world’s worst environments for media freedom.
According to the report, Afghanistan’s overall score rose slightly from 17.88 in 2025 to 19.51 in 2026, but the improvement was not enough to meaningfully alter its critical global standing.
RSF evaluates countries across political, economic, legal, social, and security indicators. In Afghanistan’s case, the report says severe political control, pressure on editorial independence, and broad restrictions continue to define the media landscape.
The findings suggest Afghanistan’s media crisis extends beyond outlet closures alone, encompassing censorship, political pressure, security threats, and legal limitations.
Remaining near the bottom of global rankings indicates that under Taliban rule, journalism in Afghanistan continues to function less as an independent watchdog and more within an environment shaped by survival, restriction, and systemic pressure.
The report underscores the broader implications for public access to independent information, pluralism, and free expression.
