The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Afghanistan remains among the lowest-ranked countries for media freedom, placing 175th out of 180 nations in the latest global index published by Reporters Without Borders.
According to the 2026 World Press Freedom Index,
Afghanistan’s position has not changed compared to the previous year. However,
the broader trend over recent years shows a significant decline, with the
country dropping dozens of places over roughly the past five years.
The report said that following the political changes in
2021, restrictions on media activities have increased and the working
environment for journalists has become more constrained. This situation has
persisted in recent years, contributing to Afghanistan’s continued low ranking.
Before 2021, Afghanistan held a comparatively better
position in the index, but it has since experienced a marked decline, with the
downward trajectory continuing in subsequent years.
Reporters Without Borders assesses press freedom annually
based on economic, legal, political, social and security indicators. In the
2026 report, the legal indicator showed one of the most significant declines,
reflecting growing legal restrictions on media operations in many countries.
Globally, the report also points to a worsening situation,
with more than half of the world’s countries now classified under “difficult”
or “very serious” conditions for press freedom. Norway retained the top
position in the index, while Eritrea ranked last.
