Maldives ranked among most difficult countries for journalism in Press Freedom Index

The Maldives remains among the most difficult countries in which to practise journalism, according to the latest World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on the occasion of International Press Freedom Day.

The index, compiled annually by RSF, places the Maldives at 104th in 2024. While this marks a slight improvement from last year’s position at 106th, the country continues to fall under the category of nations where journalism is increasingly constrained.

The Maldives has seen a consistent decline in the rankings in recent years. In 2022, the country was ranked 87th and categorised as having a satisfactory level of press freedom. By 2023, the Maldives had dropped 13 places to 100th, and was listed among the countries where journalism is considered difficult. In 2024, the country saw a further decline to 106th before its slight climb to 104th in the most recent assessment.

The decline has been attributed in part to legal reforms perceived to impact press freedom. In January 2023, under the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, amendments were made to the Evidence Act, allowing courts to compel journalists to reveal their sources. This move drew criticism from media rights organisations and journalists' associations.

The 2024 index ranks Norway, Estonia, and the Netherlands as the top three countries with the highest levels of press freedom. Eritrea, North Korea, and China occupy the lowest positions, with what RSF describes as dangerously low press freedom environments.