Latvia rises to 12th place in the Press Freedom Index

RIGA - Latvia has moved up to 12th place in the Press Freedom Index, according to the latest ranking published by the international organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Latvia has risen four places in the index in a year, from 16th in 2023 to 12th in the latest report. Latvia's performance improved in almost all indicators of the index, except for the security indicator.

Norway, Denmark and Sweden are the highest ranked countries. Estonia is sixth in the index, up two places in a year, while Lithuania has dropped six places to 13th.

RSF explains that press freedom is under threat around the world from those who are supposed to be its guarantors - the political authorities. This conclusion is based on the fact that, of the five indicators used to compile the ranking, it is the political indicator that has fallen the most, recording a global average drop of 7.6 points. The overall drop in the political indicator has also affected the top three of the World Press Freedom Index. Afghanistan, Syria and Eritrea round off the ranking with the worst press freedom situation in the world.

The Maghreb and the Middle East are the worst performing regions in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index. This is followed by Asia and the South Pacific. In Africa, while less than 10 percent of countries in the region are in a "very serious" situation, almost half are in a "difficult" situation, according to RSF.

All the countries where press freedom is "good" are in Europe, more specifically in the European Union, which has adopted its first media freedom law.