Iraq has fallen in the World Press Freedom Index for 2026, ranking 162nd out of 180 countries, down seven places on last year.
The result puts Iraq behind countries such as Cuba and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but ahead of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. First place went to Norway, with Eritrea coming last.
Reporters Without Borders (RWB, RSF), which publishes the annual study, said:
“Between political instability and financial pressure, journalists face threats from all sides and are up against the weakness of the state, which is failing in its duty to protect them.”
