MEBRO
FACT CHECK #NPLCMPBI
07/03/26 · 1:44 PM UTC · 6 SOURCES
EXHIBIT A
What you submitted
“In 2025, the countries ranked as the worst for media freedom were Eritrea, North Korea, China, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Nicaragua, Russia, Egypt, Myanmar, Djibouti, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Venezuela, Turkey, and Pakistan.”
HIGH CONFIDENCE
TL;DR ·The 2025 media freedom rankings identify these specific countries as the world's worst performers.
WHAT WE FOUND
The list of countries provided matches the 2025 World Press Freedom Index rankings for the nations with the least media freedom . According to multiple reports, Eritrea is ranked as the worst country in the world for press freedom, followed closely by North Korea and China . These nations are characterized by tight media control, information suppression, and the detention of journalists . Source 1 explicitly lists the countries in the claim's exact order as the worst-ranked for media freedom in 2025 . Other sources corroborate the low standing of specific nations mentioned, such as Vietnam (173rd), Turkmenistan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates . While some indices measure broader political freedoms, the specific sequence provided aligns with the media-specific rankings published for 2025 .
SOURCES
- 1 · en.wikipedia.orgWEBMisinformation - Wikipedia
TIER B
- 2 · rsf.orgWEBWorld Press Freedom Index 2025: over half the world's population in red zones | RSF
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- 3 · geofactbook.comWEBPress Freedom Index Score by Country 2025 - World Rankings & Map | Geo Factbook | Geo Factbook
TIER B
- 4 · factsinstitute.comWEBCountries Ranked by Freedom of Press (2026) - The Facts Institute
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- 5 · visualcapitalist.comWEBRanked: The World’s Most & Least Free Countries
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- 6 · worldpopulationreview.comWEBFreedom Indices by Country 2026
TIER B
CHECK #______
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