Sigma Live

Record Number of Journalist Deaths in 2025

Published January 1, 2026, 06:04
Record Number of Journalist Deaths in 2025

A record 128 journalists were killed worldwide in 2025, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The Middle East was the most dangerous region, accounting for over half of the deaths. Specifically, 56 journalists were killed in the Palestinian territories, an unprecedented number in such a short period and confined area. The IFJ expresses strong concern over the impunity of perpetrators, highlighting that a lack of justice encourages attacks on journalists. It also reports that 533 journalists are imprisoned globally, with a quarter of them held in China and Hong Kong. The IFJ records a higher death toll compared to other organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders, due to its different methodology, which includes deaths in accidents.