At least 128 journalists and media workers were killed around the world in 2025, a sharp rise that a global press group has described as a “global crisis.”
The International Federation of Journalists released the figures on 31 December, warning that reporting the news is becoming increasingly deadly.
The Middle East and Arab world was the most dangerous region, accounting for 74 deaths. This includes 56 Palestinian journalists killed during the war in Gaza.
The report also recorded journalist deaths in countries such as Yemen, Ukraine and Sudan.
According to the IFJ, the toll includes nine accidental deaths and 10 women. It also said 533 journalists were jailed worldwide in 2025, with China listed as the biggest jailer.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said the figures show journalists are being targeted with little consequence.
“128 journalists killed in a single year is not just a statistic. It is a global crisis,” he said.
The federation highlighted several high-profile attacks, including the 10 August strike on a journalists’ tent near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza that killed Al Jazeera reporter Anas al-Sharif and others.
Press freedom groups say the pattern points to a dangerous mix of conflict reporting, deliberate targeting and weak legal protection for media workers.
As 2026 begins, the IFJ is urging governments to act, calling for stronger protections for journalists and an end to impunity for those who attack them.
