The Maldives has recorded improvement in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, rising from 106th to 104th place out of 180 countries.

The index, released annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), assesses press freedom across political, legal, economic, sociocultural, and safety-related indicators.

This year, the Maldives received a score of 52.46, up slightly from 52.36 in 2024. Although this marks modest progress, RSF continues to classify the press freedom situation in the country as "difficult." This classification sits in the middle of RSF’s five-tier rating system, which ranges from "good" to "very serious."

Globally, the top five countries with the highest levels of press freedom in 2025 are Norway, Estonia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland. These nations consistently maintain strong legal protections and favourable environments for journalists. In contrast, the global report points to growing economic pressures, widespread disinformation, and increasing threats against journalists as key factors contributing to a decline in press freedom elsewhere.

Within the South Asia region, the Maldives ranks second, behind only Nepal. This regional standing suggests a relatively stronger media environment in the Maldives, though challenges remain.

The 2025 index also highlights a global decline in press freedom, with the average score across countries dropping below 55 for the first time. RSF attributes this overall decline to economic fragility, political interference, and growing hostility toward the media in many parts of the world.

While the Maldives has shown small gains, the report emphasises that lasting progress depends on continued efforts to strengthen legal protections, ensure journalist safety, and support independent media through structural reforms and policy development.