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A newly released analysis by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reveals that a total of 128 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, underscoring a perilous environment for news professionals and persistent global threats to press freedom and safety. The definitive list, finalised on December 31, reflects additional confirmed deaths in conflict zones and through targeted attacks, as well as accident-related fatalities, and marks another year of elevated casualties for those reporting on critical public issues.
The IFJ’s tally includes a diverse array of journalists and media staff, encompassing local reporters, camera operators, and support personnel, with confirmed deaths occurring in multiple regions. Of the 128 fatalities, nine were classified as accidental deaths arising from hazardous working conditions. The updated 2025 fatality list incorporates new cases from Palestine, Tanzania, Peru, Guatemala, Nigeria, Burundi, and Iran, indicating the breadth of risk contexts that journalists face beyond traditional warzones.
The Middle East and Arab World remained the deadliest region for media professionals, accounting for 58 percent of global deaths. Within this region, the Palestinian territories were particularly lethal, with 56 journalists killed amid ongoing conflict. Yemen followed with 13 deaths, while Ukraine and Sudan reported eight and six deaths, respectively. Additional casualties occurred in India, Peru, the Philippines, Mexico, and Pakistan, each recording multiple journalist deaths. These figures reflect the profound dangers inherent in covering armed conflicts, social unrest, and politically charged environments.
The IFJ compared the final 2025 count with its historical data, noting that since the launch of its annual killed list in 1990, the organisation has documented 3,173 journalist deaths globally, averaging 91 per year. In the last decade alone, 876 media professionals have been killed, indicating a troubling long-term trend that reflects the sustained perils of journalism in volatile settings.
Alongside the killed list, the IFJ also published its year-end figures for detained journalists, highlighting persistent challenges to press freedom. The organisation recorded 533 journalists imprisoned worldwide in 2025, with China identified as the largest incarcerator, reinforcing concerns about state-led suppression of independent reporting through legal and extralegal means.
IFJ leadership condemned the continuing cycle of violence and impunity that endangers journalists, calling for strengthened legal protections, accountability for perpetrators, and international action to curb attacks on media professionals. The findings signal a critical need for coordinated global efforts to safeguard journalists and uphold the fundamental right to information amidst intensifying geopolitical conflicts and internal repression in numerous countries.
Killed_List_2025_28_December_final.xlsx
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