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January 02, 2026 – China –
A year-end analysis of press freedom conditions published by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) underscores China’s continued position as the world’s largest incarcerator of journalists in 2025. According to the IFJ’s annual count, 143 journalists and media workers are currently imprisoned in China and Hong Kong, a figure that surpasses the number in any other country or territory and reflects sustained state suppression of independent reporting. This figure is part of the broader 533 journalists held behind bars worldwide as documented in the IFJ’s year-end census. China’s significant share of detained media professionals reflects ongoing challenges to free expression and journalistic independence in one of the globe’s most restrictive media environments.
The IFJ report, released as part of its comprehensive review of journalists’ safety, also highlights parallel global trends of violence and repression. In 2025, the IFJ confirmed 128 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide, including nine accidental deaths and ten women, underscoring that journalistic work remains hazardous across conflict and crisis zones. The Middle East and Arab World accounted for the majority of these deaths, particularly in areas of active conflict, while other regions such as Africa, Europe, and the Americas also recorded significant fatalities.
Within the broader Asia-Pacific context, China’s detention statistics stand out as part of a region that collectively imprisons the highest number of journalists globally. The IFJ notes that 277 media workers in the Asia-Pacific region are currently incarcerated for their work, with Myanmar and Vietnam following China with 49 and 37 imprisoned journalists, respectively. These detention figures reflect increased legal and extralegal constraints on journalism in several states where authorities target reporting that is critical of government policies or societal conditions.
The persistence of high imprisonment rates in China has drawn repeated criticism from press freedom advocates, who point to broad laws and enforcement practices that criminalise independent reporting and activism. Cases highlighted by international media freedom organisations include the repeated detention of critical journalists on charges such as “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” — a broadly defined offence frequently used to silence dissent. Such prosecutions underscore the systemic legal environment that sustains high incarceration figures.
The IFJ’s findings for 2025 paint a stark picture of global press freedom: lethal violence against journalists continues in conflict zones and areas of political instability, while the imprisonment of media workers, particularly in China, remains a critical concern. The report’s release has prompted calls from media unions and advocacy groups for enhanced international mechanisms to protect journalists, ensure accountability for violence and repression, and uphold the fundamental right to information.
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