The final list, published at the end of the year, includes 17 additional cases confirmed after the IFJ’s preliminary December report, underlining the difficulty of documenting deaths in conflict zones and hostile environments. The total figure includes 10 women media workers and nine deaths classified as accidental.
Middle East Records Highest Death Toll
The Middle East and Arab World emerged as the deadliest region, accounting for 74 of the 128 deaths. The majority occurred in Palestine, where 56 journalists were killed, many while reporting on the ongoing war in Gaza. Yemen followed with 13 media worker deaths, while Syria and Iran also recorded fatalities.
The IFJ said journalists in the region were often operating without adequate protection, and in many cases appeared to be deliberately targeted.
Asia-Pacific and India Among Affected Regions
The Asia-Pacific region recorded 15 journalist deaths, including four in India. The IFJ noted that reporters covering corruption, crime, and local governance remained particularly vulnerable, especially outside major urban centres.
Other deaths in the region were reported in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Nepal.
Conflict Drives Deaths in Europe and Africa
In Europe, 10 journalists were killed, most of them in Ukraine, where the war has continued to claim the lives of reporters operating close to the frontlines. The IFJ raised concerns over the growing use of drones and heavy artillery in areas where journalists were present.
Africa recorded 18 deaths, with Sudan accounting for six, as civil conflict severely restricted safe reporting conditions. Several media workers also died in Nigeria in a road accident, which the IFJ categorised as non-work-related but included in its annual list.
Americas See Rising Violence
The Americas recorded 11 journalist killings, with Peru reporting four deaths, marking a sharp increase after several years of relative calm. Mexico continued to remain dangerous for journalists, with three fatalities recorded in 2025.
Call for International Protection
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger described the figures as unacceptable and called on governments and international institutions to take urgent action.
"128 journalists killed in a single year is not just a statistic, it is a global crisis. These deaths are a brutal reminder that journalists are being targeted with impunity, simply for doing their job. Governments must act now to protect media workers, bring killers to justice, and uphold press freedom. The world can no longer wait: it is time for a United Nations convention that guarantees the safety and independence of journalists everywhere," Bellanger said.
Impunity Remains a Core Issue
The IFJ stressed that impunity remains one of the biggest threats to journalists worldwide, with the vast majority of killings never resulting in prosecutions. The organisation warned that failure to hold perpetrators accountable continues to encourage further attacks.
In addition to the death toll, the IFJ highlighted the growing number of journalists imprisoned globally. China remains the world’s largest jailer of journalists, followed by Myanmar and Vietnam, reflecting broader patterns of repression and censorship.
