According to the source, the Index ranks 180 countries and regions according to the level of freedom available to journalists. It is a snapshot of the media freedom situation based on an evaluation of pluralism, independence of the media, quality of legislative framework and safety of journalists in each country and region. It does not rank public policies even if governments obviously have a major impact on their country’s ranking. Nor is it an indicator of the quality of journalism in each country or region.
The countries surveyed were scored between 0 and 100, with 0 being the worst possible result and 100 the best.
Date of release is date of access.
Citation formats
Press freedom index in the United Kingdom 2013-2025
The United Kingdom's press freedom index score in 2025 was , a slight increase from the previous year. Between 2013 and 2025, the UK's press freedom index decreased by *** index points overall, meaning that the situation for journalists deteriorated during this period.
What affects press freedom in the UK?
Low media pluralism can detrimentally affect press freedom, and only a handful of companies control the UK market, namely DMG Media, News UK, and Reach. DMG (Daily Mail and General Trust) is the leading national news publisher in the UK with the circulation of the company’s papers at over ** million copies, whilst News UK follows with more than nine million and Reach with *** million. All three are the only national publishers with a circulation of more than *** million and have considerable clout in the market. The concentration of newspaper ownership in the UK is just one reason for the UK’s press freedom index score, with safety for journalists, political polarization, and newsroom closures also impacting the news media landscape.
The UK’s press freedom score in a European context
Although the UK’s press freedom score fell between 2024 and 2025, the country still ranks in the top ***in the world. Press freedom in Europe varies substantially by country, with the UK placing **** out of 39 EU and non-EU European countries in 2025, beneath Czechia, Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium, but above Austria, Spain, France, and Poland in 2025.Â
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Reporters Without Borders. (June 27, 2025). Press freedom index in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2025 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 20, 2026, from /statistics/1025956/uk-press-freedom-index/
Reporters Without Borders. "Press freedom index in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2025." Chart. June 27, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 20, 2026. /statistics/1025956/uk-press-freedom-index/
Reporters Without Borders. (2025). Press freedom index in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 20, 2026. /statistics/1025956/uk-press-freedom-index/
Reporters Without Borders. "Press Freedom Index in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2013 to 2025." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 27 Jun 2025, /statistics/1025956/uk-press-freedom-index/
Reporters Without Borders, Press freedom index in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2025 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1025956/uk-press-freedom-index/ (last visited July 20, 2026)
Press freedom index in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2025 [Graph], Reporters Without Borders, June 27, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1025956/uk-press-freedom-index/
