The 15 most censored countries on earth

Ranked by RSF’s real World Press Freedom Index, worst first. Not an estimate: this is their published rank.

Share on X
  1. 01

    Eritrea

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #179. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #179 of 236
  2. 02

    North Korea

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #178. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #178 of 236
  3. 03

    Macau

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #177. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #177 of 236
  4. 04

    Iran

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #176. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #176 of 236
  5. 05

    Saudi Arabia

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #175. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #175 of 236
  6. 06

    Afghanistan

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #174. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #174 of 236
  7. 07

    Vietnam

    Cheap and pleasant, one-party state with data localisation laws.

    #174 of 236
  8. 08

    China

    The most surveilled society on earth. Included for contrast.

    #172 of 236
  9. 09

    Turkmenistan

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #172. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #172 of 236
  10. 10

    Azerbaijan

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #170. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #170 of 236
  11. 11

    Bahrain

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #169. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #169 of 236
  12. 12

    Egypt

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #168. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #168 of 236
  13. 13

    Nicaragua

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #167. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #167 of 236
  14. 14

    Djibouti

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #166. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #166 of 236
  15. 15

    Myanmar

    Restricted press and civil liberties, ranked #165. Not individually assessed beyond public indices.

    #165 of 236

Set your own filters

This list is one cut of the catalogue. Filter all 3,582 places by what matters to you.

Browse every place

Country-level figures are estimates for orientation, not legal advice. Surveillance law changes fast: verify anything you would act on.