Global Report Reveals Alarming Death Toll of Journalists in 2025

Tragic Statistics on Journalist Fatalities

According to a report released by the International Federation of Journalists, a total of 128 journalists lost their lives worldwide in 2025.

The report highlights that over half of these fatalities, specifically 74, occurred in West Asia. Notably, 56 journalists were killed in Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict involving Israel.

In Africa, 18 journalists were reported killed, while 15 fatalities occurred in the Asia-Pacific region, 11 in the Americas, and 10 in Europe. The list also included nine accidental deaths.

In India, the federation documented four journalist deaths, including that of Mukesh Chandrakar, who was the operator of the YouTube channel Bastar Junction. He was murdered on January 1, 2025, reportedly due to his investigations into alleged corruption in a road construction project in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. His body was discovered in a septic tank on the contractor's property.

The federation also reported that 533 journalists were imprisoned for their work throughout the year, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for the highest number of incarcerations. Out of 277 journalists jailed in this region, 143 were in China and 49 in Myanmar.

In 2024, the federation had recorded 122 journalist deaths and 516 imprisonments.

On Wednesday, the federation expressed its condemnation of the ongoing failure of authorities to safeguard journalists and urged for immediate and effective measures to halt the violence.

Anthony Bellanger, the federation's general secretary, emphasized that the killing of 128 journalists in a single year is indicative of a global crisis. He described these killings as a stark reminder that journalists are being targeted with impunity for their work.

Bellanger called on governments to take urgent action to protect media personnel, ensure justice for the perpetrators, and uphold press freedom.

Since the inception of the annual list in 1990, the federation has documented over 3,170 journalist deaths globally, averaging 91 killings each year.

Additionally, on December 10, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that 126 journalists and media workers were killed in 2025. The global media watchdog is yet to release an updated list for the final days of the year.

On December 23, the Free Speech Collective reported that eight journalists had been killed in India in 2025.