One hundred and twenty-eight journalists and media workers, including 10 women, lost their lives in 2025, according to the International Federation of Journalists’ (IFJ) final Killed List released on 31 December. The list includes nine accidental deaths. The IFJ deplores another deadly year for journalists, while denouncing the persistent failure of authorities to protect media workers and calling for immediate, decisive action to end the cycle of violence and impunity in 2026.
Since 1990 and the launch of its annual Killed List, the IFJ has recorded 3,173 deaths worldwide, an average of 91 deaths per year, and 876 in the last ten years.
The Federation has also released the list of 533 journalists in jail: China stands out as the world’s biggest jailer.
For the third consecutive year, the Middle East and the Arab World have been the region worst affected.
With 74 journalists killed – including 56 in Palestine – the Middle East and Arab World region accounted for 58% of all media professionals killed worldwide. Yemen ranks second with 13 deaths, then Ukraine with eight. Sudan reported six deaths, India and Peru four, and several other countries – including the Philippines, Mexico, Peru and Pakistan – each lost three journalists. These figures highlight the concentration of danger in conflict zones, while underscoring the need to strengthen the protection of media professionals and to bring to justice those who kill journalists.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “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.”