Nordic countries top world press freedom index

Norway tops the list of countries where press freedom and human rights are respected with a score of 92.65, according to The 20th World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Another Nordic country, Denmark, came second with a score of 90.27 out of the 180 countries sampled and Sweden third with a score of 88.84 as North Korea came last with a score of 12.38.

Kenya was rated high in East Africa as countries across the world mark Press Freedom Day on May 3.

Best ranked

At position 69 out of 180, Kenya emerged as the best ranked East African country. In 2021, RSF placed East Africa’s arguably biggest economy in position 102 of the press freedom index.

Uganda fell behind, whereas Kenya improved its press freedom ranking in the Reporters Without Borders 2022 Press Freedom Index.

And after years of media freedom decline, Tanzania appears to be on the right track. But overall, media freedom activists say there is still work to be done.

The report however indicates that there is still more that needs to be done as the world marks the day under the theme: Shaping a Future of Rights Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights.   In 1993, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 3 May as World Press Freedom Day.

This proclamation marked the beginning of substantial progress towards enabling free press and freedom of expression around  the  world –with the  proliferation  of  independent  media  in many countries and the rise  of digital technologies  enabling  the free  flow  of information online. The trio of Nordic countries at the top of the Index – Norway, Denmark and Sweden – continues to serve as a democratic model where freedom of expression flourishes.