Overview
- The Director-General’s biennial report published on Monday, November 2, 2026, records 189 journalists and media workers killed in 2024–25, a 20% increase from 2022–23.
- More than two thirds of the deaths, 127, occurred in conflict zones and 50 journalists were killed by drone strikes, which made up about 40% of conflict-zone fatalities.
- Global impunity rose to 86% for journalist killings in 2024–25 and UNESCO says only 14% of the roughly 1,600 killings recorded over 20 years have been investigated.
- The State of Palestine had the highest national toll with 62 deaths, followed by Mexico with 17 and Sudan with 14, and the report documents seven attacks that killed multiple journalists at media sites or temporary field centres.
- UNESCO notes limited progress where governments invest in probes, with unresolved cases in non-conflict countries falling to 77%, and it highlights severe online and offline threats to women journalists that reduce their safety and ability to report.