Bulgaria has fallen to 71st place in press freedom rankings

The trend of a deteriorating media environment continues in Bulgaria, with the country dropping another spot in the annual Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranking. In the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, it ranks 71st among 180 countries, down from 70th place a year earlier.

The country’s overall score has dropped from 60.78 to 60.28 points. This is a comprehensive assessment calculated based on five thematic indicators: political context, economic context, legal framework, sociocultural context, and security. Each indicator analyzes specific factors – from the transparency of funding and the independence of regulators to the physical safety of reporters and the presence of judicial harassment.

Fragile freedom amid corruption

The report describes press freedom in Bulgaria as “fragile and unstable,” emphasizing that the country remains one of the poorest and most corrupt in the European Union. The few independent media outlets are under constant pressure, and the political ties of members of the Council for Electronic Media (CEM) undermine the editorial independence of public service providers. For private media, the main threat comes from their owners’ interests in other regulated sectors.

The most alarming data comes from the economic sector, where Bulgaria ranks a mere 98th. The media are almost entirely dependent on advertising revenue, which is largely controlled by the state. The lack of transparency in the distribution of national and European funds facilitates party financing of media outlets that are favorable to the government.

In terms of the legal framework (61st place), it is noted that while the legislative framework meets minimum standards, corruption and an ineffective judicial system render the state powerless against violations of media freedom. Independent and investigative journalists often fall victim to so-called “SLAPP” lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation).

The safety indicator (62nd place) reveals a serious problem with physical attacks and threats against journalists, especially during elections. These acts of violence, which affect reporters outside the capital most severely, are exacerbated by a high degree of impunity. The disproportionate use of police force against journalists during mass events remains a systemic problem.

International Context

Regionally, Bulgaria (71st place) continues to lag significantly behind neighbors such as North Macedonia (45th place) and Romania (49th place), but remains ahead of Greece (86th place) and Serbia (104th place).

Globally, however, the data is even more indicative of a serious deterioration in media freedom. Bulgaria is outranked by a number of countries in Africa and Asia that are not traditionally associated with stable democratic processes. Ahead of the country in the 2026 ranking are South Africa (21st place), Namibia (23rd), Cape Verde (40th), Gabon (43rd), The Gambia (46th), South Korea (47th), Ivory Coast (54th), Japan (62nd), and Malawi (69th).

Against the backdrop of Bulgaria’s decline, the top spots in the ranking are traditionally held by Norway (1st), the Netherlands (2nd), and Estonia (3rd). At the bottom of the 2026 index are Vietnam, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, North Korea, and Eritrea.

Translated with DeepL.