IFJ: 128 Journalists Killed Worldwide in 2025, Majority in Middle East

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Journalists during coverage.

One hundred and twenty-eight journalists lost their lives worldwide in 2025, with more than half of the deaths occurring in the Middle East, according to figures released by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said the total, which exceeds that of 2024, should be seen as “a global red alert” rather than a mere statistic.

The federation voiced particular alarm over the situation in the Palestinian territories, where 56 journalists were killed over the course of the year.

“We have never witnessed anything of this scale before — so many deaths in such a short period, within such a limited area,” Bellanger said.

Journalists were also killed in Yemen, Ukraine — including French photojournalist Anthony Lalequin — as well as Sudan, Peru and India.

Bellanger criticised the “impunity” surrounding these crimes, warning that “without justice, those who murder journalists will continue to act freely”.

The IFJ further raised concerns over the detention of 533 journalists worldwide, noting that more than a quarter are held in China and Hong Kong.

The IFJ traditionally reports a higher annual death toll than Reporters Without Borders, which recorded 67 journalist deaths in 2025, citing differences in methodology. The IFJ includes journalists killed in accidents in its figures.

Meanwhile, UNESCO reported that 93 journalists were killed globally in 2025, according to data published on its website.


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