On paper, Nepal is doing better than most of its neighbours. In practice, the space for journalism is tightening.

As the world marked World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Nepal’s position in the latest World Press Freedom Index 2026 offered a measure of reassurance. Published by Reporters Without Borders, the index places Nepal 87th out of 180 countries, the highest in South Asia.

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka trail far behind. Afghanistan, where the Taliban have tightened control over media since returning to power in August 2021, sits near the bottom.

The ranking reflects relative strength across political, legal and safety indicators. But it also risks creating a misleading sense of comfort.

Across the Asia-Pacific, RSF has warned of a steady decline in press freedom. Nepal may be faring better than its neighbours, but it is moving within the same restrictive environment.

The gap between global perception and domestic reality is becoming harder to ignore.

Data from the Federation of Nepali Journalists show 131 incidents of press freedom violations in the past year alone. These range from intimidation and obstruction to physical attacks.

More than 50 cases involved threats or abuse. At least 30 were serious incidents, including assaults on journalists and damage to equipment. Two journalists were arrested. One died under suspicious circumstances, with no confirmed findings.

The most visible rupture came during the Gen Z protests in September 2025.

Within two days, 26 separate violations were recorded. More than 100 journalists were affected. Several media houses were attacked, looted or set on fire.

Five journalists were injured by gunfire while reporting.

The violence was not one-sided. Journalists were caught between protesters and security forces, exposing a recurring pattern in Nepal’s unrest.

The financial toll was substantial. Media institutions reported losses of around Rs600 million, with an additional Rs180 million in personal losses among journalists and media entrepreneurs.

The attacks extended beyond Kathmandu. Regional outlets and even a district office of the journalists’ federation were vandalised, signalling that vulnerability is not confined to the capital.

Other monitoring groups point to the same trajectory.

Media Action Nepal recorded 71 violations affecting 78 journalists and 10 media organisations. The threats, it said, come from both state bodies and non-state actors, including political groups and organised crowds.

Digital journalists are increasingly exposed. Online platforms have expanded reach but also risk. Women journalists, in particular, face rising levels of cyberbullying and coordinated harassment.

According to the Freedom Forum, 97 incidents were recorded between May 2025 and April 2026, up sharply from 68 the previous year. A total of 145 journalists were affected.

Bagmati Province, especially Kathmandu Valley, remains the epicentre.

Beyond physical risk, structural pressures are deepening.

Legal provisions such as Section 47 of the Electronic Transactions Act continue to be used against journalists, often in ways critics say suppress dissent. Periodic attempts to introduce restrictive media laws add to the unease.

Economic conditions are compounding the problem. Many media houses have delayed salaries for months or cut jobs without clear justification, weakening newsroom independence and pushing journalists towards self-censorship.

In 1991, a UNESCO seminar held in Windhoek, Namibia, issued the “Windhoek Declaration”. In its commemoration, the United Nations General Assembly designated May 3 as World Press Freedom Day in 1993.

Since then, the day has been observed annually to promote and protect press freedom.