At the bottom of the Mediterranean press freedom table, Syria records the lowest 2023 RSF score (27.22), followed by four other basin states with similarly constrained media environments.
Ranking Table
| Position | Country | RSF Rank | RSF Score | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #175 | 27.22 | Eastern Shore | |
| 2 | #166 | 33.37 | Southern Shore | |
| 3 | #165 | 33.97 | Eastern Shore | |
| 4 | #149 | 40.22 | Southern Shore | |
| 5 | #144 | 43.69 | Southern Shore |
Why These Countries Rank Where They Do
Scores are synthesised from the RSF index, which weighs political, economic, legal, sociocultural, and safety dimensions of journalism. Mediterranean basin states span the full RSF spectrum — from northern-shore democracies with broad legal protections to eastern and southern shores where physical safety and legal context remain the binding constraints on independent reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Mediterranean country has the lowest 2023 RSF press freedom score?
Syria records the lowest 2023 RSF score in the Mediterranean basin at 27.22 out of 100.
What explains the north-south divide in Mediterranean press freedom?
Northern-shore states generally combine EU legal protections for journalists with lower rates of physical threat, while eastern and southern shores face crisis-driven restrictions, weak legal context, and, in some cases, active conflict.