UNESCO reported that 189 journalists were killed worldwide in 2024 and 2025, the highest total it has recorded in a decade. (Foto: Instagram)
UNESCO said 189 journalists were killed around the world in 2024 and 2025, the highest total the organization has recorded in a decade. The figure was exceeded only in 2014 and 2015, when 215 journalists were killed. The findings were released Monday, November 2, in the organization’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity.
Conflict zones accounted for 127 of the deaths, or 67% of the total, according to the report. That was a 24% increase compared with 2022 and 2023. The study said 50 journalists were killed by drones. Media facilities and offices where journalists worked were also targeted in war zones, and at least 36 journalists died at such locations. One incident killed nine media workers at once.
The report said there were indications in at least 15 cases that journalists had been targeted despite wearing press-identifying vests or traveling in vehicles marked as belonging to the media. It did not present those cases as confirmed findings, but described them as indications.
Outside conflict zones, the report recorded 61 journalist deaths during the two-year period, the lowest figure in 18 years. Its accompanying breakdown referred to 62 victims in that setting and listed 17 killed at work, 33 in vehicles and 20 at home; some were with family members. The report also cited four media workers killed in terrorist attacks and seven killed during demonstrations by protesters or security forces.
Coverage of armed conflicts was the subject of reporting for 104 of those killed, the study said. Another 38 journalists were killed while reporting on political issues, and 22 while covering criminal activity. Others died while investigating corruption. The report also provided age and gender figures: five of those killed were between 15 and 24, while 20 were between 25 and 29. Women accounted for 14 deaths, or 7% of the total, and 13 of them were killed in conflict zones. UNESCO said this was the lowest share recorded since 2012 and 2013.
Palestine had the highest number of journalist deaths, with 62, or about one-third of the worldwide total for the two years. The report described the area as having been under intense attacks by Israeli forces since 2023.
In Brazil, UNESCO recorded one case: the killing of radio host Luís Augusto Carneiro da Costa, known as “Luisinho Costa.” He was killed in May 2025 at the Rádio Guarany studio in Abaetetuba, in Pará state. The Pará Civil Police said the investigation was completed and sent to the courts, with four people indicted. More broadly, the report highlighted the limited rate at which killings of journalists are resolved. Since 2006, 1,641 journalists have been murdered worldwide, but only 223 cases—14%—have been resolved by the judicial system.
