Reporters Without Borders has revealed the Maldives had climbed 19 levels up in the World Press Freedom Index, with a ranking of 79 in 2020 compared to 98 in 2019. It also represents a progression of 41 levels compared to 2018, when the Maldives had been placed 120th in the rankings.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid expressed pride in the progress the Maldives has made in the World Press Freedom Index, noting the great improvements made in press freedom under the administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih are being accepted and appreciated by the world.
World Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking of countries, based upon the assessment of Reporters Without Borders, of the press freedom records in countries. It reflects the degree of freedom that journalists, news organisations and citizens on the internet have in each country, and the efforts made by authorities to respect this freedom.