Kathmandu, May 3 -- 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.

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