Surge in Journalist Deaths Worldwide: UN Reports 162 Killings in 2022-23, Most Cases Unsolved

The number of journalists killed worldwide surged in 2022-23 compared to the previous two years, with most cases remaining unsolved, according to a report from the United Nations.

On average, a journalist was killed every four days, as stated by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in a report released on Saturday.

The report documented 162 deaths, marking a 38 percent increase, which UNESCO described as “alarming.”

“In 2022 and 2023, a journalist was killed every four days simply for doing their vital job to pursue truth,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, urging countries to take stronger action to ensure these crimes do not go unpunished.

Saturday also marks the UN-recognized International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

Latin America and the Caribbean reported the highest number of journalist killings, totaling 61 over the two-year period, while North America and Western Europe had the fewest, with just six deaths recorded.

For the first time since 2017, a majority of journalist killings in 2023 occurred in conflict zones, with 44 fatalities accounting for 59 percent of that year’s total—indicating a concerning reversal of a trend toward fewer conflict-related deaths.

The report highlighted that local journalists represented 86 percent of those killed while covering conflicts during the 2022-23 period. In 2023, Palestine recorded the highest number of journalist fatalities, with 24 killed in the line of duty.