The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States has fallen nine places in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, dropping from 48th in 2025 to 57th out of 180 countries and territories.
The OECS, which includes Antigua and Barbuda, received a score of 64.60 in the latest index, down from 68.08 last year.
The decline came despite the region maintaining a relatively strong press freedom record. Reporters Without Borders said OECS countries generally allow journalists to work freely, but warned that political influence, editorial censorship and economic pressures continue to affect media independence.
The steepest drop was recorded in the legal indicator, which fell from 58th in 2025 to 90th in 2026. The economic indicator improved from 65th to 52nd, while the political indicator remained unchanged at 58th.
The social indicator also worsened, moving from 41st to 61st. The security indicator declined from 22nd to 34th, although the report recorded no journalists or media workers killed or detained in the OECS since Jan. 1, 2026.
The ranking places the OECS outside the top 50 globally, with the report pointing to concerns over political ownership of media companies, government influence over advertising, and online attacks against journalists.
Despite the fall, the region remains ahead of many countries in the Americas, but the 2026 results suggest growing pressure on press freedom across small island states.
