The arrests of journalists in Turkey last week are just a small part of the overall numbers worldwide

More than 200 journalists in prison worldwide for third consecutive year

As of 1 December there were 220 journalists in prison worldwide, with one in five of those in Chinese jails according to a new report.



The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), who compiled the figures, said this was an increase of nine since last year. It marks the third consecutive year that more than 200 reporters have been imprisoned.

The dot in southern Africa is for Swaziland, rather than South Africa.

There are 32 more journalists in Chinese jails than there were in 2013, bringing the total to 44 imprisoned journalists. Almost half of those are of the Tibetan or Uighur ethnic minorities, including blogger Ilham Tohti and seven people who worked on his website.

Iran has imprisoned the second most, with 30 journalists in jail - five less than last year. Among the jailed is Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.

Turkey was the country that had imprisoned the most journalists in 2012 and 2013 but released the vast bulk of them this year, pushing them down the rankings. However, the figures do not include the journalists jailed last week, reportedly on the accusation that they were conspiring against the Turkish state.

Egypt has doubled the number of journalists in prison to 12, including the three jailed Al-Jazeera reporters.

Globally, 132 journalists were being held on “anti-state” charges, including subversion or terrorism. There were 45 - or 20% of the overall number - being held without a clear charge.

The majority (119) of the journalists worked online. Of the others, 83 were print reporters, 15 radio and 14 work in television.

The figures only include those who have been imprisoned for their work and does not include those being held by non-state organisations such as Isis.