5. China
China is the prime example that strong economic growth doesn’t prevent a country from landing among the countries without freedom of speech or press. In fact, it can be argued that China has used its economic development as a lid on dissent on various subjects. With 38 journalists in prison, China is by far the worst press jailer in the world. With domestic reporters effectively silenced, Chinese regime only has to worry about the international journalists, who have often been declined a visa, if Beijing censors determine that they are uncooperative.
