Which has higher academic freedom index, Australia or Sierra Leone?

Australia, at 0.864 against 0.862 in Sierra Leone as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Sierra Leone?

125 years are reported by both, from 1901 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Academic Freedom Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Australia vs Sierra Leone: Academic Freedom Index

Australia

0.864

in 2025

Sierra Leone

0.862

in 2025

Australia rank

29th

Sierra Leone rank

32nd

Academic Freedom Index over time

Australia
Sierra Leone

How they compare

Australia currently reports 0.864 against 0.862 in Sierra Leone, a difference of 0.002.

Across all 125 years both countries report, Australia has been ahead every year.

Australia ranks 29th and Sierra Leone ranks 32nd of 174 countries.

Australia has averaged higher in every one of the 13 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Australia	Sierra Leone	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.86	0.478	0.382	Australia
1910s	0.8564	0.478	0.3784	Australia
1920s	0.858	0.478	0.38	Australia
1930s	0.8579	0.478	0.3799	Australia
1940s	0.888	0.478	0.41	Australia
1950s	0.8984	0.4764	0.422	Australia
1960s	0.899	0.5879	0.3111	Australia
1970s	0.9102	0.4446	0.4656	Australia
1980s	0.907	0.432	0.475	Australia
1990s	0.907	0.4682	0.4388	Australia
2000s	0.9088	0.8156	0.0932	Australia
2010s	0.8952	0.8592	0.036	Australia
2020s	0.8855	0.8622	0.0233	Australia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher academic freedom index, Australia or Sierra Leone?: Australia, at 0.864 against 0.862 in Sierra Leone as of 2025.
What is the difference in academic freedom index between Australia and Sierra Leone?: 0.002, with Australia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Sierra Leone?: 125 years are reported by both, from 1901 to 2025.
How do Australia and Sierra Leone rank globally for academic freedom index?: Australia ranks 29th and Sierra Leone ranks 32nd of 174 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Academic Freedom Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Academic Freedom Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 174 places, 16,942 data points, 1900–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which academics can research, teach, publish, express opinions, and participate in academic bodies without interference, censorship, or institutional restrictions, and universities exercise institutional autonomy.